Veganism, dimming the sun and getting Irn Bru to Russia - inside the small parties standing for Holyrood 2026

There are dozens of small parties standing for election in Scotland, with something to suit even the most niche of views.

From campaigning against the dimming of the sun to wanting everyone to become vegan and lifting Russian sanctions for the sake of Irn Bru, there seems to be a party out there to suit even the most niche of thoughts.

Scots will be familiar with the big parties standing for the Holyrood election in May, but there are dozens of smaller parties also vying for votes.

From parties that have been around for centuries to specialist campaign groups, The Scotsman has taken a look at some of the lesser known parties appearing on the ballot paper.

Alliance to Liberate Scotland

Standing in: Aberdeen Donside; Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Clackmannanshire and Dunblane; Cowdenbeath; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth; Edinburgh Central; Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent; Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire; Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley; Moray; Na h-Eileanan an Iar; Shetland; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Glasgow region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; North East region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region; South Scotland.

Despite only being created last year, the Alliance to Liberate Scotland is the most widespread of the smaller parties. It is “dedicated solely to achieving Scotland’s independence” and is a coalition of three pro-independence groups including Independents4Independence, the Independence for Scotland Party and Sovereignty.

Tommy Sheridan, pictured at a rally in 2013 | Press Association

It said:”Alliance to Liberate Scotland is here to change, that we believe independence will be won not by politicians in back rooms but by the people of Scotland, united under one banner, acting with one purpose, to retake our sovereignty.”

Abolish the Scottish Parliament

Standing in: Airdrie; Central Scotland and Lothians West region.

This party has existed since 2018, and there is little detail known about it - however, it is against devolution and Scottish independence.

Its address is the same as the British Unionist Party.

Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh | Local Library

Standing in: Ayr; Clydebank and Milngavie; Dumfriesshire; Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok; Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn; Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill; Glasgow Southside; West Scotland region; Glasgow region; South Scotland region.

This party vows to build “a movement for common sense change - better services, safer communities, and opportunities wherever you live”.

Its key commitments include ending child poverty, cutting NHS waiting times and improving mental health support, strengthening tenant protections and fair rents, free childcare, and capping household energy costs.

Independence for Scotland

Standing in: Bathgate; Coatbridge and Chryston; Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Glasgow region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; North East region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

Referring to this election as a “plebiscite”, this party says the “Hollyrood” election is “a chance to clearly indicate Scotland’s desire to settle its own affairs” and says it is for pro-independence voters who do not feel represented by the likes of the SNP and the Scottish Greens.

A lot of its website has not been uploaded since the 2021 election, but their focus is clear - Scottish independence.

British Unionist Party

This is a pro-unionist party who believe the SNP, Labour and Conservatives have failed.

It said: “We offer a real unionist alternative and a positive vision for a better Britain.”

The party’s policies include introducing proportional representation voting, abolishing devolution, expanding apprenticeships, cutting NHS waiting lists, freezing immigration, and investing in border infrastructure.

Advance UK

Standing in: Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Inverness and Nairn; Moray; Highlands and Islands region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

This party aims for a “proud, independent and prosperous United Kingdom” and “stands for nation, freedom, democracy and equality under the law”.

Its mission statement says: “The party promotes and celebrates the nation’s Christian constitution, roots, traditions, culture and values.”

Alliance for Democracy and Freedom

Standing in: Cunninghame North; Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse; Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley; West Scotland region; South Scotland region.

This party promises to be “a home for the politically homeless” and said: “[We are] a new kind of political party. We are not left or right by political definition but a centre party with common sense policies.”

Amongst its policies are lowering taxes, developing oil and gas and nuclear power alongside renewables, abolishing international aid funding, automatic shared custody when parents split up, is gender critical, is anti-vaccine, and wants to ban “controlling sunlight”.

Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Standing in: Dumbarton; Dundee City East; Dundee City West; Paisley; Renfrewshire North and Cardonald; Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

This coalition was set up in 2010 to “enable trade unionists, community campaigners and socialists to stand candidates against pro-austerity establishment politicians”.

Candidates standing under this banner have autonomy to run their own campaign, so long as they fight for the working class and stand up to capitalism, oppose cuts to public services and tax increases, and fight against oppression including sexism and racism.

Workers’ Party of Great Britain

Standing in: Dundee City East; Edinburgh North Western; Edinburgh Northern; Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok; Highlands and Islands region; Glasgow region; North East region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

George Galloway | Local Library

The party was formed because of Labour’s “complete abandonment of the working class majority” and wants to rebuild British industry.

Its other policies include building affordable housing, free childcare, public laundries and diners, integrating public transport, and improving workers’ rights with better living wages, paid holidays, sick leave and paternity pay.

The party also wants to appeal to those who are unemployed but still working class, saying that covers everyone who is out of work but is not sitting with “your feet upon a Caribbean island sipping drinks under the shade of a coconut tree”.

Scottish Libertarian Party

Standing in: Edinburgh Central; Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region; South Scotland region.

Libertarians are “in favour of individual liberty, a free and sound economy, foreign neutrality and political independence”.

It “rejects any attempts at achieving an equality of outcome with the imposition of quotas and special privileges for any group based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or class” and also rejects the idea of the welfare state, including free healthcare, but “accepts this is an inescapable feature of modern politics”.

It also wants to abolish taxes as it is a “violation” of rights.

Edinburgh and East Lothian People

Standing in: Edinburgh Southern; Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

This party wants to “start a revolution to remove the mechanism which allows billionaires the ability to influence politics”, and is pledging to only represent the people of Edinburgh and East Lothian.

It promises to be “uncorruptible” and will be neither left nor right wing. Their policies include improving literacy and numeracy, parental consent for sex education, increasing additional support needs funding, increased wages in social care, and better mobile phone signal. It is against the Edinburgh trams and parking charges in East Lothian.

A view over Calton Hill, Edinburgh. | Submitted

Freedom Alliance

This party was initially created in 2020 to oppose coronavirus lockdowns and vaccines, but now wants to “challenge all forms of overreach, from global corporate control to digital surveillance, centralised planning, and policies that undermine individual, family and community autonomy”.

It vows to be “a home for the politically homeless”.

Scottish Christian Party

Standing in: Highlands and Islands region; Glasgow region.

This party “believes all governments to be under the authority of God and that the purpose of government is the maintenance of freedom and justice solely in accordance with Biblical principles”.

It claims the mainstream political parties are “passing more and more unchristian and antichristian laws” and is against abortions, same-sex marriage and adoption, and policies that encourage sex.

The party said: “The Christian Party believes that there is a clear majority in the UK who treasure our Christian heritage, even if they're not active church members.

The Christian Party wants the government to run by Biblical teachings. | Local Library

“However, a secular elite who are hostile to this heritage now dominates the main political parties. They want to destroy what is left of our country’s Christian culture and legacy.”

Scottish Rural Party

Standing in: Highlands and Islands region.

Set up by a small group of farmers, this party is focused on farming, fishing and crofting.

It exists solely to promote rural Scotland, including rebuilding the rural economy, tackling depopulation, supporting traditional industries, and protecting rural services such as schools, post offices and pubs.

The Rural Party wants to stand up against central belt bias in politics. | Davie MacDonald

Independent Green Voice

Standing in: Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; North East region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region; South Scotland region.

Not much detail is available about this party and they have little social media presence, but The National reports its candidates include former UKIP and BNP members and Holocaust deniers.

The Scottish Greens have previously complained to the Electoral Commission that this party’s branding confuses voters who are planning to vote for them at the ballot box.

Scottish Family Party

Standing in: Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Glasgow region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; North East region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region; South Scotland region.

The Scottish Family Party held the anti-abortion protest within a buffer zone. | Supplied

Its policies include “intelligently-controlled” immigration, promoting higher standards and good behaviour in schools, financial support for stay-at-home parents, promoting marriage, protecting children from “immoral and confusing sex and gender education”, defending free speech, opposing abortion and assisted dying, and is gender critical.

Scottish Socialist Party

Standing in: Highlands and Islands region; West Scotland region; Glasgow region; Central Scotland and Lothians region; Mid Scotland and Fife region; Edinburgh and Lothians East region; South Scotland region.

This party is “a socialist party rooted in the working class” and “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow workers fighting for economic justice”.

Its policies include pay rises to “compensate for years of wage stagnation”, increasing the minimum wage, banning zero hours contracts, emergency retrofitting of homes and public buildings, nationwide high-speed broadband, free public transport, building 100,000 affordable homes, introducing a four-day working week, scrapping council tax, introducing rent caps, having a national energy company and a national care service, and basic universal public services.

UKIP

Standing in: West Scotland region; Central Scotland and Lothians West region; South Scotland region.

The party made famous by Nigel Farage is still on the go - although its sole purpose was Brexit, it says “that job is far from done and our independence is under continuous attack from communism, Marxism and globalism”.

Its tagline for this election is “Scrap #Follyrood” and its policies include removing diversity, equality and inclusion targets, freezing all immigration for five years, the mass deportation of immigrants and using the military to protect borders.

The party rejects Islamism, wokeness, trans ideology and attacks on the family unit and heteronormativity.

Liberal Party

Standing in: West Scotland region.

The party that has existed since 1877 and has provided numerous prime ministers in the late 19th and early 20th century is still on the go too.

It says the Liberal governments of 1906-1914 introduced game-changing laws such as the foundations of the welfare state, securing the trade union movement, introducing old age pensions, and improving working conditions.

The party said: “These achievements are not over a century old so it is no good our continuing to cite them as evidence of our competence in government or as a substantial reason why people should vote for us today - they do however, show that liberal philosophy, when applied to the practicalities of government, provides real, radical and enduring solutions.”

Socialist Labour Party

Standing in: West Scotland region.

This party said: “[Our] policies do not seek to ameliorate the austerity caused by the capitalist system by cutting public expenditure and imposing further misery on working people, but to make those responsible pay for the crimes they have inflicted.”

It added: “Our party wants to see a world at peace with liberty, justice and prosperity for all - above all we want a socialist world.

“We want to see the dreams and aspirations of all those who fought for rights and freedoms become a reality, a world where leaders are answerable to the people as a whole.

“These demands are not excessive - they are most moderate. We only want the earth!”

Animal Welfare Party

Standing in: Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

This party “believes in a better future for people, animals and the environment”.

The guga-hunters on Sulasgeir with their haul of 2,000 young gannets | Local Library

Its policies include moving to a plant-based diet, prioritising the climate emergency, ending harmful farming and fishing practices, introducing licensing for pets, ending animal testing, ending the Guga hut, outlawing electric shock dog collars, promoting alternatives to fireworks, ending horse and dog racing, and introducing animal welfare and sentience to the school curriculum.

Scottish Equality Party

Standing in: Edinburgh and Lothians East region.

This party “believes that prioritising equality and dismantling structures that create inequality are the solutions to the problems we face, not nice-to-have outcomes”.

Amongst its policies are free universal childcare, affordable housing, low-cost public transport, wealth taxes, and challenging polarisation and hate.

It says it is a “fully inclusive party” that wants to transform patriarchal structures and believes “everyone has the right to define their own gender and pronouns”.

Scottish Communist Party

Standing in: Edinburgh and Lothians East.

This party can trace its roots back to 1920 and has played a major role in history including Red Clydeside and discussing communist strategy with the likes of Vladimir Lenin.

Image from The Scotsman’s archive of Red Clydeside. | Scotsman archive

The party follows Marxism and Leninism and wants Scotland to transition immediately to socialism.

It said: “Today, Scotland’s communists fight to strengthen and unify the left and trade union movement in Scotland, to advance the ability of working people in Scotland to challenge the power of capital and fight for socialist revolution.”

Scottish Heritage Party

Standing in: South Scotland region.

This party wants to “replace the globalist present day Scottish Parliament with a truly nationalist parliament for the Great Britain thousands of Scots have died for”.

It is against vaccinations, is anti-Brexit, against Halal and Kosher practices, wants to scrap climate change targets, is anti-abortion, is against same-sex marriage, thinks assisted dying is “murder by medics”, is anti-5G and is against experiments to dim the sun.

It also wants to lift sanctions and trade embargos with Russia as “Russia apparently loves Irn Bru”.

The party says it will make Scotland “a great place to live once more”.

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