SNP

Read the latest SNP news and breaking stories from The Scotsman. Providing expert political analysis and opinions about the Scottish National Party, the largest group at the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish independence supporters on the march. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yes vote for Scottish independence hits 4-year high in new poll

Passengers at Edinburgh Airport

Exclusive Labour opens the door for SNP to roll out unused devolved tax power

First Minister John Swinney looks on as Finance Secretary Shona Robison presents the government's Budget. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The key battlegrounds for Scottish Budget negotiations

Keir Starmer has held yet another reset

Starmer's 'weak' reset a reminder Labour's majority is on shaky ground Alexander Brown

SNP have craftily thrown Anas Sarwar a hand grenade with Scottish Budget Euan McColm

John Swinney and Finance Secretary Shona Robison need to list to genuine experts on how to tackle poverty (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Effect of SNP's sanctimony about people in poverty? A 200,000 increase Brian Wilson

Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon will be joined by Alan Cumming and Paula Wilkins at In the Company of Books in Edinburgh on 15 December.

Exclusive Nicola Sturgeon opens up on her memoir: 'I'm not out to settle scores'

Keir Starmer shares a lighter moment with John Swinney and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan earlier this year (Picture: Andy Buchanan/WPA Pool)

SNP and Labour governments avoiding petty squabbles – so far, at least Scotsman comment

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney

Starmer to work ‘constructively’ on ending two-child cap in Scotland

Scottish Finance Minister Shona Robison has vowed to scrap the two-child benefit cap (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Why should responsible families pay for ever more children?

Scottish Care said the Budget lacked 'targeted support'

SNP Budget 'will kill people', warns Scottish Care

Former independence minister Jamie Hepburn, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and former refugees minister Emma Roddick with one of the independence papers.

Exclusive Scottish Government to publish one final independence paper

Kate Forbes

Kate Forbes tells of 'relief' over tax breaks for businesses

Festival fever can leave you vulnerable to fraudsters (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

SNP minister issues 'maximum' verdict to Creative Scotland over arts

Island communities like Kirkwall have been poorly served by the SNP government in Edinburgh (Picture: Adrian Dennis)

We should be cynical about SNP suddenly listening to rural Scotland Alistair Carmichael

John Swinney applauds as Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivers her Budget on Wednesday (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Budget will do nothing for growth – except grow dependency culture John McLellan

Alcohol for sale in a supermarket

Exclusive SNP under fire for ditching public health levy plans in Budget

First Minister John Swinney walks alongside Finance Secretary Shona Robison ahead of the Scottish Budget being delivered. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

SNP warned tax rises and cuts needed to pay for scrapping benefit cap

First Minister John Swinney makes his speech at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Picture: PA

Analysis Inside John Swinney's thinking around scrapping two-child benefit cap

Finance Secretary Shona Robison on a pre-Budget visit to green energy firm Logan Energy in Wallyford (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Don't be fooled, SNP's spending spree was made possible by Labour Scotsman comment

First Minister John Swinney

Analysis This Budget fired the starting gun on the 2026 Holyrood election

Analysis Budget shows SNP have lost direction, been reduced to unwise pet projects

WATCH: The Scotsman's politics team discuss the Scottish Budget

Finance Secretary Shona Robison presents her proposed Budget for next year to the Scottish Parliament (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Scottish Budget: SNP takes fight to Labour with benefit cap pledge

Former independence minister Jamie Hepburn, former first minister Humza Yousaf and Finance Secretary Shona Robison with one of the government’s independence papers.

SNP Government independence papers 'almost at the end of the process'

Finance Secretary Shona Robison presents her proposed Budget for next year to the Scottish Parliament (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why Scottish Budget is not quite what it seemed Dr João Sousa

Medium and large grocers shops have avoided a damaging business rate surtax, but still face paying the highest rates since devolution (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

SNP Budget was better for retailers, but there was a glaring omission David Lonsdale

Plans announced in the Scottish Budget by Finance Secretary Shona Robison to locate a new offshore wind hub in Aberdeen and almost triple Government investment support for offshore wind to £150 million have been welcomed by industry leaders.

Why Budget delights wind sector but leaves housebuilders wanting more

Shona Robison (centre) will deliver the Scottish Budget statement today. She is flanked here by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and First Minister John Swinney

Scottish Budget unveiled as tax plans, spending and cuts revealed

First Minister John Swinney walks alongside Finance Secretary Shona Robison ahead of the Scottish Budget being delivered. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

SNP to scrap the two-child benefit cap in Scotland

Finance Secretary Shona Robison, flanked by First Minister John Swinney, responds to questions over the Scottish Budget. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Analysis The 8 key Scottish Budget announcements and what they mean for you

Scottish Budget 'will put more money in people's pockets'

Members of the public and pro-independence supporters gathered to pay their respects outside the public memorial service for former first minister Alex Salmond on Saturday (Picture: Jane Barlow - Pool/Getty Images)

'Clueless and disinterested': Why former SNP MP has joined Alba party

A visitor checks his vitals next to an AI-enabled medical robot at a Bangkok trade show (Picture: Manan Vatsyayana / AFP/ Getty)

Readers' Letters: NHS challenges could lead to a robotics-enabled future

John Swinney has some similarities with Rishi Sunak, but will he share the former Prime Minister's fate at the next election? (Picture: Leslie Martin)

Budget needs to show SNP is not simply in government but out of ideas Scotsman comment

The NHS is struggling. Can the SNP be trusted to use extra money as a result of Labour's UK Budget to tackle its many problems? (Picture: Christopher Furlong)

As Labour hands over NHS windfall, we should all fear SNP incompetence Jackie Baillie

Providing business rates relief to pubs and restaurants would give Scotland's hard-pressed hospitality sector a boost (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

How cutting taxes in Scottish Budget can benefit public services Murdo Fraser

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar campaigning in Partick East and Kelvindale ahead of a by-election there on Thursday

Sarwar will 'relish election' if SNP budget falls despite dire polling

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Decision to die is not about suffering, but choice

The Scottish Government declared a housing emergency earlier this year

Exclusive SNP urged to back 'largest home building programme of our lifetime'

The NHS has enabled people to live much longer lives than before. The failure of government to deal with the consequences of a large elderly population risks creating a 'disaster' (Picture: Tom Stoddart)

SNP failure to take hard decisions turning NHS triumph into disaster Scotsman comment

Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Exclusive SNP warned not to use workers as 'scapegoats' for budget cuts

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Nigel Farage to be the figurehead of Reform Holyrood election campaign

Members of the public gathered to pay their respects outside the public memorial service for Alex Salmond, who died aged 69 last month

The personal and political: Inside Alex Salmond's memorial service

Unlike a Scottish Government lawyer in the Supreme Court, John Swinney says men cannot become pregnant (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

As SNP gets confused about pregnant men, here's real gender scandal Susan Dalgety

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville's decision to pay all pensioners in Scotland at least £100 next winter is small change, says Brian Wilson (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why SNP's winter fuel payment scheme is just government by stunt Brian Wilson

Campaigners in support of assisted dying protest outside Parliament in Westminster

How Scottish MPs voted on Westminster assisted dying legislation

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