Scotland

People standing on the upper deck of a CalMac ferry, with a grey sky in the background

Party leaders pledge to fix ferries chaos and blame 'incompetence'

John Swinney has expressed his regret as CalMac confirmed eight vessels were out of action.

7 hrs ago

Scotland

Swinney standing on a stage with arms raised in front of a large outdoor crowd holding Scottish flags, with banners and signs visible among the audience and trees in the background.

Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland

After a major setback two years ago when Labour defeated them in the UK general election, the SNP's political luck seems to have turned.

2 days ago

Scotland Politics

China bus photo removed from Scottish Highlands travel campaign

Eagle-eyed social media users noticed that the road had bright green crash barriers and a green bus.

3 days ago

Scotland

Offord says he is fit to be first minister after homophobic joke

Malcolm Offord denied being homophobic after apologising for a joke he made about George Michael during a Burns Night speech.

3 days ago

Scotland

A man in a suit standing in front of a North Lanarkshire Council backdrop featuring repeated text promoting live, learn, work, invest, and visit

First Minister apologises to victims of ex-council leader

Jordan Linden was last week found guilty of five assaults and sending unwanted sexual communications to teenagers.

2 days ago

Scotland

It felt surreal to go shopping without police protection - Humza Yousaf

Scotland's former first minister has bid farewell to the Scottish Parliament, marking the end of his 15-year SNP career as an MSP.

2 days ago

Scotland Politics

Actor Brian Cox, Greens co-leader Ross Greer, SNP leader John Swinney and Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay prepare to set off on an independence march in Edinburgh. They are all holding a large white banner with "Believe" on it in pale green writing.

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election

SNP leader John Swinney and the Greens co-leaders led thousands on an independence march down the Royal Mile.

2 days ago

Scotland

A group of smiling people with SNP placards, with John Swinney - who is bald with glasses, standing at the forefront

Party leaders make pitches to Scots as they hit campaign trail

With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, hopefuls have kick-started their campaigns.

Malcolm Offord and Nigel Farage standing close together on a stage. They both have short, grey hair and are wearing blue suits and cream or white shirts. Offord has dark-rimmed glasses and is wearing a light blue tie. He is smiling while Farage, who is laughing, is wearing a paisley-patterned blue and white tie.

Farage defends Scottish Reform leader Offord over homophobic joke

Malcolm Offord has apologised for the "crude" remark he told at a rugby club dinner in 2018 but denies he is homophobic.

SNP leader John Swinney, a bald man wearing glasses and a blue padded coat, campaigning alongside a group of party colleagues holding heart-shaped pledge cards about the SNP's achievements in office - including "reduced NHS waiting times" and "new GP walk-in clinics"

Health, education, tax and more - Has the SNP delivered on its promises at Holyrood?

As parties draw up their election manifestos, has the SNP ticked off the goals it set out in 2021?

A man sitting at a table in a bar smokes a cigarette with a pint in front of him. Behind him, people are wearing t-shirts with a smoking ban symbol and the date of 26 March 2006

Smoking ban in Scotland's pubs was a 'PR war' - but has it saved lives?

Exactly 20 years ago, Scotland became the first part of the UK to outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and offices.

Construction at Ardersier Port. The site is flat and sandy and there are a number of large structures including circular tanks.

Why was a £1.5bn Chinese plan to invest in a Highland yard blocked?

Ming Yang proposed building a wind turbine manufacturing plant at Ardersier.

Features and analysis

A simple guide to the Scottish Parliament election 2026

Voters will elect the next Members of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 7 May.

A composite image of outgoing MSPs Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Douglas Ross

Outgoing MSPs leave Holyrood with relief, regret and unfinished business

A record 42 MSPs are stepping down, from grandees to first timers - they share their reasons why.

Three nurses in blue uniforms and wearing face masks pointing at a computer monitor

Has Scotland's NHS recovered from the Covid pandemic?

The sixth anniversary of Scotland going into lockdown also marks the final phase of a £1.2bn plan to help the NHS bounce back from Covid - did it work?

How could AI change Scotland's public services?

Ministers forecast an explosion in AI and want to reap the benefits for services and the economy.

Malcolm Offord, Leader of Reform UK Scotland holds up a copy of the manifesto after delivering a speech at Ingliston Country Club and Hotel on March 19, 2026 in Bishopton, Scotland

Reform UK's Scottish manifesto pledges analysed

BBC Scotland journalists have analysed some of the policies in Reform's manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood election.

We want to hear from you

Get in touch

Tell us about the issues affecting you ahead of the Scottish election