5 h. ago John Swinney to condemn Westminster's 'race to the right' as SNP leader gears up for election fight

Senior Nationalists believe they are in sight of achieving an overall majority of MSPs when Scots go to the polls next May.

Politics

9 h. ago John Swinney hints at SNP legal bid over independence referendum 'precedent'

The First Minister has been accused of “trying to provoke an argument about the constitution”.

Politics

9 h. ago Revulsion with Westminster will push Scotland to independence, Swinney to say

John Swinney will address the last SNP conference ahead of next year’s election.

Politics

13 h. ago Readers' letters: Labour must think radically to win Holyrood election

A devo-max argument could counter John Swinney’s belief that the ‘limits of devolution’ have been reached, a reader says

Politics

15 h. ago Nicola Sturgeon believes in John Swinney's 'secret plan' for independence

Nicola Sturgeon says it is right for John Swinney to set the bar high for next year’s election campaign

Politics

17 h. ago SNP leader John Swinney refuses to apologise for raising recognition of Palestinian state at Jewish vigil for Hamas victims

John Swinney was booed by a furious crowd as he spoke at an event at Holyrood to mark the second anniversary of the October 7 atrocities.

Politics

17 h. ago Nicola Sturgeon says she believes John Swinney if he says he has a secret plan

The former first minister received a standing ovation from SNP members in the main hall of the party’s conference in Aberdeen.

Politics

21 h. ago John Swinney insists he won't resign if SNP fails to win majority at Holyrood election

Keith Brown, the SNP depute leader, had suggested the First Minister was "staking his premiership on winning independence".

Politics

25 h. ago Fifth term for SNP looks likely but John Swinney does not deserve it: Euan McColm

First Minister is again focusing on independence without detail on claimed benefits and no route to second referendum

Politics

29 h. ago John Swinney vows to block 'ludicrous' digital ID cards in Scotland using Holyrood powers

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mail, the FM accused PM Keir Starmer of allowing Tony Blair to dictate UK Government policy.

Politics

39 h. ago John Swinney the activist looks to rally the troops ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election

The big focus of this year’s SNP conference is getting the nationalists ready to fight for a fifth term in office.

Politics

40 h. ago SNP backs Swinney’s ‘clear’ strategy for new independence referendum

Members overwhelmingly endorse leadership motion that majority at next Holyrood election is only route to second voteSNP members have overwhelmingly backed leader John Swinney’s “clear and unambiguous” independence strategy that a majority election win is the only route to another referendum.On the first day of the party’s annual conference in Aberdeen, the vast majority of members backed the leadership’s motion that next May’s Holyrood elections should be fought on a “clear platform of national independence” and that winning a majority in the Scottish parliament – by securing 65 seats or more – would be “the only uncontested way to deliver a new vote on Scotland’s future”. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago John Swinney 'stakes leadership' on delivering independence as he insists SNP will 'win big' in May

In a rousing speech, John Swinney told the SNP conference that “the need to achieve independence has never, ever been greater for Scotland”.

Politics

40 h. ago John Swinney sees off SNP rebels to win conference backing for Scottish independence strategy

The First Minister faced a potential banana skin on the opening day of his party's conference in Aberdeen.

Politics

41 h. ago Euan McColm: Fifth term for SNP looks likely but John Swinney does not deserve it

First Minister is again focusing on independence without detail on claimed benefits and no route to second referendum

Politics

43 h. ago SNP conference LIVE as John Swinney sees off party rebellion on IndyRef2 plans

The Nationalists are determined to stretch their time in power at Holyrood into a third decade when a crunch Scottish election rolls around in May next year.

Society

45 h. ago Stephen Flynn kicks off SNP conference by painting John Swinney's stability as the party's strength

The big challenge for the SNP over the next three days is coming up with a strategy to win the 2026 election.

Politics

63 h. ago John Swinney backs pause in asylum seekers being sent to Glasgow as city faces homelessness crisis

The First Minister backed up SNP-led Glasgow council over calls for a temporary suspension.

Events

69 h. ago John Swinney's revival of the SNP has given his party a shot at a fifth term in office

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the SNP leader has given his party a good chance of winning an election they should be losing easily.

Society

3 d. ago John Swinney 'does not recall' asking questions about botched exam model during pandemic

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) developed plans that scrapped exams and based grades on a mix of teacher estimates and the historic attainment of schools.

Events