Upcoming general election to be held in Scotland
Thenext Scottish Parliament election is required to be held no later than Thursday 7 May 2026, to elect 129 members to theScottish Parliament . It will be the seventhgeneral election since the devolved parliament was established in 1999.
Seven parties have MSPs in the sixth parliament:The Scottish National Party (SNP) led byFirst Minister John Swinney , theScottish Conservatives led byRussell Findlay ,Scottish Labour led byAnas Sarwar , theScottish Greens , led by co-leadersGillian Mackay andRoss Greer , and theScottish Liberal Democrats , led byAlex Cole-Hamilton . Of these parties, four have changed their leaders since the last Scottish Parliament election in 2021.Reform UK have one MSP following a defection from the Conservatives. Six members sit as independents after leaving or being suspended or expelled from their respective parties - two from the SNP, two from Labour, and one Conservative.Ash Regan left the SNP forAlba before later becoming an independent.
Under the Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament would normally be held on the first Thursday in May five years after the2021 election , i.e. on 7 May 2026.[ 1] Scotland Act 1998 , which had set elections in every fourth year.[ 2]
The date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by themonarch , on the proposal of thePresiding Officer , making 4 June 2026 the latest possible date for this election, assuming the convention of holding elections on a Thursday stands.[ 2]
If Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved, with at least two-thirds of themembers (i.e. 86 Members) voting in favour, the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the monarch byroyal proclamation .
It does not necessarily require a two-thirds majority to precipitate an extraordinary general election, because under the Scotland Act Parliament is also dissolved if it fails to nominate one of its members to beFirst Minister within certain time limits, irrespective of whether at the beginning or in the middle of a parliamentary term. Therefore, if the First Minister resigned, Parliament would then have 28 days to elect a successor (s46(2)b and s46(3)a). If no new First Minister was elected then the Presiding Officer would ask for Parliament to be dissolved under s3(1)a. This process could also be triggered if the First Minister lost avote of confidence by asimple majority (i.e. more than 50%), as they must then resign (Scotland Act 1998 s45(2)).
No extraordinary general elections have been held to date. Any extraordinary general elections would be in addition to ordinary general elections, unless held less than six months before the due date of an ordinary general election, in which case they supplant it. The subsequent ordinary general election reverts to the first Thursday in May, five years after the previous ordinary election.[ 1] [ 3]
[ edit ] The total number ofMembers of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.
The Scottish Parliament uses anadditional member system (AMS), designed to produce approximateproportional representation for each region. There are 8 regions, each sub-divided into smaller constituencies. There are a total of 73constituencies . Each constituency elects one MSP by theplurality (first past the post ) system of election. Each region elects 7 additional MSPs using anadditional member system. A modifiedD'Hondt method , using the constituency results, is used to elect these additional MSPs.[ 4] [ 5]
The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous withScottish Westminster constituencies since the2005 general election , when the 72 former UK Parliament constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (seeScottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004 ). The boundaries used for the Scottish Parliament elections were then revised for the 2011 election. The Boundary Commission also recommended changes to the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament,[ 6]
TheSecond Periodic Review of constituency and regional boundaries began in September 2022 and was completed by May 2025.[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
MSPs not standing for re-election [ edit ] A record number of MSPs are not seeking re-election.[ 10] [ 11] [ 12]
Seat SNP Labour Conservative Greens Lib Dems Alba Reform UK Other Central Scotland and Lothians West Gillian Mackay , Claire Williams, Cameron GlasgowPaul McGarry, Lucy Smith Edinburgh and Lothians East Lorna Slater , Kate Nevens, Q Manivannan, Chas Booth, Kayleigh O'Neill, Adam Al-Khateb,Mridul Wadhwa , Jo Phillips, Dan Heap, Astri JS Kvassnes, Alex Staniforth, Connal HughesSanne Dijkstra-Downie, Jane Pickard, Charles Dundas, Lewis Younie Jeremy Balfour (Independent),Ash Regan (Independent)Glasgow Patrick Harvie , Holly Bruce, Iris Duane, Rana Noor Mohamed, Isable Ruffell, Kit RenardDaniel O'Malley, Brian Howieson, Paul Kennedy, James Spiers Yvonne Ridley (WPGB ),George Galloway (WPGB)Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess , Kristopher Leask, Kate Willis, Draeyk Van der Horn, Alex Armitage, Anne Thomas, Julie ChristieRuaridh Ormston (Scottish Rural Party) Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell , Mags Hall, Caitlin Ripley, Ryan Blackadder, Marie Stadtler, Clare Andrews, Andrew Adam, Paul Vallot, Elspeth MaclachlanClaire McLaren North East Scotland Guy Ingerson,Maggie Chapman , Esme Houston, William Linegar, Sylvia Hardie, Kathryn Vincent, Charlotte Horne, Remi Salvan Yi-pei Chou Turvey, Michael Turvey, Tanvir Ahmed, Jeff Goodhall South Scotland Laura Moodie, Anne McGuinness, Dominic Ashmole, Cameron Garrett, Barbra Harvie, Neil MacKinnon, Tim Clancey, Tom Kerr, Korin Vallance Duncan Dunlop, Roy Georgeson, Aisha Mir, Richard Brodie, Charlotte Olcay West Scotland Ross Greer , Cara McKee, Karen Sharkey, Ian Sinkins, Paula Baker, Ross CollinsAdam Harley Alasdair Fletcher (Scottish Rural Party)
Constituency vote Regional vote Key SNP –Scottish National Party Conservative –Scottish Conservatives Labour –Scottish Labour Lib Dem –Scottish Liberal Democrats Green –Scottish Greens Alba –Alba Party Reform –Reform UK
^a b "Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020" .www.legislation.gov.uk .Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved9 May 2021 .^a b "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections" . Office of Public Sector Information.Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved8 May 2007 .^ "Scotland Act 1998 – Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections" . Office of Public Sector Information.Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved8 May 2007 .^ "Electoral system: How it works, 02 April 2003" .BBC News . BBC. 2 April 2003.Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved6 May 2011 .^ "D'Hondt system" .BBC News . BBC. 28 September 2009.Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved4 May 2011 .^ "Revised Recommendations" (PDF) . Boundary Commission for Scotland.Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved26 April 2011 .^ "Scottish Parliament Boundary Review 2: Initial Proposals" .Ballot Box Scotland . 21 May 2023. Retrieved6 July 2024 .^ "Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries" .boundaries.scot . Retrieved6 July 2024 .^ "New Scottish Parliament constituency and region boundaries agreed" (PDF) .boundaries.scot . Retrieved28 October 2025 .^ "Why are so many MSPs choosing to leave Holyrood?" .BBC News . Retrieved17 September 2025 .^ McCall, Chris (20 March 2025)." .Daily Record . Retrieved17 September 2025 . ^ "All the MSPs stepping down from Holyrood at 2026 elections – see full list" .The National . 13 March 2025. Retrieved17 September 2025 .^ Paterson, Kirsteen (25 April 2023)."SNP MSP John Mason 'to stand down' at next election" .Holyrood . Retrieved1 May 2024 . ^ "James Dornan: This is my last term as an MSP' .Holyrood . 10 August 2023. Retrieved16 March 2024 .^ Brawn, Steph (29 September 2024)."Christine Grahame: I've never wanted to be a minister, I like freedom" The National . ^ "SNP MSP Ruth Maguire to stand down in 2026 after cancer diagnosis" .BBC News . 16 November 2024.^ Bark, Stephen (25 November 2024)."Ayrshire MSP to stand down at 2026 Holyrood election in 'difficult decision' .Daily Record . ^ Cochrane, Angus (17 December 2024)."Ex-First Minister Humza Yousaf to step down as MSP at next election" .BBC News . ^ "MSP Oliver Mundell to stand down at the next election" .BBC News . 9 January 2025.^ Elliards, Xander (26 January 2025)."SNP minister confirms plans to resign from Holyrood after 27 years" .The National . ^ Clark, Alasdair (28 January 2025)."Exclusive: Veteran Dundee SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick to stand down" .The Courier . ^ Paterson, Kirsteen (29 January 2025)."SNP MSP Michelle Thomson to stand down" .Holyrood Magazine . ^ Pollock, Laura (9 February 2025)."Audrey Nicoll to step down at Holyrood 2026" .The National . ^ Pollock, Laura (13 February 2025)."SNP MSP Evelyn Tweed to stand down ahead of Holyrood election" .The National . ^ McDougal, Mark (19 February 2025)."SNP's Graeme Dey to step down as MSP in 2026 election" .The Herald . ^ Taylor, Ryan (20 February 2025)."UPDATED: Tribute paid to Wishart after decision to stand down" .The Shetland Times . ^ Nutt, Kathleen (25 February 2025)."Scottish Conservative Liz Smith to stand down at election" .The Herald . ^ "SNP MSP Rona Mackay to Step Down at Next Holyrood Election" .The National . 26 February 2025. Retrieved26 February 2025 .^ "Tory MSP Edward Mountain to step down ahead of Holyrood election" .STV News . 26 February 2025.^ "SNP MSP announces plans to step down at 2026 Holyrood elections" .The National . 28 February 2025.^ Ferguson, Alasdair (2 March 2025)."Annabelle Ewing announces she will not run for re-election in 2026" .The National . Retrieved2 March 2025 . ^ "Richard Leonard, Central Scotland MSP and former Scottish Labour leader, won't seek re-election next year" .The Daily Record . 4 March 2025. Retrieved4 March 2025 .^a b "Shona Robison and Fiona Hyslop to stand down as MSPs" .BBC News . 5 March 2025. Retrieved5 March 2024 .^ Crow, Allan (7 March 2025)."Fife MSP announces plans to stand down at next Scottish election" .Fife Today . Retrieved7 March 2025 . ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Nominee MSP to Stand Down from Scottish Parliament" .Holyrood . 12 March 2025. Retrieved12 March 2025 .^ Cochrane, Angus (12 March 2025)."Nicola Sturgeon to stand down from Holyrood" . BBC Scotland News. Retrieved12 March 2025 . ^ Macdonald, Aidan (13 March 2025)."Renfrewshire MSP to stand down at 2026 Scottish Parliament election" .Glasgow Times . Retrieved13 March 2025 . ^ "Cabinet minister becomes latest MSP to announce decision to step down" .The Herald . 12 March 2025. Retrieved14 March 2025 .^ "Disgraced ex-health secretary Matheson to quit politics" .The Herald . 16 March 2025. Retrieved16 March 2025 .^ "Ayrshire MSP announces 'difficult decision' to stand down at 2026 Holyrood election" .The Daily Record . 17 March 2025. Retrieved17 March 2025 .^ Ross, Douglas [@Douglas4Moray] (25 March 2025)."A year out from the next Holyrood election feels like the right time to confirm I will not be standing for the Scottish Parliament in 2026. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ Wilson, Louise (7 April 2025)."Tory MSP Maurice Golden to stand down at next election" .Holyrood Website . ^ Maclennan, Scott (15 May 2025)."Highland Labour MSP Rhoda Grant to stand down at the 2026 Holyrood election" .Inverness Courier . ^ Maclennan, Scott (16 June 2025)."Labour MSP Sarah Boyack to stand down at election" .Holyrood Magazine . ^ Boothman, John (20 June 2025)."Alison Johnstone to stand down as Holyrood presiding officer" .The Times ^ "Kate Forbes: Deputy first minister to stand down as MSP" .BBC News . 4 August 2025. Retrieved4 August 2025 .^ "Labour's Mercedes Villalba to stand down at next election" .The Herald . 2 September 2025. Retrieved2 September 2025 .^ https://x.com/TessWhite4NE/status/1962892136795246982 ^ https://x.com/KevinStewartSNP/status/1964999784403783701?t=ytPg9WnYL1d7E7G5p1dC9Q&s=19 ^ "SNP announce candidates for 2026 Scottish Parliament elections" .Scottish National Party . 7 May 2025. Retrieved7 May 2025 .^a b c d e f g "Elections 2026" . 17 August 2025.^ Lumsden, Douglas [@DLumsden_MSP] (1 May 2025)."🔵 It's an honour to have been selected as the @ScotTories candidate for Aberdeenshire East! (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Jordan Stokoe – Scottish Labour Candidate for the constituency of Almond Valley" .www.jordanstokoe.com . 17 July 2025.^a b c "Liberate Scotland announce 4 more Constituency Candidates for Holyrood 2026" .BarrheadBoy Supporting Scottish Independence . 26 May 2025. Retrieved26 August 2025 .^ Hampsey, Amanda [@AmandaHampsey] (28 April 2025)."I am honoured to be selected as the Scottish Conservative & Unionist candidate for Argyll & Bute in the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Elections!" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ Hagan, Jodie (29 April 2025)."Candidates selected to stand in Holyrood election next year" .West Coast Today . ^a b c d e f g h "Liberate announce their first 10 candidates for Holyrood 2026" .BarrheadBoy Supporting Scottish Independence . 12 May 2025. Retrieved26 August 2025 .^a b c d e Green, Daniel (1 May 2025)."Scottish Parliament elections 2026: Full list of Labour candidates for Holyrood" .LabourList . ^a b c d e f g h i "2026 Scottish Parliament Candidates - Scottish Conservatives" .www.scottishconservatives.com . 10 July 2025. Retrieved17 August 2025 .^ Bark, Stephen (19 May 2025)."Community council chair throws hat into ring for Ayrshire MSP seat" . Daily Record. Retrieved19 May 2025 . ^ Merson, Adele (11 December 2024)."Exclusive: Alex Salmond's niece targets Banff and Buchan election return for Alba" .The Press and Journal . Retrieved2 October 2025 . ^ Brawn, Steph (30 April 2025)."Scottish Labour pick London councillor to contest Highlands seat AGAIN" .The National . ^ Maclennan, Scott (19 April 2024)."Former Charles Kennedy aide targets far north Holyrood seat for LibDems" .JohnOGroat Journal . ^ Reid, Stuart (10 October 2025)."Katie Hagmann is Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley candidate" .Ayr Advertiser . ^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Green, Daniel (2 May 2025)."Scottish Parliament elections 2026: Full list of Labour candidates for Holyrood" .LabourList . ^ Reid, Stuart (1 June 2025)."Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley confirmed 2026 candidates" .Cumnock Chronicle . Retrieved17 August 2025 . ^ "Tory MSP selected to stand in upcoming election" .Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser . 7 May 2025. Retrieved11 August 2025 .^a b c d e f Green, Daniel (22 August 2025)."Scottish Parliament elections 2026: Full list of Labour candidates for Holyrood" .LabourList . Retrieved26 August 2025 . ^ Mathieson, Alix [@Alix2Win] (20 May 2025)."I am delighted to have been selected yesterday evening as the @ScotTories candidate for Clydebank and Milngavie. I love this constituency and I love representing it. I am looking forward to the campaign. 🇬🇧💙" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Cowdenbeath Labour candidate confirmed for upcoming election" .Central Fife Times . 10 November 2025. Retrieved14 November 2025 .^ Grace, Tempany (15 April 2025)."Jackie Baillie MSP seeks re-election for Dumbarton in 2026" .Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter . Retrieved17 August 2025 . ^ "Martin Whitfield chosen to contest new East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs seat" .East Lothian Coast & Lammermuirs CLP . 2 October 2024. Retrieved2 October 2024 .^ merecomp."Let's Get Started in City Centre and Inverleith" .Edinburgh Green Party . Retrieved8 November 2025 . ^ Choudhury, Foysol (14 August 2025)."Delighted to have been selected as @ScottishLabour 's candidate for Edinburgh Northern. This is a brand-new seat and one we can win together. I'm ready to work hard for every community, every street, and every voice. Our journey starts today. #EdinburghNorthern #ScottishLabour #TimeForChange" .X.com . Retrieved17 August 2025 . ^ Webber, Sue [@SueJWebber] (12 May 2025)."Tonight I am delighted to say that I have been selected as the @ScotTories candidate for Edinburgh South Western in the Holyrood 2026 election. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ Johnson, Daniel (28 March 2025)."Starting My 2026 Re-Election Campaign" .Facebook.com . Retrieved17 August 2025 . ^ Crow, Allan (7 May 2025)."Willie Rennie MSP set to contest 2026 elections to mark a full decade as MSP" .Fife Today . Retrieved17 August 2025 . ^ Gillespie, Stuart (7 May 2025)."Parties announce Galloway and West Dumfries candidates for Holyrood election" .Daily Record . ^ https://labourlist.org/2025/08/scottish-parliament-holyrood-elections-2026-labour-party-candidates-who-my-local/ ^ Scottish Labour [@ScottishLabour] (29 April 2025)."Congratulations to Shaun Fraser! Scottish Labour's candidate for Inverness and Nairn. #NewDirection" (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ Stewart, Ruraidh [@Ruraidh_Stewart] (17 May 2025)."I'm deeply honoured to be selected as the @ScotTories candidate for Inverness and Nairn in #Holyrood2026. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ Pack, Mark (13 May 2025)."Neil Alexander selected for Inverness and Nairn" .Mark Pack . ^ "SNP's Fergus Ewing to run as an independent in Scottish elections" .BBC News . 20 June 2025. Retrieved4 August 2025 .^ McPhee, Ewan (23 August 2025)."It's a huge privilege to have been selected by local members as the @ScottishLabour candidate for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley. I grew up in Kilmarnock and I'm here to win this seat in next year's elections. The choice in 2026 is more of the same or a new direction for Scotland" .x.com . Retrieved26 August 2025 . ^ https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/david-blair-named-as-labour-s-moray-candidate-for-holyrood-e-418471/ ^ Moray Conservatives [@MorayTories] (12 May 2025)."We are delighted to announce Tim Eagle has been selected as the Moray candidate for next year's Scottish Parliament elections. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Robert Leslie to Contest Orkney Constituency for the SNP" .The Orkney News . 15 May 2025.^ https://www.hebrides-news.com/stornoway-man-mike-macleod-orkney-labour-candidate-scottish-parliament-election-171025.html ^ https://x.com/jhalcrojohnston/status/1957029019544629641 ^ McCall, Roz [@RozMccall] (1 May 2025)."📣 I'm honoured to have been selected as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire ahead of the 2026 election. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter . ^ "Labour candidate's call for action on digital connectivity as petition closes" .Shetland News . 29 September 2025. Retrieved2 October 2025 .^a b Maclennan, Scott."SNP and Labour confirm Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch candidates in race to succeed Kate Forbes with Eilidh Munro for the SNP and Aviemore's Isla McCay for Labour" .Ross-shire Journal . Retrieved17 October 2025 . ^ Gosal, Pam [@PamGosalMSP] (12 May 2025)."It's a great honour to have been selected as the @ScotTories candidate for Strathkelvin and Bearsden for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. (Tweet ) – viaTwitter .
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