Scottish National Party facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Scottish National Party Scots National Pairty Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba

Abbreviation	SNP
Leader	John Swinney
Depute Leader	Keith Brown
Westminster Leader	Stephen Flynn
President	Vacant
Chief Executive	Murray Foote
Founded	7 April 1934
Merger of	National Party of Scotland Scottish Party
Headquarters	Gordon Lamb House 3 Jackson's Entry Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
Student wing	SNP Students
Youth wing	Young Scots for Independence
LGBT wing	Out for Independence
Membership (2023)	69,325
Ideology	Scottish nationalism Scottish independence Social democracy Regionalism Civic nationalism Left-wing populism Pro-Europeanism
Political position	Centre-left
European affiliation	European Free Alliance
Colours	Yellow Black
Anthem	"Scots Wha Hae"
House of Commons (Scottish seats)	43 / 59
Scottish Parliament	63 / 129
Local government in Scotland	427 / 1,227
Politics of Scotland Political parties Politics of the United Kingdom Political parties

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a political party in Scotland. It wants Scotland to be an independent country, separate from the United Kingdom. The SNP also believes in social democracy, which means it supports policies that help people and make society fairer.

The SNP is currently the largest political party in Scotland. It holds 63 out of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 43 out of 59 Scottish seats in the UK's House of Commons. The party also has many local councillors across Scotland.

A main goal of the SNP is for Scotland to become independent from the United Kingdom. They also want Scotland to be a member of the European Union. The party focuses on policies that are fair and help everyone, based on the idea of civic nationalism, which means valuing everyone who lives in Scotland, no matter where they come from.

The SNP was started in 1934 when two other Scottish parties joined together. They have had members in the UK Parliament since 1967. When the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999, the SNP became the second-biggest party. They later won power in 2007 with Alex Salmond as leader, forming a government. In 2011, they won a majority of seats for the first time.

After Scotland voted against independence in a 2014 vote, Alex Salmond stepped down. Nicola Sturgeon became the new leader. The SNP continued to lead the Scottish government, sometimes as a minority government. In 2021, they made an agreement with the Scottish Greens to share power. Nicola Sturgeon resigned in March 2023 and Humza Yousaf became leader. In April 2024, Humza Yousaf also resigned, and John Swinney became the new leader in May 2024.

About the Scottish National Party

How the SNP Started (1934–1970)

The SNP was formed in 1934. It was created by joining the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party. The first leaders were the Duke of Montrose and Cunninghame Graham. Alexander MacEwen was the first chairman.

During World War II, the party had different views. One leader, Professor Douglas Young, was even put in prison for refusing to join the army.

Alexander MacEwen, the first leader of the Scottish National Party from 1934 to 1936.

The party had its first success in the UK Parliament in 1945. Robert McIntyre won a seat in Motherwell. However, he lost it just three months later. For many years, the SNP struggled to gain much support.

Things started to change in the 1960s. In 1967, Winnie Ewing won a surprise election in Hamilton. This made the SNP much more well-known across the country.

Becoming a Stronger Force (1970s)

Even after Winnie Ewing's win, the 1970 election was a bit disappointing. But in 1973, Margo MacDonald won another important election in Glasgow Govan.

The year 1974 was a very good year for the SNP. They ran a famous campaign called "It's Scotland's oil." This campaign argued that the money from oil found off Scotland's coast should benefit Scotland more.

In October 1974, the SNP won 11 seats, a record that stood for many years.

In the two general elections held in 1974, the SNP gained many seats. They won 11 seats in the October election, which was a record at the time. They also started to win more seats in local councils.

Later in the 1970s, the UK government agreed to create a Scottish assembly. This was a step towards giving Scotland more power. A vote was held in 1979, and most people voted yes. However, not enough people voted for it to pass. Because of this, the SNP stopped supporting the government, which led to a new election. The SNP then lost many of its seats.

Challenges and New Ideas (1980s)

After the 1979 election, the SNP faced some tough times. There were disagreements within the party. A group called the 79 Group wanted the party to be more clearly left-wing.

The 79 Group wanted the party to focus on left-wing ideas.

Despite these challenges, new ideas emerged. Jim Sillars helped the party support the idea of "Independence in Europe." This meant Scotland would be independent but also part of the European Economic Community (EEC), which is now the European Union. Before this, the SNP had been against joining the EEC.

The SNP did not join other parties in creating a plan for a Scottish Parliament at this time. This was because the other parties did not want to discuss full independence.

The Salmond Years Begin (1990s)

Alex Salmond became the leader of the SNP in 1990. He was elected to the UK Parliament in 1987. The party continued to focus on left-wing policies, like opposing a new tax called the poll tax.

In 1994, the SNP gained control of the Tayside Regional Council.

In 1997, the SNP had its most successful UK general election in many years. That same year, the party joined with others to campaign for a Scottish Parliament. This campaign was successful, and the Scottish Parliament was created with powers to make its own laws and raise some taxes.

In 1999, the first elections for the Scottish Parliament were held. The SNP did not do as well as hoped, becoming the second-largest party.

Opposing Other Governments (1999–2007)

From 1999 to 2007, the SNP was the main opposition party in the Scottish Parliament. They challenged the government, which was a partnership between the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Alex Salmond stepped down as leader in 2000, and John Swinney took over. However, the party continued to struggle in elections. Salmond returned as leader in 2004, with Nicola Sturgeon as his deputy.

SNP in Government (2007–2014)

In 2007, the SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament. Alex Salmond became Scotland's First Minister. He led a minority government, meaning they did not have enough seats to pass laws without support from other parties.

The first SNP government led by Alex Salmond (seated left) as First Minister, with Nicola Sturgeon (seated right).

In 2011, the SNP won a huge victory, gaining an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament. This meant they could pass laws without needing support from other parties. This allowed them to hold a vote on Scottish independence in 2014.

In the 2014 independence vote, 45% of people voted for independence, but 55% voted to stay part of the UK. After this result, Alex Salmond resigned as First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon then became the new leader of the SNP.

Nicola Sturgeon's Leadership (2014–2023)

After the independence vote, the SNP did very well in the 2015 UK general election. Led by Nicola Sturgeon, they won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland. This was their best result ever in a UK general election.

In 2015, the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland.

In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP lost its overall majority but still formed a minority government. Later that year, the UK voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 European Union referendum. Most people in Scotland voted to stay in the EU, and the SNP strongly opposed Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon led the party and served as First Minister for nine years.

In the 2017 UK general election, the SNP lost some seats but still remained the largest party in Scotland. In the 2019 UK general election, the SNP gained more seats, winning 48. This was their second-best result ever.

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP won 64 seats, just one short of a majority. They then formed a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party. Nicola Sturgeon said her main goals were to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and push for another independence vote.

Nicola Sturgeon talking to journalists about her plans for another independence vote.

In February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon announced she would resign as leader and First Minister. The party's membership numbers had also fallen.

Humza Yousaf's Time as Leader (2023 - May 2024)

Humza Yousaf became the new leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland in March 2023. He won the leadership election with 52% of the vote. His time as leader focused on the strategy for Scottish independence and other important policies.

In October 2023, the SNP voted to launch a new campaign for Scottish independence. Humza Yousaf also announced plans to freeze Council Tax and provide more money for the NHS.

In April 2024, Humza Yousaf ended the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens. He then announced his resignation as leader and First Minister a few days later.

John Swinney's Leadership (May 2024 onwards)

On May 6, 2024, John Swinney was confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish National Party. He was the only candidate for the role.

How the SNP Works

The SNP is organized into local Branches. These Branches work together in Constituency Associations for each Scottish Parliament area.

The most important meeting is the annual National Conference. Here, the party decides its policies and elects its main committee. This conference includes:

Members from every local Branch.
All SNP members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and UK Parliament (MPs).
All SNP local councillors.
Members from groups linked to the SNP, like Young Scots for Independence.

There are also regular meetings called the National Assembly where members can discuss party policies in detail.

Membership

The SNP saw a big increase in members after the 2014 independence vote. In 2013, they had about 20,000 members. By 2015, this number grew to over 100,000. Membership reached its highest point in 2019 with around 125,000 members. By the end of 2023, the number was 69,325.

European Connections

The SNP works closely with Plaid Cymru, a similar party in Wales. Both parties are part of the European Free Alliance (EFA). This is a group of regional political parties in Europe. The EFA works with the European Green Party in the European Parliament.

Since the UK left the EU, the SNP no longer has members in the European Parliament.

What the SNP Believes In

Party Ideas

For a long time, the SNP didn't have a clear political stance, saying it was "neither left nor right." It was formed from parties with different views. However, from the 1960s, the SNP started to become more focused on social democratic ideas. This means they believe in policies that aim for fairness and equality.

Many new members from the Labour Party and trade unions joined the SNP, which helped shift its focus to the left. For example, in 1961, the SNP opposed the US nuclear submarine base in Scotland. They have been against nuclear weapons ever since.

In the 1970s, the SNP officially called itself a social democratic party. They proposed policies like full employment and government help for important industries.

After 1979, there were more debates about the party's direction. Some members wanted it to be even more socialist. The SNP also campaigned against the poll tax, a very unpopular tax introduced in Scotland in 1989.

The SNP has two main groups of thought:

Gradualists: These members believe Scotland can become independent step-by-step. They think the Scottish Parliament should gain more powers over time, leading to full independence.
Fundamentalists: These members believe the SNP should focus more directly on achieving independence, rather than taking small steps.

The SNP leadership usually follows the gradualist approach.

Economy

In the 1970s, the SNP famously campaigned with the slogan "It's Scotland's oil." They argued that the money from North Sea oil should benefit Scotland more directly.

The SNP government has changed income tax rates in Scotland. People who earn less pay less tax, and those who earn more pay more. They also replaced a property tax with a new system that charges different rates based on the property's value.

The SNP has supported progressive taxes at a local level too. They have also tried to help small businesses by capping and reducing business rates.

The party includes people with different economic ideas. This is because it is seen as the main way to achieve Scottish independence.

Social Fairness

The SNP has changed its views on some social issues over time. In 2000, they supported getting rid of a law that stopped local authorities from "promoting homosexuality."

In 2012, the SNP government announced plans to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland. This law was passed in 2014.

Under Nicola Sturgeon's leadership, Scotland was recognized as one of the best countries in Europe for the legal rights of LGBT+ people.

The SNP also worked to make it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender. This policy caused some debate within the party.

The SNP has also focused on gender equality. Nicola Sturgeon appointed a cabinet with an equal number of men and women. The party also supports multiculturalism and wants to increase immigration to Scotland.

Global Relations and Defense

The SNP used to support Scotland being a neutral country, meaning it wouldn't join military alliances. However, more recently, the party has decided to support Scotland being part of NATO, a military alliance. This is despite their continued opposition to nuclear weapons being based in Scotland.

The SNP increasingly supports alliances like NATO.

The SNP has supported membership of the European Union since the 1980s. They strongly opposed Brexit and want an independent Scotland to rejoin the EU and NATO. They have also considered the possibility of an independent Scotland using the euro currency.

Nicola Sturgeon meeting EU leader Jean-Claude Juncker in 2017. Being pro-European is important to the SNP.

The party also supports giving foreign aid to help other countries, especially Malawi, due to Scotland's historical links there.

Health and Education

The SNP is committed to keeping NHS Scotland as a public service and is against any privatization. They have introduced policies like universal "baby boxes" for new parents, similar to a scheme in Finland. They have also expanded free childcare and free school meals for younger children.

The SNP removed parking charges at hospitals like the Victoria Hospital in Glasgow.

SNP governments have removed hospital parking charges and prescription charges to make healthcare more accessible. They also introduced a minimum price for alcohol to help with alcohol-related problems. The party has also supported making sanitary products universally available.

University tuition fees were removed under Alex Salmond.

In education, one of the first actions of the SNP government was to remove university tuition fees for Scottish students. They have also focused on helping more people from different backgrounds go to university. The SNP has also made changes to the school curriculum.

Scotland's Future

The SNP believes that Scotland would be more successful as an independent country. Although they lost the 2014 independence vote, they want to hold another one in the future. They believe independence should happen through a fair and agreed process with the UK government.

The party also supports giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, especially in areas like welfare and immigration.

The SNP officially supports the monarchy. However, many party members are republicans, meaning they would prefer Scotland to have an elected head of state. The SNP has always opposed the UK's House of Lords, which is not elected, and wants both the House of Lords and the House of Commons to be elected fairly. They also support having a written constitution for Scotland.

SNP Leaders

Leaders of the Scottish National Party

Leader of the Scottish National Party
Leader	Portrait	Term
Alexander MacEwen		1934–1936
Prof Andrew Dewar Gibb		1936–1940
William Power		1940–1942
Douglas Young		1942–1945
Prof Bruce Watson		1945–1947
Robert McIntyre		1947–1956
James Halliday		1956–1960
Arthur Donaldson		1960–1969
William Wolfe		1969–1979
Gordon Wilson		1979–1990
The Right Hon. Alex Salmond (1st Term)		1990–2000
John Swinney		2000–2004
The Right Hon. Alex Salmond (2nd Term)		2004–2014
The Right Hon. Nicola Sturgeon		2014–2023
The Right Hon. Humza Yousaf		2023–2024
John Swinney (2nd Term)		2024–Incumbent

Current SNP Leaders in Parliament

Leader of the Scottish National Party: John Swinney
Depute Leader: Keith Brown
Westminster Leader (UK Parliament): Stephen Flynn

Stephen Flynn, SNP Westminster Leader

SNP in the Scottish Parliament

The SNP has been the leading party in the Scottish Government since 2007. As of March 2023, the Scottish Government's main ministers are:

Cabinet of Humza Yousaf
Portfolio	Minister	Term
Cabinet secretaries
First Minister	Humza Yousaf MSP	2023–present
Deputy First Minister	Shona Robison MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Finance	Shona Robison MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care	Michael Matheson MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills	Jenny Gilruth MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition	Màiri McAllan MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy	Neil Gray MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs	Angela Constance MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice	Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP	2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands	Mairi Gougeon MSP	2021–present
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture	Angus Robertson MSP	2021–present

SNP in the UK Parliament

The SNP holds most of the Scottish seats in the UK's House of Commons. They do not have members in the House of Lords because they believe it should be abolished.

Here are some of the main SNP spokespeople in the House of Commons:

Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn
Portfolio	Spokesperson
Group Leader		Stephen Flynn MP
Deputy Leader		Mhairi Black MP
Chief Whip		Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Economy		The Rt Hon Stewart Hosie MP
Social Justice		David Linden MP
Home Affairs		Alison Thewliss MP
Justice and Immigration		Stuart McDonald MP
Scotland		Philippa Whitford MP
Europe and EU Accession		Alyn Smith MP
Foreign Affairs		Drew Hendry MP
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs		Patricia Gibson MP
Women and Equalities		Kirsten Oswald MP
International Trade, Northern Ireland and Wales		Richard Thomson MP
Energy and Industrial Strategy		Alan Brown MP
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport		John Nicolson MP
Defence		Dave Doogan MP
House of Commons Business		Deidre Brock MP
Levelling Up		Chris Stephens MP
Cabinet Office		Kirsty Blackman MP
Transport		Gavin Newlands MP
Health		Martyn Day MP
International Development		Brendan O'Hara MP
Education		Carol Monaghan MP