The 28 are detailed positions on the major domestic challenges facing Scotland — including education, health, justice, energy, housing and the defence industry. Each is written as policy analysis, not as a slogan or a list of promises. Together they set out a serious view of what good government in these areas would require.
The 28
The 28 are a map of competence, not a manifesto. Health, justice, schools, housing and most of the £67.9 billion Budget already sit in Edinburgh. As of 30 April 2026, an estimated 572,206 people were on at least one new-outpatient, inpatient or day-case list.
The 28
In 2025/26 auditors examined 253 sets of accounts covering £58.6 billion of devolved spending. Twelve statutory reports, 17 national performance audits and nine Best Value reports were published. Scotland’s 2023 Open Budget Survey score was 91 for oversight and 60 for transparency.
The 28
In 2022–25, 940,000 people in Scotland — 17 per cent — lived in relative poverty after housing costs. 210,000 children were in that group. Three-quarters of those children lived in a working household.
The 28
Sustainable tourism employs 239,000 people. Highland STEAM counted 9.40 million visitors and £2.13 billion of direct spend. The Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund has granted £24.5 million since 2018.
The 28
In mid-2025, Scotland’s population was 5,545,500. Natural change was −16,200. Net migration was +17,900. Scottish Income Tax is forecast at £21.5 billion in 2026–27; the Budget totals £68.0 billion.
The 28
The Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 already supplies the machinery for a Scotland-wide poll. The 2026 Scottish Parliament electorate was 4,320,981. Ten per cent of that register is 432,098 signatures.
The 28
The 2026–27 Budget allocates more than £660 million to farmers, crofters, land managers and rural communities. The Rural Support Plan 2026–2031 maps £677 million a year through four tiers, £3.385 billion over five years.
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Ofcom’s July 2025 snapshot found full-fibre in 71 per cent of Scottish homes and gigabit-capable in 81 per cent. By 30 July 2026, R100 had delivered 99,434 contract connections and 6,299 voucher connections.
The 28
Scotland’s Census 2022 recorded 176,100 UK Armed Forces veterans — 3.9 per cent of people aged 16 and over. Half were 65 or older. Housing, NHS care and most employability support are devolved. Defence, service pensions and core benefits are not.
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By 31 March 2026, the Affordable Housing Supply Programme had completed 35,368 homes toward a 110,000 target for 2032. In 2025–26 it finished 6,832 and started 7,421. On 31 March 2025, 180,074 applications on local-authority and common-housing-register lists were reported.
The 28
ONS estimates 35,200 full-time-equivalent jobs in Scotland’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy in 2024, on £13.3 billion of turnover. A wider CBI Economics / ECIU study puts net-zero-related activity at 105,700 jobs and £10.2 billion of GVA.
The 28
Holyrood already publishes MSP expenses, runs a statutory lobbying register, and uses an independent Commissioner to investigate most Code of Conduct complaints. In 2024–25, members’ scheme spend was £27.45 million.