Comparison of political party membership numbers is cause for optimism
Some interesting facts emerged from the article by Xander Elliards in Saturday's National on the membership numbers of Scottish political parties (Reform UK claim to have 11k Scottish members, Jun 14). On adding together the quoted figures for the independence-supporting parties (SNP, Green and Alba), the total membership equals 74,093, and for the Unionist parties (Labour, Tory, Reform) 34,408. These figures may not be completely up-to-date, but even allowing for generous margins of error, they indicate that those of us who are committed enough to become independence-supporting party members are more than twice as many as those who are against.
If these figures were more widely publicised it might generate some much-needed optimism.
Graham Park
Stirling
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
'Honour of my life': Edinburgh and Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack to stand down from Scottish Parliament
Holyrood will lose another long-term servant in Lothian and Edinburgh MSP Sarah Boyack. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The long-serving Edinburgh and Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack has announced she will be standing down at next year's Holyrood election after almost 25 years in the Scottish Parliament. Ms Boyack was first elected in 1999 in the inaugural Holyrood elections for the Edinburgh Central constituency. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Labour's Sarah Boyack She was part of former first minister Donald Dewer's first cabinet, taking on the role of transport and environment minister. In the role, Ms Boyack was responsible for passing some of the Scottish Parliament's early landmark legislation, including free bus passes for the over-60s and the establishment of Scotland's first national parks. She said: 'It has been the honour of my life to serve as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament. I am proud of what I have achieved, both in my time in government and in my local campaigns for issues that matter to my constituents. 'It is great to see progress being made on issues such as a new Eye Pavilion for Edinburgh, funding for the King's Theatre and the Filmhouse, but not least on my Member's Bill to ensure a more sustainable future for all of Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I will also continue to support causes close to my heart from Edinburgh's housing crisis to the battle to ensure we remain one of the cultural capitals of the world. Although I am not standing again, I will work tirelessly in the election to achieve a Scottish Labour victory in 2026. 'I have loved my time representing this amazing community and I hope to see Anas Sarwar as first minister champion these causes and more to achieve a more prosperous, sustainable and just Scotland.' Boyack's time in Parliament After leaving government in 2001, Ms Boyack continued to campaign for causes across Edinburgh. Ms Boyack left Parliament in 2016 after failing to be re-elected, but returned in 2019 as a list MSP for the Lothian region following the mid-term resignation of Kezia Dugdale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale provoked a storm when she went into the jungle for season 17, broadcast in 2017, as the Scottish Parliament was in session while the show was being filmed. The Aberdonian politician was the second person to be ejected, coming 10th in the series won by 'Made in Chelsea' star Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo. | Getty Images Since then, she has served multiple roles on the Scottish Labour front bench, most recently as spokesperson for net zero, energy and the just transition. She also launched a member's Bill to establish a Future Generations Commissioner for Scotland that is making its way through Parliament. Ms Boyack joins a growing number of MSPs to confirm they are standing down at the next election. Others standing down in 2026 The most significant resignation announcements have come from former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Sturgeon spoke in March of her 'sense of relief' as she announced she would not stand again for the Scottish Parliament next year. She led the Scottish Government between 2014 and 2023 and has been an MSP since the dawn of devolution, representing Glasgow Southside since 2007. First elected as the MSP for Glasgow in 2011, Mr Yousaf has represented Glasgow Pollock since 2016. He said he hoped resigning as an MSP would 'provide an opportunity for the next generation of MSPs to step forward, and to explore where I can best make a contribution in the future, in helping to tackle some of the most pressing challenges our world faces'.
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Glasgow needs a metro mayor and devolved powers or ‘risks being left behind'
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow needs a metro mayor and devolved powers or 'risks being left behind' other large UK cities, a prominent think-tank has warned. Scotland's largest city is being left behind by places like Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, a report produced by the Centre for Cities has claimed,. The report, The Missing Piece In The Big Cities' Jigsaw, argues that city regions with directly-elected mayors receive more investment, better infrastructure and faster growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The document claims Scotland's GDP would be 4.6 per cent larger than it is now if Glasgow's economy performed in line with the average for cities its size. In England, there are ten combined local authorities which have a metro mayor. The process of local devolution began a decade ago with Greater Manchester. Glasgow should have a directly-elected mayor, the Centre for Cities report argues. | Google Maps The independent and non-partisan think-tank report was welcomed by Scotland Secretary Ian Murray, as well as Glasgow South West MP Dr Zubir Ahmed, but was dismissed by Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken. Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, compared Glasgow to other locations as he said it was an economic problem for Scotland. Writing in The Scotsman, Mr Carter said: 'Metro mayors now lead all of England's largest cities. They are directly elected, accountable and visible to both central government and residents of their places - more can name their metro mayor than their local MP or council leader. They are delivering integrated transport systems like Manchester's Bee Network, designing skills programmes tailored to their local economies, and attracting billions in investment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'City region devolution is not about copying England. It's about recognising that Glasgow – and other Scottish cities – deserve the same tools to grow, prosper and lead. 'For Glasgow, a devolution deal would unlock the power to plan transport, housing, skills and economic growth at the scale of the city region. A mayor could be a champion for the region – putting place before politics, engaging with local residents, and implementing a joined-up vision for the future. 'Creating a metro mayor would require legislation from the Scottish Government. Some opposition is to be expected, but the evidence from south of the Border is clear - metro mayors are delivering growth, raising living standards and bringing democratic accountability. 'Glasgow, by contrast, risks being left behind. The status quo is no longer good enough for the city, or for Scotland.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Labour's Dr Zubir claimed failing to adapt could see Scottish cities 'left behind'. He said: 'You have to organise your metropolises around what your nearest competitions are. Never mind comparable European cities, comparable cities in the UK are doing better than us. 'The conclusion is quite clear, you need to build economies of scale from a higher population of 1.2 million, and Glasgow is half that. We need to grow our population base, it needs to be bigger. That leadership and organisation is best suited to a mayoral type office. I'd be very supportive of it [directly-elected mayors]. I think the sooner we actually do it, the better. 'Every other day what I see from colleagues in England, especially Manchester, is spades in the ground, cranes in the sky, and us left further behind. Scots and Glaswegians are missing out on opportunities that they should be a part of.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Zubir said considered metro mayors to be the 'next stop in Scotland's devolution journey.' A spokesperson for Mr Murray said: 'We have been clear that Scottish regions would benefit hugely from elected mayors, just as English regions have. For too long power in Scotland has been held at Holyrood – we need to push devolution back to local communities." Scottish Labour Local Government spokesperson Mark Griffin added: 'For too long the SNP has hoarded power in Edinburgh and hollowed out local government. Scottish Labour has been clear that we want to push power out into communities, including giving communities the chance to choose to have mayors.' Former Edinburgh City Council leader Donald Anderson also supported the idea, but stressed it was not just about having a mayor, but the structures around them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Playfair Scotland director said: '[Mayor] Andy Burnham did not make Manchester successful, but he has built on Manchester's success. If you look at council and council leadership, it's what really helped turn Manchester around. Edinburgh and Glasgow are at risk. If we don't evolve our government structures, we will begin to lose our position relative to the rest of the cities regions in the UK. 'Metro mayors overlaid on top of the existing council structure, along with a shift and change in policy that builds on the work of the city deals, could take that to new levels. There will be a lot of people in the local government who might see this as a threat, and I don't think they should. 'It's not something that needs to be in competition with existing structures, it can help make the existing structures work better for everybody.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes did not comment on the specifics of a mayoralty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Zubir Ahmed claimed Glasgow faced being left behind | Contributed Instead, she said: 'Glasgow is key to driving the Scottish economy, which is why the Scottish Government is partly funding the city-region's £1.13 billion growth deal. We have also supported Glasgow city region's £160 million investment zone, with additional funding for electric vehicle infrastructure and skills development. 'We are working with partners to explore ways of devolving further powers to regional economic partnerships, including Glasgow city region, with the aim of presenting options to ministers by the end of this Parliament.' The report prompted a rebuke from Ms Aitken, the chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, who claimed 'it's simply not true to say Glasgow City Region is currently underperforming in comparison to our English peers'. She said: 'However, we do share concerns that, without parity with them on powers and resource, not only Glasgow, but also Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are being disadvantaged by the UK government. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Partners in the Glasgow City Region have long articulated our ambition for a meaningful devolution deal to build on the success of our City Deal and unleash the massive potential for inclusive growth that exists right along the Clyde corridor. 'That's why we've spent considerable time preparing a detailed proposition to deliver that kind of investment and autonomy to the region – working with both of our governments and, in particular the Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland. 'In that context, it is perhaps unfortunate that the Centre for Cities didn't focus on understanding what is already happening in the Glasgow City Region before recommending it does what it has already been doing for some time. 'Contrary to the assumptions made by the Centre for Cities; without a mayor, Glasgow City Region has outperformed both Greater Manchester and the West Midlands for growth - and we have higher wages, a more highly qualified population, higher employment and considerably lower levels of child poverty. In fact, during 2023, we outperformed all but two of the English combined authorities on growth.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, Jane Meagher, leader of Edinburgh Council, said: 'I welcome the devolving of more powers to the regions of Scotland, not just Glasgow, but with our two cities complementing each other.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
John Swinney: Public sector status quo ‘not sufficient'
It is the first of two speeches to be delivered by Mr Swinney, with the SNP leader also due to address the Scotland 2050 Conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where he will argue that Scottish independence is key to achieving Scotland's long-term ambitions. Last week, The Herald revealed that senior SNP activists had warned the First Minister he had two weeks to devise a new independence strategy, or face a potential leadership challenge at the party's conference in October. Discontent has also been simmering among MSPs, with reports of a 'fractious' group meeting at Holyrood last Tuesday. READ MORE In his speech at the Imaging Centre of Excellence at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the First Minister is expected to say: 'This changing world requires a fundamental change in how we operate. "The status quo — across almost every field of endeavour — is no longer sufficient, it no longer serves us well enough. 'Public services first built in and for the 20th century must become rooted instead in the realities of the 21st. Our public realm reshaped; our nation renewed and reborn for this new age. 'The Scotland I seek is modern and dynamic; it is an enterprising, compassionate, forward-looking nation that is well placed to ride the waves of change rather than being buffeted by them, rather than being overwhelmed by them. 'A Scotland where tomorrow is better than today because, together, we have made it so. 'It means public services too that are modern, accessible, flexible, responsive and seamless. Services capable of responding to life's crises as well as to life's everyday. Services that are robust and creative in response to all the challenges — fiscal, climate, demographic — that are coming our way.' The scale of Scotland's demographic challenge was underlined last week when new figures from the National Records of Scotland showed the number of babies born between January and March was 3.9% below the seasonal average. Just 11,431 births were registered in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a five-year average of 11,891 for the same period. The birth rate now stands at 8.4 per 1,000 people, continuing a long-term decline. The latest figures also show a notable fall in mortality. A total of 16,721 deaths were registered in the first quarter of the year — 7.7% below the expected number of 18,123. In a recent report, the Scottish Fiscal Commission warned that these demographic pressures would place 'significant pressures' on Scotland's public finances. The watchdog said health — the largest area of Scottish Government spending — is expected to grow faster than any other part of the budget due to these shifts and rising demand. According to the latest ONS projections, the number of Scots aged 85 and over is set to nearly double by 2050. The Commission's chair, Professor Graeme Roy, said improving the underlying health of the population 'would lead to benefits to the public finances through lower spending and higher tax revenues and help to address the long‑term fiscal sustainability challenges.'
