New Scottish Parliament Reconvenes; SNP Minority Government Negotiations Under Way

The newly elected sixth Scottish Parliament (following the 7 May 2026 Scottish Parliament election) reconvened in the week of 20 May 2026. The SNP, having won 58 seats — short of the 65-seat overall majority — embarked on negotiations to form a stable minority government. The Scottish Greens (15 seats) were positioned as the most likely supply-and-confidence partners, repeating the 2021–2024 cooperation arrangement. First Minister John Swinney set out priorities including an independence referendum by 2028, NHS Scotland improvement, child poverty reduction, and the green energy transition. The election had also produced a historic result for Reform UK, which tied with Labour for second place at 17 MSPs each — marking a profound shift in Scottish political geography. The SNP's fifth consecutive government term, while continuing its dominance, now operated without a majority, complicating its independence roadmap.