Politics of Scotland facts for kids

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Politics of Scotland
Poilitigs na h-Alba
Legislative branch
The coat of arms as used in Scotland
Polity type	Devolved parliamentary legislature within a constitutional monarchy
Name	Scottish Parliament
Type	Unicameral
Meeting place	Holyrood
Presiding officer	Alison Johnstone, Presiding Officer
Executive branch
Head of State
Title	Monarch
Currently	Charles III
Head of Government
Title	First Minister
Currently	John Swinney
Appointer	Monarch
Cabinet
Name	Scottish Cabinet
Current cabinet	Swinney government
Leader	First Minister
Deputy leader	Deputy First Minister
Appointer	The Monarch
Headquarters	St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh
Ministries	30
Judicial branch
Name	Scots law
The Lord Advocate
Courts	Scottish courts
Supreme Courts of Scotland
Chief judge	Lord Pentland
Seat	Parliament House, Edinburgh
Court of Session
Chief judge	Lord Pentland
Seat	Parliament House
High Court of Justiciary
Chief judge	Lord Pentland
Seat	Parliament House Justiciary Building (Edinburgh) Justiciary Building (Glasgow) Mercatgate, (Aberdeen)

The politics of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Poilitigs na h-Alba) describes how Scotland is governed. Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom. It is a democracy, meaning its people elect representatives to make decisions. Scotland has its own government and parliament, called the Scottish Parliament. It also sends representatives to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in London.

The main leader of the Scottish Government is the First Minister of Scotland. This person is like a prime minister for Scotland. The Scottish Parliament makes most of the laws for Scotland. However, some important decisions are still made by the UK Parliament.

Scotland used to be an independent kingdom. In 1707, it joined with England to form Great Britain. This meant the Scottish Parliament closed for a long time. In 1999, the Scottish Parliament was brought back. This change gave Scotland more power to make its own decisions. Today, people in Scotland often discuss whether Scotland should become a fully independent country again.

Scotland's Political Journey

From Kingdom to Union

The pre-union Kingdom of Scotland's government met at Parliament House, Edinburgh

Scotland was once an independent country with its own king and parliament. This was known as the Kingdom of Scotland. For many centuries, Scottish kings ruled from places like Scone and later Edinburgh.

In 1707, Scotland and England decided to join together. They formed a new country called the Kingdom of Great Britain. This agreement was called the Treaty of Union. As a result, Scotland's own parliament was closed. Instead, Scottish representatives went to the new Parliament of Great Britain in London.

Even after joining, Scotland kept some important things separate from England. These included its own legal system, education system, and church. The Crown of Scotland and other royal treasures also stayed in Scotland.

The Rise of New Parties

For a long time, landowners and wealthy merchants had a lot of control over Scottish politics. Over time, more people gained the right to vote. By the late 1800s, about half of all men could vote. This led to a more modern political system.

In the early 1900s, the Liberal Party was very strong in Scotland. Later, the Labour Party grew in popularity. It became one of the two main political forces. The Scottish National Party (SNP) also started, but it took many years for them to become a major player.

Bringing Power Back to Scotland

John Swinney, First Minister since May 2024

Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister since May 2024

The First Minister is the head of the Scottish Government and is supported by the Deputy First Minister

The idea of giving Scotland more power, called devolution, became very important. In 1997, people in Scotland voted in a referendum. They strongly supported having their own parliament again.

So, in 1999, the Scottish Parliament was re-established. This meant that many powers to make laws and govern Scotland were transferred from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament. This process is known as devolution.

The Scottish Parliament now makes laws on many topics. These include justice, police, health, education, and local government. The UK Parliament still handles matters like defence and foreign policy.

Over the years, the Scottish Parliament gained even more powers. For example, it can now make decisions about some taxes and parts of the social security system. Scotland has also made different choices for its public services. For instance, university education and care for the elderly are free in Scotland. Also, Scotland was the first UK country to ban smoking in public places. It also banned physical punishment for children.

The Debate Over Independence

A pro-independence rally in Scotland in 2018

A big discussion in Scotland today is about its future. Many people want Scotland to become an independent country again. This would mean Scotland would be a fully separate nation.

In 2014, there was a vote on independence. Most people voted to stay part of the United Kingdom. However, the debate continues, especially after the UK left the European Union. Some people believe independence would allow Scotland to rejoin the EU. Others worry about the economic effects of leaving the UK.

The Scottish Government has published a series of papers called Building a New Scotland. These papers explain what an independent Scotland might look like.

Key Moments in Recent Scottish Politics

1950s-1960s: The Labour Party became the strongest party in Scotland, winning most seats in UK elections.
1967: The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a surprise by-election, showing they were becoming a significant force.
1970s: The SNP gained more support, and there was a big push for devolution. A referendum in 1979 for a Scottish Assembly did not pass.
1997: A new referendum on devolution passed with a strong "Yes" vote.
1999: The Scottish Parliament was officially established, with Labour and Liberal Democrats forming the first government.
2007: The SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament and formed a minority government. Alex Salmond became First Minister.
2011: The SNP won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, a historic achievement.
2014: Scotland held an independence referendum. 55.3% voted to remain in the UK. Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister after Alex Salmond resigned.
2015: The SNP won almost all Scottish seats (56 out of 59) in the UK general election.
2016: The UK voted to leave the European Union, but 62% of Scottish voters wanted to remain.
2024: The Scottish Labour Party became the largest party representing Scotland in the UK Parliament, winning 37 out of 57 seats.

The Crown's Role

The version of the Royal Standard used in Scotland

Scotland is part of a constitutional monarchy. This means the country has a monarch (a king or queen) as its head of state, but their powers are limited by laws and a constitution. The current head of state for Scotland is King Charles III.

Scotland and England had separate monarchs until 1603. That year, James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. This was called the Union of the Crowns. However, the two kingdoms remained separate until 1707.

Today, the Crown of Scotland is still used for special occasions. For example, it is present when the monarch visits the Scottish Parliament.

Making Laws in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament

A session in process in the Scottish Parliament debating chamber with the parliaments 129 MSPs sitting

The Scottish Parliament is Scotland's main law-making body. It is located in the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh, often called "Holyrood." Before 1999, all laws for Scotland were made by the UK Parliament.

Now, the Scottish Parliament can make laws on many topics. These are called "devolved matters." They include health, education, justice, and local government. The UK Parliament still makes laws on "reserved matters" like defence, foreign policy, and major economic decisions.

The Scottish Parliament has 129 members, called members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). They are elected using a system that combines local constituency votes with a regional list system. This helps ensure that smaller parties can also gain representation. Elections for MSPs happen every five years.

The person who leads the Scottish Parliament's meetings is called the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. The current Presiding Officer is Alison Johnstone.

Scotland's Voice in the UK Parliament

Scotland also sends representatives to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in London. These representatives are called Members of Parliament (MPs). They are elected from different areas, or constituencies, across Scotland.

After the 2024 UK general election, Scotland is represented by 57 MPs in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. These MPs vote on laws that affect the whole UK.

A question sometimes asked is whether Scottish MPs should vote on laws that only affect England. This is known as the "West Lothian question." For a time, there was a system called "English votes for English laws" (EVEL) to address this, but it was ended in 2021.

Leading Scotland: The Scottish Government

The incumbent Scottish cabinet, the Swinney government (May 2024–present)

The Scottish Government is responsible for running Scotland day-to-day. It makes decisions and carries out laws passed by the Scottish Parliament. The government handles all the devolved matters, such as education, transport, health care, and the economy.

The leader of the Scottish Government is the First Minister of Scotland. The Scottish Parliament chooses this person, and the King formally appoints them. The First Minister then picks other ministers to form the Scottish Cabinet. These ministers lead different departments, like health or education.

John Swinney became the First Minister in May 2024. He leads the current Scottish Government. Kate Forbes is the Deputy First Minister.

In August 2021, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish Greens formed a power-sharing agreement. This meant Green politicians became junior ministers in the government. However, this agreement ended in April 2024. This led to the resignation of the previous First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and John Swinney took over.

First Ministers of Scotland

Donald Dewar (1999–2000)
Henry McLeish (2000–2001)
Jack McConnell (2001–2007)
Alex Salmond (2007–2014)
Nicola Sturgeon (2014–2023)
Humza Yousaf (2023–2024)
John Swinney (2024–present)

Deputy First Ministers of Scotland

Jim Wallace (1999–2005)
Nicol Stephen (2005–2007)
Nicola Sturgeon (2007–2014)
John Swinney (2014–2023)
Shona Robison (2023–2024)
Kate Forbes (2024–present)

Scotland's Global Connections

First Minister Jack McConnell with U.S. President, George W. Bush, 2005

The Scottish Government also works to build relationships with other countries. This helps promote Scotland's culture, education, and economy around the world.

Scotland has several international offices in different countries. These offices help connect the Scottish Government with other governments. They also encourage trade and business with Scotland.

Scottish Law and Courts

Scotland has its own unique legal system, called Scots law. The Courts of Scotland are where justice is carried out.

The Lord Advocate is the chief legal officer for the Scottish Government. They are also the main public prosecutor for Scotland. This means they are in charge of bringing criminal cases to court. The Solicitor General for Scotland helps the Lord Advocate.

The highest criminal court in Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. For civil cases (disputes between people or groups), the highest court is the Court of Session. If someone wants to appeal a decision from the Court of Session, they can go to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Dorothy Bain KC
Lord Advocate
Ruth Charteris KC
Solicitor General for Scotland

Scotland's Place in the UK

Secretary of State for Scotland

Douglas Alexander, the incumbent Secretary of State for Scotland within the UK Government

Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. Some matters that are not devolved to the Scottish Parliament are handled by the UK Government. The person in charge of these Scottish affairs within the UK Government is the Secretary of State for Scotland.

This role aims to represent Scotland's interests within the UK government. The current Secretary of State for Scotland is Douglas Alexander, who was appointed in September 2025. The Scotland Office is the UK government department that supports this role.

Scottish Representation in the House of Commons

General election results in Scotland (1918–Present)
	Scottish Conservatives		Scottish Labour		Scottish National		Scottish Liberal Democrats

	Seats	Votes	Seats	Votes	Seats	Votes	Seats	Votes
2024	5	12.7%	37	35.3%	9	30.0%	6	9.7%
2019	6	25.1%	1	18.6%	48	45.0%	4	9.5%
2017	13	28.6%	7	27.1%	35	39.6%	4	6.8%
2015	1	14.9%	1	24.3%	56	50.0%	1	7.5%
2010	1	16.7%	41	42.0%	6	19.9%	11	18.9%
2005	1	15.8%	41	39.5%	6	17.7%	11	22.6%
2001	1	15.6%	56	43.9%	5	20.1%	10	16.4%
1997	0	17.5%	56	41.0%	6	22.0%	10	13.0%
1992	11	25.7%	49	34.4%	3	21.5%	9	13.1%
1987	10	24.0%	50	38.7%	3	14.0%	9	19.3%
1983	21	28.4%	40	33.2%	2	11.8%	8	24.5%
1979	22	31.4%	44	38.6%	2	17.3%	3	9.0%
Oct 1974	16	24.7%	41	33.1%	11	30.4%	3	8.3%
Feb 1974	21	32.9%	40	34.6%	7	21.9%	3	7.9%
1970	23	38.0%	44	44.5%	1	11.4%	3	5.5%
1966	20	37.6%	46	47.7%	0	5.0%	5	6.7%
1964	24	37.3%	43	46.9%	0	2.4%	4	7.6%
1959	31	47.3%	38	46.7%	0	0.8%	1	4.8%
1955	36	50.1%	34	46.7%	0	0.5%	1	1.9%
1951	35	48.6%	35	48.0%	0	0.3%	1	2.8%
1945	27	40.3%	37	47.9%	0	1.3%	0	5.6%
1935	43	49.8%	20	36.8%	0	1.1%	3	6.7%
1931	57	55.4%	7	32.6%	0	1.0%	7	8.6%
1929	20	35.9%	36	42.3%	0	0.2%	13	18.1%
1924	36	40.7%	26	41.1%	–	–	8	16.6%
1923	14	31.6%	34	35.9%	22	28.4%
1922	13	25.1%	29	32.2%	–	–	27	39.2%
1918	30	32.8%	6	22.9%	–	–	33	34.1%

The effect of the Boundary Commission for Scotland's reform and the 2005 general election upon Scottish seats

Scotland is divided into 57 areas called constituencies for UK general elections. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP). These MPs represent their local area in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London.

The table above shows how different political parties have performed in Scottish elections for the UK Parliament over time.

Scottish Members in the House of Lords

Some people from Scotland also serve in the House of Lords. This is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. These members are not elected by the public. Instead, they are appointed for life or inherit their positions. They contribute to making and reviewing laws for the whole UK.

Local Government in Scotland

Debating hall of Glasgow City Chambers, seat of Glasgow's City Council

For local matters, Scotland is divided into 32 areas called council areas. Each area has its own local government, run by a council. People in these areas elect councillors every five years to make decisions for their local community.

These councils manage local services like schools, waste collection, and local roads. The leader of a council is often called a Convener or Provost. In big cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh, the leader is called a Lord Provost.

Scotland also has community councils. These groups represent the interests of local people in smaller areas. They advise the main councils on local issues.

Scotland's Political Parties

Scotland has several political parties that compete in elections. Here are some of the main ones:

Scottish National Party (SNP): This party wants Scotland to be an independent country. They are generally a centre-left party. The SNP has been the largest party in the Scottish Parliament since 2007. They currently lead the Scottish Government.

Scottish Conservatives and Unionist Party: This party wants Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. They are generally a centre-right party. They are currently the second-largest party in the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Labour Party: This party focuses on social justice and workers' rights. They are generally a centre-left party. Historically, Labour was the dominant party in Scotland. They are currently the third-largest party in the Scottish Parliament. In the 2024 UK general election, they became the largest party representing Scotland in the UK Parliament.

Scottish Liberal Democrats: This party is generally in the centre of politics. They support social liberal ideas. They were part of the first Scottish Government coalition.

Scottish Green Party: This party focuses on environmental issues and social justice. They are generally a left-wing party. The Greens support Scottish independence. They were part of a power-sharing agreement with the SNP from 2021 to April 2024.

Images for kids

The Second Salmond government (2011–2014) was the first majority Scottish Government
Deputy first minister Sturgeon signs the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 allowing an independence referendum in 2014