Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21The Scottish Parliament election is taking place on 7 May 2026, with voters electing all 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Recent polling indicates a competitive race, with the Scottish National Party (SNP) leading but facing challenges from multiple parties.
In the Survation poll (20 April–5 May 2026), the SNP holds 29% of the projected proportional representation (PR) vote, followed by Reform UK (17%), Labour (16%), the Scottish Greens (15%), the Conservatives (13%), and the Liberal Democrats (8%) . A Find Out Now poll (1–6 May 2026) shows the SNP at 26%, with Reform UK at 18%, the Scottish Greens at 17%, Labour at 12%, and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each at 11% . A More in Common poll (30 April–4 May 2026) suggests a tighter race, with the SNP at 23%, Reform UK at 22%, Labour at 19%, the Liberal Democrats at 12%, and the Conservatives and Scottish Greens each at 10% .
The election is taking place alongside broader UK local elections, which are being closely watched for their potential impact on national politics. However, the focus in Scotland remains on the SNP’s performance, particularly amid shifting voter sentiment and the rise of Reform UK . Young voters in Scotland are reportedly engaging with the election, though their priorities and turnout remain key factors in the outcome .
> Background: **Scottish election race tightens as SNP leads independence debate divides voters** — *13 hours ago*
Starmer Faces a Major Test in a Set of UK Elections: What to Know Local elections in England, and parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, take place on Thursday. The governing Labour Party is expected to do very badly.
new york times · 14 days ago
Starmer Braces for Local Election Losses Amid New Era of UK Politics Polls predict historic losses for Prime Minister Keir Starmers Labour Party on Thursday as anti-immigrant Reform U.K. makes gains, and a new era of multiparty politics takes shape.
new york times · 14 days ago
Keir Starmer is bracing for bad news in todays local elections - so will he be forced out? Labour are under pressure from the left and the right – heres when were expected to know the results of todays elections.
thejournal · 14 days ago
Keir Starmer makes late pitch to voters turning to Greens and Reform As Labour faces record-breaking losses in Thursdays local elections, prime minister says rivals are unfit to leadLabour is braced for record-breaking losses in Thursdays local elections in England, which could be decisive for Keir Starmers future as prime minister.In a message to voters on Thursday, Starmer said Reforms Nigel Farage and the Greens Zack Polanski were not fit to meet this moment of great global instability and that only Labour was putting the national interest first. Continue reading...
theguardian · 14 days ago
UK (Wales), Find out now: Welsh Parliament election PC (Greens/EFA): 35 (+6) REFORM (~NI): 28 (+1) CON (~ECR): 11 (-2) LAB (S&D): 9 (-1) GPEW (Greens/EFA): 9 (-2) LDEM (RE): 6 +/- vs. 18-22 April 2026 Fieldwork: 01-06 May 2026 Sample size: 2,001 ➤ europeelects.eu/uk
telegram bot · 14 days ago
Starmers last stand? The UK local elections Never has a local election in the United Kingdom been so loaded with implications. The rise in popularity of two parties - Reform and the Greens - raises questions about the political system, for so long based on two main parties.
france24 · 14 days ago
UK (Scotland), Survation poll: Scottish Parliament PR Vote election SNP (Greens/EFA): 29 REFORM (~NI): 17 (-2) LAB (S&D): 16 (-1) SGP (Greens/EFA): 15 (+3) CON (~ECR): 13 (+1) LDEM (RE): 8 (-1) +/- vs. 17-23 April 2026 Fieldwork: 20 April - 05 May 2026 Sample size: 5,025 ➤ europeelects.eu/uk
telegram bot · 14 days ago
UK (Scotland), Find Out Now poll: Scottish Parliament PR Vote election SNP (Greens/EFA): 26 (-1) REFORM (~NI): 18 (+1) SGP (Greens/EFA): 17 (-3) LAB (S&D): 12 CON (~ECR): 11 (+1) LDEM (RE): 11 +/- vs. 15-20 April 2026 Fieldwork: 01-06 May 2026 Sample size: 2,001 ➤ europeelects.eu/uk
telegram bot · 14 days ago
UK (Scotland), More in Common poll: Scottish Parliament PR Vote election SNP (Greens/EFA): 23 (-3) REFORM (~NI): 22 LAB (S&D): 19 (+4) LDEM (RE): 12 CON (~ECR): 10 (-1) SGP (Greens/EFA): 10 (-1) +/- vs. 03 March - 26 April 2026 Fieldwork: 30 April - 04 May 2026 ➤ europeelects.eu/uk
telegram bot · 14 days ago
UK elections: What does it mean to be Scottish today? As British voters head to the polls for local elections on May 7, Elena Pompei, a journalist with ENTRs English-language team, takes us to Scotland, where she has been reporting on how young people are feeling ahead of the vote. Scottish voters will also be casting ballots on Thursday to elect all 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament.
france24 · 15 days ago
UK (Wales), Survation: Welsh Parliament election PC (Greens/EFA): 30 (+2) REFORM (~NI): 28 (-2) LAB (S&D): 15 CON (~ECR): 10 GPEW (Greens/EFA): 7 (-3) LDEM (RE): 6 (+2) +/- vs. April 2026 Fieldwork: 01-06 May 2026 Sample size: 1,054 ➤ europeelects.eu/uk
telegram bot · 15 days ago
UK local elections: What does it mean to be Scottish today? As British voters head to the polls for local elections on May 7th, Elena Pompei, a journalist with ENTRs English-language team, takes us to Scotland, where she has been reporting on how young people are feeling ahead of the vote.
france24 · 15 days ago