The Aberdeen South by-election on June 18 is a pivotal contest on North Sea oil politics. Reform UK and Scottish Conservatives are campaigning on reviving oil and gas production, challenging the SNP's net zero commitments. The outcome could signal a wider debate on the economic burden of net zero ahead of a UK general election.
Kenneth Gibson (SNP) elected as Holyrood's new presiding officer, defeating Liam McArthur (Lib Dem) and SNP colleagues Claire Haughey and Stuart McMillan in a secret ballot; Clare Adamson (SNP) and Katy Clark (Labour) elected as deputy presiding officers.
Kenneth Gibson (SNP) elected as Holyrood's new presiding officer in a secret ballot, defeating Liam McArthur (Lib Dem), Claire Haughey (SNP), and Stuart McMillan (SNP); MSPs sworn in, with Gibson set to chair deputy presiding officer election and oversee first minister selection next week.
Scottish Labour leader says he aims to hold SNP to account after his party tied for second with Reform in electionsUK politics live – latest updatesThe Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has warned other Scottish political leaders not to spend the next Holyrood parliament “shouting about Nigel Farage”, saying his job is to ensure there is a credible opposition at Holyrood “that holds the SNP’s feet to the fire”.While the Scottish National party won a fifth successive Holyrood victory and ended up with 58 MSPs, Labour had its worst result since devolution in 1999, tying for second place with Reform UK as both parties secured 17 MSPs. Continue reading...
The nationalists secured 58 seats in their fifth consecutive election win, but that is short of an overall majority.
SNP leader wants to ensure voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ‘are heard loud and clear’John Swinney has said he plans to work with the nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland in a coordinated opposition to Labour’s policies on the cost of living and UK government spending.The Scottish National party leader said he had spoken to Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin first minister of Northern Ireland, on Friday night after she had called to congratulate him on his party’s “emphatic” victory in the Holyrood elections. Continue reading...
John Swinney will return as first minister after a fifth Scottish election victory for the SNP.
Senior Labour MPs urge prime minister to step down within year as party suffers loss of hundreds of English council seats and humbling in WalesElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesKeir Starmer is under pressure to set out a timeline for his departure after a crushing defeat in elections across Britain prompted senior Labour MPs to call for him to step down within a year.In a disastrous set of results, Labour lost hundreds of council seats in England, many to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which made big gains across the Midlands and the north as well as taking seats from the Tories in the South.Nigel Farage said a “truly historic shift in British politics” had occurred after Reform UK won hundreds of seats and control of more councils in England. The gains included Essex where the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, has her constituency and which the Conservatives held for 25 years.Plaid Cymru became the largest party in Wales, beating Reform into second place, after Labour admitted it was on course to lose control of the Senedd for the first time since devolution. Morgan, the first woman to lead the Welsh government, became the highest-profile casualty and called on Labour to “go back to being the party of the working class”.The SNP leader, John Swinney, declared victory in the Holyrood elections – though was expected to fall short of an outright majority. The Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, conceded defeat saying his party had failed to counter “national dissatisfaction” with Starmer.The Greens gained their first two directly elected mayors – in Hackney and Lewisham – although they missed out on some more ambitious targets in London, as their leader, Zack Polanski, declared Britain’s two-party politics “dead and buried”. They also won three councils: Norwich, Hastings and Waltham Forest.The Tories were on course to lose hundreds of seats – both to Reform and the Liberal Democrats – across the south of England. However, they won back the flagship Westminster council in central London, with Badenoch announcing it meant the party was “coming back”.Labour appeared to be struggling in its London stronghold, despite early indications that its vote was holding up, unexpectedly losing control of Brent. Party insiders were closely watching councils including Lambeth, Lewisham and Haringey. Continue reading...
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beatenElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesJohn Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has challenged Keir Starmer to show “greater respect” to the Scottish government after winning the Holyrood elections by a comfortable margin.The Scottish National party secured a record fifth term in office on Friday after securing at least 57 of Holyrood’s 129 seats, with Labour and Reform vying for a distant second place. Continue reading...
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beatenJohn Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has declared victory in the Holyrood elections after only a handful of results confirmed Labour had been comprehensively beaten.Speaking to the BBC after holding his own seat of Perthshire North, Swinney said he was “absolutely certain the SNP is going to be the leading party coming out of this election”. Continue reading...
John Swinney will press for independence powers on the first day of the next Scottish parliament even without an overall SNP majority, relying on Scottish Greens support. The First Minister's stance marks a shift from his previous position that a majority was a precondition, despite it being in the party's 2026 manifesto. The UK government has repeatedly refused to approve a referendum, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that only Westminster can legislate for one.
Six Scottish parties have released manifestos for the May 7 Holyrood election, featuring pledges on price caps, tax cuts, housing, net zero scrapping and public services. Critics highlight unfunded commitments, fiscal credibility issues and constitutional limits.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar insists polls showing his party at 20% are wrong and predicts a surprise result in the May 7 Holyrood election. With postal voting underway, Sarwar claims undecided voters are shifting to Labour. The party has spent its largest campaign sum ever targeting voters via social media and sophisticated data analysis. However, Reform UK is expected to win 10+ seats and could play a pivotal role in the first minister vote. Sarwar is embroiled in controversy after Reform's Malcolm Offord alleged a secret deal discussion, which Sarwar denies, while criticizing SNP leader John Swinney for amplifying the allegations rather than condemning Reform's racist elements.
Reform UK набирает поддержку в Шотландии, особенно в северо-востоке и центральном поясе, заполняя пробел после падения Scottish Conservatives. Лидер партии Malcolm Offord обвиняет мигрантов в проблемах с жильем и здравоохранением, в то время как активисты отмечают рост видимого расизма и антииммигрантских протестов.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has centered his election campaign on NHS reform, promising to reduce waiting times, cut bureaucracy, and improve GP access. The manifesto also includes pledges on childcare, infrastructure, and energy policy ahead of the May election.
