List of political parties in Scotland

Overview of Political Parties in Scotland

Scotland's political landscape is dominated by the Scottish National Party (SNP), which advocates for Scottish independence. Other prominent parties include the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Scottish Greens. These parties hold representation in both the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament.

Established Parties

The SNP has been the dominant force in Scottish politics since 2011, forming the government and advocating for social democracy and closer ties to the European Union. The Scottish Conservatives promote conservatism and British unionism, while Scottish Labour, associated with the UK Labour Party, supports center-left policies and British unionism as well.

Minor Parties

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are a centrist, pro-European Union party. The Scottish Greens focus on environmentalism and Scottish independence. Reform UK Scotland, a Eurosceptic and right-wing populist party, gained its first elected representative in 2021. The Alba Party, formed in 2021 by former First Minister Alex Salmond, also supports Scottish independence but has not gained any electoral success.

Representation and Local Government

Six parties have elected representation in Scotland, with all except the Scottish Greens and Alba Party present in both the Scottish Parliament and House of Commons. Additionally, there are four parties that hold representation only at the local government level. Notably, the Scottish Greens have never held a seat in the UK Parliament despite their presence in the Scottish Parliament.