Aoife Hollywood
Since stepping off the ferry from Northern Ireland in 2018, I’ve spent seven years immersed in Scottish politics, including two years working in Holyrood’s concrete bunker. During that time, I got to know many of the familiar faces that grace Scottish TV screens and social media feeds.
Yet this May, I’ll cast my vote in a Scottish election for the first time. I missed the chance in 2021 because of Covid, but it feels fitting to make my debut just as Holyrood braces for massive change.
Last week marked six months to the 2026 Holyrood election. While polls consistently show the SNP on course to remain the largest party, the intrigue isn’t about which party will come out on top, it’s about who will fill the seats in the chamber.
Nearly a third of the current 129 MSPs are set to stand down next spring, the largest exodus of expertise – and experience – in Holyrood’s devolution era.
Six MSPs are leaving the economy and business committee, six from energy and six from rural affairs. Add to that four from finance, four from social justice, and the list goes on. In total, more than 30 committee seats, and over a dozen ministerial or shadow roles, will change hands.
Amongst them are some of the last standing ’99 veterans – figures involved with Holyrood since its inception – who count among Scotland’s most experienced government ministers: Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop and Richard Lochhead. Alongside them goes a parade of former party leaders: Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf, Douglas Ross and Richard Leonard.
And then there are those who may never have been household names, yet the loss of their quiet influence behind the scenes at Holyrood will be felt after they’ve gone.
Come purdah in March, decades of knowledge will walk out the door and replacing that kind of institutional memory won’t happen overnight.
What will this mean for businesses, charities or the ordinary Scot who doesn’t pay much attention to Holyrood? The change is far from insignificant.
Some notable names have thrown their hats into the ring – Stephen Flynn, Alison Thewliss, Stephen Gethins, and Alyn Smith – each hoping to translate Westminster experience into influence at Holyrood.
Yet even well-known figures will take time to adjust; Holyrood offers a distinct political environment, one that stands in sharp contrast to the green benches in Westminster.
The incoming cohort will also bring new voices, many of whom are new to Scotland’s political scene.
Recent analysis by the Diffley Partnership suggests Reform UK could return as many as 22 MSPs, creating an entirely new bloc of opposition voices. If the party were to emerge as the second largest, it would give the party first pick at First Minister’s Questions and the right to convene several key committees.
And it’s not just the members themselves: a whole ecosystem of parliamentary staff, from researchers to communications advisers, will also be new to Holyrood.
For anyone trying to shape policy or engage, this will be a reset moment. The next Parliament will mean new relationships, new briefing styles, and some patient explanation. Engagement strategies built on long-standing personal links will need rebuilding.
Breaking into the Holyrood bubble can take time. The Parliament has its own rhythm and way of working – some of it not always obvious to the outsider trying to exert influence.
So, if you want to be heard and make an impact:
- Start before May. Relationships take time. Spot rising stars, follow candidate announcements, and start building connections early.
- MSPs take the spotlight, but it’s their teams who get things done. Learn who holds the levers.
- Don’t forget committees and clerks. Include them in your engagement – they will be setting the agenda for the next term.
- MSPs will be looking for something to champion. Give them an issue they can own – a campaign, a private members’ bill, or something that builds their legacy.
- Make it effortless. New MSPs and staff are learning the ropes. Give context, package information clearly, and offer a hand – it makes their jobs easier, ensures your perspective is heard and they’ll remember you for it.
Six months out might feel a long way off but investing time now in relationships and strategy for after May will pay off. By the time MSPs are still finding their feet, you’ll already be positioned to act.