Holyrood election 2026: Stephen Flynn and former MPs top regional list selections for SNP

Party bosses have confirmed the selections for the list vote - the part of the election that will make up MSPs through votes for a party across a region of Scotland rather than a constituency.

If a party wins more constituency seats in a region, they are less likely to secure list MSPs in that region due to a formula that converts votes into seats. But it is seen as a fallback option for high profile candidates if they are unsuccessful in their constituency contest.

In the North East Scotland region, Mr Flynn, who is controversially attempting to quit the House of Commons for the Scottish Parliament, has been selected ahead of the SNP’s Energy Secretary Gillian Martin, who takes second place on the list.

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For the newly former Edinburgh and Lothians East region, SNP constitution, external affairs and culture secretary, Angus Robertson has been selected in fourth place, behind former MPs who lost their seats in 2024 - Deirdre Brock and Tommy Shepard. Edinburgh SNP councillor Simita Kumar has been selected in third place.

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In the new Central Scotland and Lothians West region, SNP Bathgate councillor Pauline Stafford tops the list for the party, ahead of health secretary Neil Gray. Tony Giuliano, who was embroiled in a selection row for the Falkirk West constituency, has been selected in third place on the list. Former housing minister Paul McLennan has bene handed fifth palace on the list, ahead of Colin Beattie in sixth.

In Glasgow, former MP Alison Thewliss is in top spot ahead of business minister Ivan McKee and equalities minister Kaukub Stewart. Former SNP MP David Linden has been selected in fourth place on the regional list for Glasgow, who already faces a challenge to win his constituency.

SNP minister Maree Todd has been selected in first place in the Highlands and Islands list as she faces a battle to keep her constituency from the Lib Dems, while MSP Emma Roddick is in third place.

Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan is the SNP’s first-placed candidate in the South of Scotland region, with MS Emma Harper behind Alan Brown in third place. SNP victims minister Siobhan Brown is in fourth place on the list.

Unsurprisingly, SNP leader John Swinney tops the regional list selection for Mid Scotland and Fife with SNP Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville in second place. Former SNP MP Alyn Smith is in fourth place, ahead of agriculture minister Jim Fairlie.