The Snippet: 9th May 2025 📰
Programme for Government, one year until election, and what the new Holyrood poll says about young people ...
Happy Friday, folks! There’s lots going on this week, so I’ll get straight into it. Hope you get to enjoy some of the lovely sunshine this weekend!
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🤔 Programme for Government
On Tuesday, John Swinney unveiled his Programme for Government, which was brought forward from September as the First Minister wanted to give a full year before the next election to deliver on his promises.
There’s quite a lot to cover (it’s a 46-page document), but here’s the highlights:
Peak rail fares scrapped: From September, peak-time rail fares will be scrapped “for good”, after a pilot project was ended less than a year ago because of budget pressures
ScotRail alcohol ban axed: The ban on alcohol was put in place during the pandemic, and will be replaced with new regulations focused on particular times and locations
100k new GP appointments: Swinney promised an extra 100,000 appointments in GP surgeries to tackle the “8am lottery” - these will be focused on high risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking
Acorn project: More money pledged for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the north east, which the Scottish Government had previously pledged £80m for
You can watch the full announcement in Holyrood here.
A debate on the PfG was held on Wednesday and was passed by 59 votes to 55, with one abstention. The Tories, Labour, Greens and LibDems all put in their own amendments - but they were all voted down.
If you’re interested and want to have a read yourself, here’s the PfG document.
🗳️ One year until Holyrood election
Wednesday marked one year until the Holyrood election (taking place on May 7, 2026 - to save you from doing the maths). To celebrate the occasion, the SNP, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives all held their own press conferences.
The SNP focused heavily on Nigel Farage during their event in Edinburgh. Swinney said that Labour had “opened the door” to Reform and that while Farage wasn’t in office, he is “very much in power” at Westminster.
Scottish Labour went for a slightly different approach in Glasgow, as party leader Anas Sarwar said Scots face a simple choice at next year’s election: him or Swinney. Sarwar said Swinney was using Farage as a distraction from his own failings in government. He also said he wouldn’t be Keir Starmer 2.0 if he won the election, but “Anas Sarwar 1.0”.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Tories said five more years of the SNP would be “catastrophic” and that Scotland would “again be divided by nationalism”. Speaking in the capital, Findlay said that the thought of the SNP returning to Holyrood “keeps me awake at night”.
Side note: The SNP published their list of candidates the evening before the press conference (with the exception of North East Fife, where the selection process is still under way). There’s a whole host of former MPs who are standing, as well as current MPs Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins. I tweeted the list here.
Speaking to BBC Good Morning Scotland, Flynn dismissed speculation that he was looking to become first minister, saying Swinney is “the best politician in Scotland” and that he would work “incredibly hard” to see him returned as First Minister
📊 New Holyrood poll
Speaking of next year’s election, a new Holyrood poll has dropped which puts Reform as the main opposition party (although not for young folk, but we’ll get to that)…
The poll from Survation - commissioned by True North Advisors - puts the SNP first (33% constituency, 29% regional), Reform second (19% constituency, 20% regional) and Labour third (19% constituency, 18% regional). The Tories were on 11% and 12%, while the LibDems were on 11% and 10%, the Greens were at 5% and 9% and Alba came last with 1% and 3%.
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice gave the following seat predictions: SNP (58); Reform (21); Labour (18); Tories (13); LibDem (10); Greens (8).
I’ve also taken a look at what the poll says about young people’s voting intentions:
16 to 24-year-olds
SNP: 42% constituency, 37% regional
Labour: 20% constituency, 17% regional
Greens: 20% constituency, 28% regional
LibDem: 7% constituency, 4% regional
Reform: 6% constituency, 7% regional
Alba: 3% constituency, 4% regional
Tory: 2% constituency, 3% regional
25 to 34-year-olds
SNP: 33% constituency, 28% regional
Labour: 33% constituency, 35% regional
Greens: 13% constituency, 10% regional
Reform: 8% constituency, 10% regional
LibDem: 6% constituency, 11% regional
Tory: 5% constituency, 4% regional
Alba: 3% constituency, 2% regional
So - the SNP, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens remain the top three favourites, while young people in Scotland are more likely to vote Reform than Tory.
🤔 Supreme Court ruling
Nicola Sturgeon has spoken to media in Holyrood following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a “woman” under the Equality Act 2010.
The former first minister said that the judgment is “by definition … the law of the land” but warned that trans lives could become “unliveable”, raising concerns about how the ruling had been interpreted.
The full interview was shared by PA political reporter Craig Meighan.
On Thursday, the Scottish Parliament agreed new rules for toilets and changing areas in Holyrood which mean that trans women will no longer be able to use women’s facilities. New gender neutral toilets are currently being installed in the public area of the building and will be open to anyone from Monday.
Presiding officer Alison Johnstone set out the changes in a letter to MSPs and staff, which said:
All Scottish Parliament toilets designated as male or female would now be interpreted as meaning biological sex
One of three existing toilets in the public area of the building would be designated as a gender-neutral facility
These will be in addition to female-only toilets, male-only toilets, an accessible toilet and a changing places facility
Johnstone added: “Such clarity is an important element in offering all individuals confidence, privacy and dignity when using our facilities. Everyone working in, or visiting, Holyrood should feel welcome in the building and be confident there is a suitable facility for them."
Scottish Trans manager Vic Valentine said: "We cannot understand why this decision has been described as one that will bring 'confidence, privacy and dignity' to everyone. It will not do so for trans people. It will exclude us and segregate us in the heart of Scotland's democracy."
🗣️ FMQs
Here’s the main highlights from this week’s First Minister’s Questions:
Russell Findlay said the Programme for Government was a “pathetic con” and would fail to deliver the change needed in GP appointments
Anas Sarwar attacked the Scottish Government’s record on child homelessness
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie called for rent control measures in the Housing Bill to be strengthened
Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” by 250 job losses announced at oil and gas firm Harbour Energy
👀 Assisted Dying bill
John Swinney has given his official position on a bill which would allow assisted dying. The bill, put forward by LibDem MSP Liam McArthur, would allow terminally-ill people to take their own life with medical assistance - but only if they have been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors. It’s set to be voted on next Tuesday.
The First Minister said he would oppose the legislation, saying: “I am concerned that it would fundamentally change the relationships between patients and doctors in a detrimental way.
"I'm concerned that vulnerable individuals in our society who may feel that they are a burden to their loved ones or to society, that they may opt to end their life prematurely.”
Swinney also cited his own religious faith and his family’s circumstances (his wife has multiple sclerosis, a terminal condition) as factors in his decision.
MSPs - including Scottish Government ministers - have been given a free vote on the bill.
🟢 Greens leadership bid
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay has launched her leadership bid to become party co-leader.
Mackay - who headed up the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill banning protest outside abortion clinics - told reporters on Friday: “Over the last four years I've shown that I can deliver on many of the campaigns that I decide to take up and bring people together behind them.
“From safe access zones to rolling back the decision to cut school buses in North Lanarkshire - there are loads of other examples as well, and I hope that people can see that I can get things done and bring people together."
Current co-leader Lorna Slater has already announced she intends to stand again for the position, while Patrick Harvie will be stepping down. Under party rules, at least one of the co-leaders must be a woman.
The leadership election will take place during the summer.
⛪️ Scotland reacts to new Pope
A new pope was elected on Thursday evening. Robert Francis Prevost (taking up the name Leo XIV) will be the 267th pope - and the first pope from the US.
The First Minister welcomed the news, saying: “On behalf of the people of Scotland, I warmly congratulate Cardinal Prevost who has been elected by the College of Cardinals to be the next Pope.
"This is a momentous moment for Catholics here in Scotland and around the world.
"I know that Cardinal Prevost, who has taken the name of Pope Leo XIV, will assume his office with humility, respect and peace."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "Habemus Papam! Leo XIV Let the message of His Holiness, the new Pope, of building bridges be a lesson to the world in these troubled times."
Lorraine Currie, chief executive of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "As the first Pope from the US and with extensive experience working and living in Latin America, we know Pope Leo XIV will bring a unique global perspective to his papacy.
"Known as a humble servant who believes in walking closely with those who are suffering, the new Pope's emphasis on bridge-building and social justice signal a hopeful new chapter for the church and the world.
"We look forward to working alongside the Holy Father in his mission to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world and uphold the dignity of the poorest and most vulnerable.”
Other news you might have missed:
Fife Tory councillor quits for Reform (Alasdair Clark, The Courier)
Brian Cox says Trump’s tariffs would be ‘absolute disaster’ for upcoming film (Chris McCall, Daily Record)
Aberdeen University to cut jobs in bid to make £5.5m savings (Grainne NiGhreachain, STV News)
Harbour Energy to cut 250 jobs (Kelly Wilson, The Press & Journal)
Scottish Labour candidate working in London insists she is not a ‘paper candidate’ (Hamish Morrison, The National)
Two schools pilot phone-free policy using lockable pouches (Kevin Quinn, Edinburgh Evening News)
That’s all from me for this week, thanks for reading and have a lovely weekend!