List of political parties in Scotland - Definition and Overview

Politics of Scotland

Scottish Parliament Scottish Executive

First Minister Presiding Officer Lord Advocate Solicitor General Members of Parliament (MSPs)

Local government

Elections Political parties

UK Parliament Scotland Office Secretary of State for Scotland

Parties represented in the Scottish Parliament (in order of number of representatives):

• Labour Party - Centre-left, unionist - 50 MSPs
• Scottish National Party (SNP) - Centre-left, pro-independence- 27 MSPs
• Conservative and Unionist Party - Centre-right, unionist - 18 MSPs
• Liberal Democrats - Centre, federalist - 17 MSPs
• Scottish Green Party - Environmentalist, pro-independence - 7 MSPs
• Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) - Far-left, pro-independence - 6 MSPs
• Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) - pensioners rights party - 1 MSP

Minor Parties:

• British National Party - far-right, unionists (even smaller in Scotland than the rest of the U.K)
• Clannasaor - pro-independence
• Communist Party of Scotland - formed after collapse of CPGB in early 1990s
• Free Scotland Party - favour Scottish independence outwith the European Union
• Left Alliance - have 2 councillors in Fife
• Scottish Enterprise Party - right of centre, pro-independence
• Scottish Fishing Party
• Scottish Independence Party - pro-independence
• Scottish Pensioners Party
• Scottish Unionist Party - unionist
• Strathkelvin People's Independent Labour Party - (minor party from East Dunbartonshire)
• UK Independence Party - Right of centre, favour UK withdrawal from the European Union

Defunct Parties:

• Independent Labour Party (1893-1975)
• Highland Land League (1909-1920s)
• Scottish Labour Party (1976-79)
• National Party of Scotland (1928-34)
• Scottish Party (1930s)
• Scottish Workers Republican Party
• Scottish Republican Socialist Party (now part of the SSP)
• Communist Party of Great Britain (1920-1991)
• Labour Party of Scotland
• Scottish Socialist Party (1987-1990)
• Scottish Militant Labour
• Highlands and Islands Alliance

See also:

• Politics of Scotland