Scottish Conservatives

The latest Scottish Conservative Party news from expert Scotsman journalists and contributors

John Swinney during a press conference in Bute House

Reform claims John Swinney 'way overstepping' with summit

A general view of staff on an NHS hospital ward

Health boards pay out more than £227m in 'eye-watering' compensation

An evidence-informed approach to curriculum design is sweeping the international educational stage with significantly improved learning outcomes for children in the countries which have adopted it

Exclusive SNP warned of looming crisis as shortfall in student teachers revealed

Sandie Peggie

NHS Fife urged to concede Sandie Peggie case after court ruling

An independence march in Glasgow

John Swinney scraps SNP government 'independence unit'

The Scottish Conservatives are terrified that Nigel Farage's Reform UK party will overtake them in the Holyrood elections next year (Picture: Dan Kitwood)

Why MSP's defection shows Tories risk disaster by mimicking Farage Alistair Carmichael

Dr Beth Upton laves the hearing. Picture: John Devlin

NHS Fife's legal bid to ban public watching trans tribunal case online

Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves

£2bn benefits black hole blamed on 'reckless spending'

Scotland’s drug death rates among adults are among the worst in the world

Exclusive Douglas Ross warned addiction bill could mean 'more people suffering'

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Analysis 'Massive unhappiness': Tory leader Russell Findlay feels the squeeze

Staff at Edinburgh University have shown strong support for industrial action. Picture: Scott Louden

Exclusive Scottish universities facing 'economic abyss', warns leading principal

Jamie Greene

Jamie Greene joins Scottish Liberal Democrats after quitting Tories

ScotRail was nationalised three years ago

ScotRail under fire over 'eye-watering' £2.5million compensation bill

Shoppers in Glasgow

Taxation now biggest concern for Scottish businesses, survey shows

Anti-racism campaigners will target Nigel Farage's Reform UK in Doncaster this weekend.

Another Scottish Tories councillor defects to Nigel Farage's Reform UK

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

Jackie Baillie: 'Keir Starmer is not a liability'

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross

Douglas Ross to resign from Holyrood - so he can stand for Westminster

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Exclusive Russell Findlay accused of 'dismantling Davidson era' to mimic Reform

John Swinney has helped steady the SNP ship (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Polls may look good for SNP but John Swinney can't take all the credit Scotsman comment

The exterior of Barlinnie prison. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Just 10 victims told of SNP's early release of hundreds of prisoners

Another government office, St. Andrew's House sits to the east of Princes Street. One of Scotland's most interesting buildings, there are many Art Deco influences in its monolithic, symmetrical facade and it is noted for being sensitively designed.

Exclusive SNP building closure savings branded 'tiny drop in the ocean'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

Reform UK records highest level of support in Scotland in new poll

Crunch time for shipyard as winner of CalMac order to be announced

Glen Rosa being launched at the Ferguson Marine yard

New setback for Ferguson Marine shipyard as key boss quits

The visit to a Glasgow chip shop by Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice last week proved to be somewhat chaotic (Picture: Jane Barlow)

Lefty-liberals who sneer at Reform voters are increasing their numbers John McLellan

Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon accused of 'trampling on women's rights'

Sandie Peggie

Engender 'fails to give straight answers' on single-sex spaces

The Scottish Conservatives will lead a debate on single-sex spaces.

John Swinney told to 'lay down the law on single-sex spaces'

Sandie Peggie, a nurse at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, has taken NHS Fife to an employment tribunal (Picture: Andrew Milligan)

Public services need better guidelines about women-only spaces Scotsman comment

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice speaks to the media during a visit to Glasgow (Picture: John Devlin)

How Scottish Tories can see off threat posed by Farage and Reform UK Scotsman comment

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Picture: PA

241 Scots civil servants avoid paying higher tax by living elsewhere

ARC's Retrofit Eaves Insulator

Scottish social housing produces shocking number of complaints for mould and dam...

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Picture: PA

The experienced Scottish frontbencher resigning at 2026 election

Former Scottish Conservative candidate Thomas Kerr has defected to Reform UK. Picture: John Linton/PA Wire

Scottish Tory politician branded a 'racist' for switching to Reform

Elon Musk

Scotland should have its own version of Elon Musk’s DOGE, says Findlay

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Blow for Scottish Tories as another councillor defects to Reform

Neil Gray

Exclusive MSPs reject call for Neil Gray statement on single-sex hospital spaces

Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden has submitted nearly 1,000 questions, at a cost of about £100,000, on subjects including the provenance of beeswax used for the Great Seal of Scotland

How tall is your flagpole? Tory MSP's trivial questions are ridiculous Martyn McLaughlin

Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden

MSP denies using AI to bombard Holyrood with 'frivolous' questions

Analysis How Farage's Reform UK aims to lob a grenade into Scottish politics

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Replacement Barlinnie prison compared to luxury holiday resort

Health Secretary Neil Gray during a visit to Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Picture: Michael Gillen

Swinney told to sack 'disgraced' Health Secretary after limogate row

First Minister John Swinney and finance secretary Shona Robison

Exclusive Fears over SNP handing councils powers for wealth tax and new levies

Nigel Farage was the most popular choice for Prime Minister among Scottish voters in one recent poll (Picture: Justin Tallis)

Why Scottish Tories are wrong to say vote for Reform is vote for SNP Brian Monteith

John Swinney and health secretary Neil Gray

John Swinney denies nursing report shows 'deadly reality' of NHS

Thomas Kerr

Senior Scottish Tory councillor defects to Nigel Farage's Reform UK

Campaigners in Parliament Square, London, in favour of the proposed bill to legalise assisted dying.

Findlay: Westminster debate made me more cautious about assisted dying

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries