Diverse and divided: Holyrood welcomes its class of '26
Plus: Hearts set for title thriller; Film Festival 'homecoming'; and Highers exam protest
New-look parliament starts work today
Scotland’s newly-elected MSPs report for duty today to a parliament that looks and feels very different to the one we had last week.
John Swinney and the SNP might still be in the driving seat, but overall the parliament is arguably the most diverse, least experienced and most deeply divided in its 27-year history.
The former First Minister’s return to Bute House is expected to be confirmed over the coming week as our 129 MSPs - including 64 newbies - get to grips with a much-changed political landscape.
Diverse new faces: The Edinburgh intake alone includes Fiji-born Simita Kumar of the SNP, Netherlands-born Lib Dem Sanne Dijkstra-Downie and the Greens’ Q Manivannan, who is transgender and originally from India, reflecting the increasingly cosmopolitan population of the Capital.
It also includes a single Reform candidate, who simultaneously campaigned during the election against a facility in Liberton which the party wrongly identified as accommodation for asylum seekers, while pledging to prioritise the opening of asylum detention centres in Green-voting areas such as Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The rules of engagement are already changing with SNP leader Swinney shunning traditional backroom meetings to discuss priorities when it comes to dealing with the group of Reform MSPs.
Green talks: Top of the agenda for Swinney and his team will be talks with the Greens on what form co-operation between the two parties will take during the next parliament. A formal coalition with Green Cabinet Ministers? A looser arrangement? The Greens are already indicating they will drive a hard bargain following the collapse of their last power-sharing deal.
Visa issue: Q Manivannan has been one of the first to face increased scrutiny as a new MSPs with reports highlighting the fact they will have to renew their visa while serving at Holyrood. Manivannan is in the UK on a student visa and entitled to stand as an MSP due to recent changes to eligibility rules. Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay, told the BBC she did not believe obtaining a visa would be a problem and that the party would be supporting them in any way possible.
The Scottish Inquisitions: The future of Scottish Labour and Conservative leaders will come under scrutiny, alongside that of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Labour’s “boom or bust” approach, which aimed to flip constituencies across the Central Belt in a bid to win a majority, failed to deliver. Similarly, the tack to the right under Russell Findlay has left the Conservatives largely wiped out in the face of Reform advances, outside of the rural south of Scotland. The Lib Dems will be quietly satisfied after almost doubling their number of MSPs.
Independence union: Swinney has confirmed his intention to seek a new Independence referendum via the UK parliament - a request that will be refused in current circumstances - and to work with the nationalist administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland in coordinated opposition to Labour’s policies on the cost of living and UK government spending.
Out with the old: A lot of well-known faces will not be back at Holyrood this week, including election losers former SNP Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, former Community Safety Minister Ash Regan, the Conservatives’ Sue Webber, suspended Labour member Foysol Choudhury, and Tory-turned-independent Jeremy Balfour.
Swearing oaths: Given the political tensions, it might not be the only swearing taking place at Holyrood, but watch out for dramatic gestures at the formal oath-taking for new MSPs on Thursday. That will be followed by the election of a new presiding officer to replace former Lothians Greens MSP Alison Johnstone. The formal election of the new First Minister is pencilled in for Tuesday next week.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
TENSE? NERVOUS? Then maybe it’s down to supporting Hearts FC. The Jambos look to be heading for a final day shootout with Celtic to decide whether they win their first Scottish title in 66 years. Unless there’s another dramatic twist mid-week then it will all be decided in Glasgow on Saturday lunchtime. If Hearts come through, expect one of the biggest street parties Edinburgh has ever seen (with a potential victory parade pencilled in for Sunday).
USHER TO STAR: The directorial debut of Edinburgh-born Louis Paxton - who as a teenager worked as an usher at the Edinburgh International Film Festival - is to open this year’s festival. The international premiere of The Incomer, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and John Hannah, will open this year’s 79th edition of the festival, which runs 13-19 August. Described as witty and intelligent, The Incomer was an award winner earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
FARM INFECTIONS: NHS Lothian is investigating 16 cases of cryptosporidiosis linked to the petting farm at Craigies Farm, South Queensferry. The parasitic infection can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps and can be serious for young children. The farm said it is taking the issue “very seriously”, increasing cleaning procedures and stopping visitors from cuddling the lambs.
EXAM PROTEST: More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for a review of this year’s Higher Maths exam amid concerns about inconsistencies. This is the first year of exams under Qualifications Scotland which replaced the widely-criticised SQA. The petition says the “language and phrasing (in the exam) was confusing, ambiguous, and inconsistent with every past paper students had revised from”.
HUGE IN HAYMARKET: Work is set to start on a massive office development next to Haymarket Station following the demolition of the 1970s buildings on the site. Developers Aviva Investors say the Roseberry Haymarket development will address a shortage of A grade office space in the Capital.
WALL WORRY: East Lothian Council is being asked to explain how it intends to progress £100m flood defence plans for Musselburgh when it does not own the sea walls which are part of its plans. The scheme is the subject of a public inquiry and the Scottish Government Reporter overseeing it had asked the local authority to explain its thinking. The sea walls were linked to the former Cockenzie Power Station and are still owned by Scottish Power.
FESTIVAL TAX BOOST: Special shows and events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the International Festival, Fringe and Film Festival next year are expected to be supported with up to £1.46m from the city’s new tourist tax. Special opening and closing events for next year's festivals season could also receive further Visitor Levy funds. The moves follow protests from the Festivals that they were missing out on a fair share of investment from the Levy which is expected to raise £40-50m annually within three years.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
Tackling sky high business rates in Capital should be key for new Government
Edinburgh’s business community will be even keener than usual observers of the Scottish Government in the coming days and weeks, following a Holyrood election which has thrown up a multitude of changes.
The election may have seen a Government that is “business as usual” in the sense that the SNP will form a minority government, as it has done for most of the past 19 years. But the rise of the Scottish Greens and the emergence of Reform UK has changed the complexion of the Parliament.
Add to that the fact that almost half of those SNP MSPs who will serve for the next five years are new to the job and it is little wonder there is widespread interest in exactly how it will work.
Of particular interest to the business community will be “who” following the departure of former Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who also served as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, and was widely viewed as a positive and thoughtful engager with business.
Ivan McKee, who served as Minister for Public Finance, has been safely returned to Holyrood and as a former Business Minister and someone close to Forbes will be someone businesses hope to see in a position of influence.
Of immediate local interest, businesses will be looking to hold the Government’s feet to the fire on a number of key manifesto commitments – notably a commitment to deliver a “fairer and more accountable” system of business rates. Given the sky-high increases many face due to revaluation proposals, that is one area requiring immediate attention. Hospitality businesses are particularly impacted, a sector of major importance in the city.
There was also a manifesto commitment to empower regional economic partnerships, something that business organisations have been championing to help deliver crucial infrastructure and allow economic development more attuned to local needs.
And on the subject of infrastructure, while their was a commitment to invest in a full feasibility study for Tram-Trains on the south Suburban line, there appears to be little prospect of funding support for a proposed trams extension, with the manifesto not only making reference to any “council-funded proposals” which are brought forward, but also making the point that any proposal should not include the controversial Roseburn Corridor.
EICC IMPACT: Edinburgh International Conference Centre hosted 175 events, generating 173,000 delegate days and contributing £76m to the economy. In its latest annual Impact Report, the EICC also reported on its environmental and societal benefits, showing progress against industry averages in terms of food waste, emissions and growth of its partnerships within the community.
AIRLINE LIQUIDATED: Edinburgh-based Ecojet airline, claiming to be the world’s “first electric airline”, has gone into liquidation. Liquidators from Opus Restructuring have been formally appointed reports the Edinburgh News.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
PINT OF SCIENCE: Educate yourself over a pint with special events at bars across the city on 18-20 May. Discover if robots are the answer to Britain’s care crisis and whether data can deliver at fairer future at the Pint of Science festival.
ARTISTIC LEGACY: Discover the incredible gift of Jean Fletcher Watson who provided the funds to create a significant collection of Scottish art for the people of Edinburgh. From Anne Redpath and Joan Eardley to Eduardo Paolozzi and Elizabeth Blackadder, Jean F Watson: An artistic legacy at the City Art Centre showcases the wonderful collection her generosity created. Opens Saturday.
UNDERGROUND MAGIC: From magic to mind-reading, comedy to variety, Underground Magic returns to the Gilded Saloon on Leith Street on 20 May with a night of laughter and illusion.
QUICK BITES
CURRYING F(L)AVOUR: Four local restaurants have been named in a guide of the 100 best curry restaurants in the UK, by the Asian Catering Federation. They are itihaas in Dalkeith, Radhuni in Loanhead, and Shezan and Celestia in the Capital.
WINNING BREWS: Edinburgh craft brewery Cold Town Beer picked up six gold and silver medals at the London Beer Competition 2026. These included top ‘Indian Pale Ale of the Year’ award for its flagship brew, Baltic IPA. There were an additional two gold medals for its Robert the Juice IPA and XPA. Three silver medals completed Cold Town’s winning streak for 2026, including its Fest Bier, Doddie Beir and Crisp Craft Lager.