The Scottish Parliamentary elections on 7 May are fast approaching, and the Scottish Countryside Alliance team are gearing up for a busy few months ahead. We will shortly be publishing our manifesto for the elections outlining a number of asks for the new Scottish Government.

For the 2026 election, Parliament will be dissolved on 9 April 2026. During this period of dissolution, there are no MSPs and no Parliamentary business taking place. It is also worth noting that the Scottish Parliament will be in recess from 26 March until 8 April.

Are we going to see a change of governing party this year, or will the SNP win round the electorate once again, making it nearly 19 years in power? Recent polling suggests that SNP are still in the lead, but will they be able to achieve a majority to push for another independence referendum, as indicated in Mr Swinney’s new year address?

Current polling as of December 2025 suggests the SNP will win with 63 seats, which is just below the number needed for a majority, so it is likely they will need to once again seek cross-party support to form a coalition government. But will the SNP seek a coalition with the Scottish Green Party or with Reform, who are projected to win 18 seats, making it potentially the third largest party in Scotland?

Around a third of current MSPs have chosen to stand down in 2026, a shift that will significantly reshape the Scottish Parliament after the 7 May election. While the arrival of new MSPs could bring a breath of fresh air to Scottish politics, this period of change will inevitably take time to settle and fully take effect.

The gap between rural and urban policies is growing ever wider, and the Scottish Countryside Alliance wants rural issues to be prioritised fairly.  This specific request was put to Mr Swinney by our team at the SNP conference in October 2025. We need to get the message across to candidates that rural communities are vitally important to Scotland’s economy, culture and heritage.

The 2026 election is the perfect opportunity to engage fully with candidates and current MSPs and we want to take full advantage of this to make the rural voice heard. We are in the process of organising a number of hustings events for members and supporters to join us and put their burning questions to candidates in the lead up to election day. Further details to follow, so keep checking back on our socials for any updates.

For more information on how the Scottish Parliament Electoral system works visit: Scottish Parliament electoral system.