List Of Political Parties In Scotland

This article is a component of a larger series detailing the Politics of Scotland, which itself falls under the umbrella of the Politics of the United Kingdom. It focuses specifically on the diverse array of political entities that operate within Scotland.

The Crown

The Crown is the constitutional embodiment of the sovereign power in the United Kingdom.

The Monarch: Currently, Charles III holds the position of Monarch. His reign signifies the continuation of a long-standing tradition of monarchy in the British Isles.
Heir apparent: The direct line of succession places William, who also holds the Scottish title of Duke of Rothesay, as the heir apparent.
Prerogative: This refers to the residual powers and privileges vested in the Crown, exercised by the Monarch or their representatives.
Royal family: The extended family of the Monarch, whose members play various ceremonial and public roles.
Succession: The established order by which the Crown passes from one monarch to the next, governed by specific laws and traditions.
Privy Council: An ancient British governmental institution, advising the Monarch in their duties. It plays a significant role in the UK's constitutional framework.
Union of the Crowns: Historically, this refers to the event in 1603 when James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England under a single monarch, though the parliaments remained separate.
Balmoral Castle: A private residence of the Monarch in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, often used as a summer retreat.
Holyrood Palace: The official residence of the Monarch in Scotland, located in Edinburgh. It serves as the venue for state ceremonies and official entertaining.
Scottish republicanism: A political movement advocating for the abolition of the monarchy in Scotland and the establishment of a republic.

Executive

The executive branch of the Scottish Government is responsible for the day-to-day administration of Scotland.

Scottish Government: The devolved government for Scotland, responsible for a wide range of policy areas.
- Swinney government: The current administration, led by the First Minister.
First Minister: The head of the Scottish Government. Currently, The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP holds this office.
Keeper of the Great Seal: A senior ministerial role, currently held by The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, responsible for the Great Seal of Scotland.
Deputy First Minister: The second-highest position in the Scottish Government, currently held by Kate Forbes MSP.
Cabinet Secretaries: Ministers responsible for specific government departments.
Junior Ministers: Ministers who support Cabinet Secretaries.
Scottish budget: The financial plan for Scotland, outlining government spending and revenue.
Taxation: The system of levying taxes within Scotland, with devolved powers over certain tax areas.
Directorates: The administrative divisions within the Scottish Government.
Executive agencies: Bodies that operate at arm's length from the Scottish Government, delivering specific public services.
Public bodies: Organizations established by the Scottish Parliament or Government to carry out specific functions.
State-owned enterprises: Companies in which the state holds a significant stake, though this is less common in devolved areas.
[Bute House: The official residence of the First Minister of Scotland in Edinburgh.
[St Andrew's House: A prominent building in Edinburgh housing various government departments.
International relations: Scotland's engagement with other countries and international organizations, within the framework of UK foreign policy.

Legislature

The legislative power in Scotland rests with the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Parliament: The devolved unicameral legislature for Scotland, located in Edinburgh.
- Sixth session: The current parliamentary term.
Presiding Officer: The speaker of the Scottish Parliament, currently Alison Johnstone MSP.
Primary legislation: Laws passed by the Scottish Parliament.
Statutory instrument: Secondary legislation made under powers granted by Acts of the Scottish Parliament.
Committees: Groups of MSPs that scrutinize legislation and government policy.
First Minister's Questions: A regular session where the First Minister answers questions from MSPs.
Standards Commission for Scotland: An independent body overseeing ethical standards for MSPs and public appointments.
Scotland Act 1998: The foundational legislation that established the Scottish Parliament and devolved powers.
2012 Act: A subsequent Act that further devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament.
2016 Act: Another piece of legislation that enhanced the powers of the Scottish Parliament, particularly in relation to taxation.
Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999: Defines the maritime boundaries of Scotland.
EU Continuity Act 2020: Legislation to ensure continuity of law after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

Law and justice

The legal system in Scotland is distinct from the rest of the UK.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice: The minister responsible for justice matters, currently Angela Constance MSP.
Lord Advocate: The chief legal officer of the Crown in Scotland, currently Dorothy Bain KC.
Lord President: The head of the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, Scotland's supreme civil and criminal courts respectively. Currently, The Rt Hon Lord Pentland KC PC holds this position.
Scots law: The unique legal system of Scotland, a hybrid of civil and common law traditions.
Udal law: A form of customary law historically found in Orkney and Shetland, with Norse origins.
Courts: The judicial system of Scotland, comprising various levels of courts.
Judiciary: The body of judges in Scotland.
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service: An agency responsible for the administration of courts and tribunals in Scotland.
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service: Scotland's national prosecution service.
[Police Scotland]: The national police force for Scotland.
[Scottish Prison Service]: The agency responsible for managing prisons in Scotland.
Advocate General: The chief legal advisor to the UK Government on devolved matters in Scotland.
Solicitor General: The second-ranking legal officer in Scotland.

Elections and referendums

Scotland participates in various elections at different levels.

Scottish Parliament elections: Held every five years to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).
- 1999
- 2003
- 2007
- 2011
- 2016
- 2021
- Next
United Kingdom Parliament elections: Elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Scottish constituencies in the UK House of Commons. This section lists historical general elections in Scotland, starting from 1801 up to 2019.
European Parliament elections: These were held in Scotland as part of the UK's membership of the European Union, from 1979 to 2019.
Local elections: Elections for councillors in Scotland's local government areas, with historical elections listed from 1967 to 2022.
Referendums: Significant referendums have taken place in Scotland, including on European Communities membership in 1975, devolution in 1979 and 1997, the Alternative Vote in 2011, Scottish independence in 2014, and European Union membership in 2016.
Scottish Parliament constituencies: The electoral districts for the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish Parliament electoral regions: Larger regions used for the proportional representation element of Scottish Parliament elections.
Scottish Westminster constituencies: The electoral districts for UK Parliament elections in Scotland.
Proposed second independence referendum: Discussions and proposals surrounding a potential second referendum on Scottish independence.
Electoral system: The methods used to conduct elections in Scotland.
Political parties: The various organizations that contest elections in Scotland.

Scotland and the United Kingdom

This section outlines the relationship between Scotland and the wider United Kingdom government.

United Kingdom Government: The central government of the United Kingdom.
- Starmer ministry: The current UK government.
Prime Minister: The head of the UK Government, currently The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP.
Secretary of State for Scotland: The UK Government minister responsible for Scottish affairs, currently The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP.
Scottish devolution: The process by which powers have been transferred from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament.
Treaty of Union: The 1707 agreement that united the Kingdom of Scotland with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
House of Commons: The lower house of the UK Parliament.
House of Lords: The upper house of the UK Parliament.
Scotland Office: The UK Government department responsible for Scotland.
Scottish Affairs Committee: A select committee of the UK House of Commons that scrutinizes the work of the Scotland Office and its impact on Scotland.
Scottish Grand Committee: A former committee of the UK House of Commons composed of MPs representing Scottish constituencies.
Interministerial Standing Committee: A forum for cooperation between UK government ministers and devolved administration ministers.
Barnett formula: The mechanism used to adjust public spending in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in response to changes in spending in England.
Reserved matters: Areas of policy that remain under the control of the UK Parliament, not devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Sewel motion: A mechanism whereby the Scottish Parliament grants consent for the UK Parliament to legislate on devolved matters.

Administration

This section concerns the local government structures within Scotland.

Council areas: The primary administrative divisions of Scotland, each with its own elected council.
History: An overview of the development of local government in Scotland.
Sheriffdoms: Historical judicial divisions of Scotland.
Community councils: Local bodies representing communities.
Lieutenancy areas: Geographical areas headed by a Lord Lieutenant, representing the Monarch.
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities: An advisory body for Scottish local government.

Political Parties in Scotland

This article lists the various political parties that operate within Scotland.

Overview

Scottish National Party (SNP): The dominant force in Scottish politics, advocating for Scottish independence and further devolution. Generally centre-left and social democratic, it also champions nuclear disarmament and close ties with the European Union. Founded in 1934, it established a permanent presence in the House of Commons in 1967. Its performance in the general election of October 1974 saw it win 11 Westminster seats, though this was reduced significantly by 1979. Under Alex Salmond, the SNP achieved a historic majority in the Scottish Parliament in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, forming the Scottish Government. The current First Minister is John Swinney. The party holds 64 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and 9 Members of the UK Parliament (MPs).
Scottish Conservatives: The Scottish arm of the UK Conservative Party. Formed in 1965 from the merger of the Scottish Unionist Party, which had been a major political force, winning a majority of Scottish seats in the 1931 general election and 1955 general election. The party experienced a decline, losing all its Scottish seats in the 1997 general election. However, it secured 18 seats in the 1999 Scottish Parliament election due to the proportional representation electoral system. From 2001 to 2017, it held only one UK Parliament seat, but saw a resurgence in the 2017 general election, winning 13 seats. As a centre-right party, it advocates conservatism and British unionism. It currently has 31 MSPs, led by Douglas Ross until recently, and 5 MPs.
Scottish Labour: The Scottish branch of the UK-wide Labour Party. It was the leading party in Scotland from 1964 to 2007. Adhering to centre-left principles and promoting British unionism, it first surpassed the Conservatives in Scottish Westminster seats at the 1959 general election. In 1997, the UK Labour government under Tony Blair facilitated a referendum on devolution, which was overwhelmingly supported. Labour governed in coalition with the Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2007. Following significant defeats, the party has seen leadership changes, including Iain Gray, Johann Lamont, Jim Murphy, Kezia Dugdale, and Richard Leonard. The current leader is Anas Sarwar MSP. The party holds 37 MPs and 22 MSPs. [Note: A citation is needed for the claim about British unionism.]
Scottish Liberal Democrats: The Scottish section of the UK Liberal Democrats. This centrist, social liberal and British unionist party emerged from the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party in 1988. The party's leader is Alex Cole-Hamilton. The Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition at Westminster led to a significant decline in support. The party won five seats in the 2011 Scottish parliamentary election and lost its Scottish MEP in the 2014 European elections. At the 2015 general election, it retained only one MP, Alistair Carmichael. The party currently has four MSPs and six MPs.
Scottish Greens: Positioned between the centre-left and the left-wing, the party champions green politics, Scottish independence, equality, and radical democracy. Originating from the breakup of the UK Green Party, it now operates independently from the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party Northern Ireland. The Scottish Greens first gained a seat in the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and currently hold 7 MSPs, but have not yet returned any MPs to the UK Parliament.
Reform UK Scotland: The Scottish branch of the UK-wide Reform UK. It is characterized by its Eurosceptic and right-wing populist stance. The party gained its first elected representative in January 2021 when Michelle Ballantyne, a former Conservative MSP, joined the party. Ballantyne had previously resigned from the Conservatives. However, she lost her seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, leaving Reform UK Scotland without elected representation at that time.

Parties with elected representation

These parties have elected members in either the Scottish Parliament or the House of Commons, and generally also at the local government level.

Party	Founded	Political position	Ideology	Leader	Scottish Parliament	House of Commons	Local government	Membership [a]
Scottish National Party	1934	Centre-left	Scottish nationalism, Scottish independence, Social democracy, Regionalism, Civic nationalism, Pro-Europeanism	John Swinney	60 / 129	9 / 57	414 / 1,226	56,011 [3]
Scottish Conservatives	1965	Centre-right to right-wing	Conservatism, British unionism, Economic liberalism	Russell Findlay	28 / 129	5 / 57	176 / 1,226	6,941 [4]
Scottish Labour [b]	1994	Centre-left	Social democracy, British unionism, British devolution	Anas Sarwar	22 / 129	37 / 57	262 / 1,226	16,467 [5]
Scottish Greens	1990	Centre-left to left-wing	Green politics, Scottish independence, Scottish republicanism, Pro-Europeanism	Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer (co-leadership)	7 / 129	0 / 57	34 / 1,226	9,000 [6]
Scottish Liberal Democrats	1988	Centre to centre-left	Liberalism, Social liberalism, British federalism, British unionism, Pro-Europeanism	Alex Cole-Hamilton	5 / 129	6 / 57	88 / 1,226	4,185 [7]
Reform UK	2018	Right-wing	Right-wing populism, Euroscepticism	Nigel Farage	1 / 129	0 / 57	19 / 1,226	10,000 [8]

Local government

Main article: Local government in Scotland

Several parties have elected representation exclusively at the local government level.

Party	Founded	Ideology	Council area(s)	Councillors
Alba Party	2021	Scottish nationalism, Scottish republicanism, Scottish independence, Social conservatism	Highland, South Ayrshire	2
British Unionist Party	2015	British unionism, Scottish unionism, Social conservatism, Social democracy, British nationalism	North Lanarkshire	1
Rubbish Party	2017	Localism, Environmentalism	East Ayrshire	1
West Dunbartonshire Community Party	2016	Socialism	West Dunbartonshire	1

Parties with no elected representation

This category includes notable registered parties in Scotland that currently lack elected officials in either the Scottish Parliament or the UK Parliament. Some are Scotland-specific, while others may have broader UK-wide operations.

Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party: Founded in 2020, this party advocates for the Scottish Parliament abolition and is anti-devolution, promoting Scottish unionism. Its leader is John Mortimer.
Animal Welfare Party: Established in 2006, this party focuses on animal welfare. The leader is Vanessa Hudson.
British National Party: Founded in 1982, it is associated with British fascism, White nationalism, right-wing populism, ethnic nationalism, ultranationalism, and hard Euroscepticism. The leader is Adam Walker.
Christian Party: Founded in 2004, it aligns with the Christian right, social conservatism, British unionism, and Euroscepticism. The leader is Donald Boyd.
Christian Peoples Alliance: Established in 1999, it is a Christian democracy party with social conservative and Eurosceptic tendencies. The leader is Sidney Cordle.
Communist Party of Britain: Founded in 1988, it adheres to Communism and Marxism–Leninism. The leader is Robert Griffiths.
Independence for Scotland Party: Founded in 2020, this party's primary focus is Scottish independence. The leader is Colette Walker.
Independent Green Voice: Established in 2003, this party promotes [Scottish unionism](/Unionism_in_ Scotland), British unionism, and Euroscepticism. The leader is Alistair McConnachie.
Liberal Party: Founded in 1989, it advocates for British liberalism, Georgism, and Euroscepticism. The leader is Steve Radford.
National Front: Founded in 1967, it is associated with British fascism, neo-fascism, British nationalism, and white supremacy. The leader is Tony Martin.
Official Monster Raving Loony Party: Founded in 1983, this party is known for its political satire. The leader is Howling Laud Hope, also known as Alan Hope.
Reclaim Party: Founded in 2020, it is associated with right-wing populism and anti-lockdown sentiments. The leader is Laurence Fox.
Scottish Family Party: Founded in 2017, it aligns with the Christian right, social conservatism, is anti-abortion, and anti-LGBT. The leader is Richard Lucas.
Scottish Libertarian Party: Founded in 2012, it advocates for libertarianism, classical liberalism, minarchism, Euroscepticism, cultural liberalism, and Scottish independence. The leader is Tam Laird.
Scottish Socialist Party: Founded in 1998, it promotes democratic socialism, Scottish independence, and Scottish republicanism. The co-spokespersons are Colin Fox and Róisín McLaren [c].
Scottish Unionist Party: Founded in 1986, it supports Scottish unionism, British unionism, and is anti-devolution. The leader is Jonathan Stanley.
Social Democratic Party: Founded in 1990, it advocates for social democracy, social conservatism, communitarianism, and Euroscepticism. The leader is William Clouston.
Socialist Labour Party: Founded in 1996, it promotes socialism, fiscal localism, republicanism, and hard Euroscepticism. The leader is Arthur Scargill.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition: Founded in 2010, it is based on socialism and trade unionism. The leader is Dave Nellist.
UK Independence Party: Founded in 1993, it is known for its Euroscepticism, right-wing populism, national conservatism, economic liberalism, and British nationalism. The leader is Donald Mackay.
Volt UK: Founded in 2020, it advocates for social liberalism, progressivism, and pro-Europeanism. The leader is Alex Haida.
Workers Party of Britain: Founded in 2019, it combines socialism, social conservatism, Euroscepticism, and British unionism. The leader is George Galloway.

Historical and deregistered parties

This section lists parties that are no longer active or have been deregistered.

Notable historical parties: Includes groups such as the Communist Party of Great Britain, Independent Labour Party, National Party of Scotland, Scottish Labour Party (1888), and the Unionist Party.
Notable deregistered parties: Includes more recent parties like All for Unity, RISE — Scotland's Left Alliance, and Solidarity.