- Event: No Confidence Debate in Scottish Government
- Date: Monday 19 January
- Host: Edinburgh Union
- Motion: This House Has No Confidence
- Context: Ahead of Holyrood Election
- Format: Landmark debate event
- Status: Scheduled public debate
Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) January 15, 2026 – The Edinburgh Union will host a landmark debate on a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government ahead of the Holyrood election.
This debate will look at the heritage of nearly 20 years of SNP rule and estimate the Scottish Government’s performance in important policy areas as the Holyrood election draws near. MSPs and election campaigners from all of Scotland’s major political parties will be present at the event to bandy the stir and address the public directly.
In addition to special guests Paul McLennan MSP, Katherine Sangster, and Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, University of Edinburgh student speakers will take opposing positions in the discussion.
Before the next election, the audience, which consists of professors and students from all of Edinburgh’s institutions, will have the chance to ask questions of the speakers and cast their votes on whether or not they still have faith in the Scottish Government.
The Edinburgh Union’s summer term agenda begins with this debate. The Union maintains its goal of offering a forum for candid, critical discussion on current political and cultural concerns in Scotland’s capital after a string of sold-out events last semester.
Debates on whether immigration is the UK’s biggest problem, whether NATO can address contemporary security issues, and a varsity discussion against the Cambridge Union are all part of the upcoming term card.
Every debate, which is held in Rainy Hall at New College, gives spectators the chance to interact face-to-face with speakers from a variety of political backgrounds in a conventional Union-style setting.
Finn Tyson, President of the Edinburgh Union, said:
“With the Holyrood election approaching, this debate gives students and the wider academic community the chance to assess the record of the Scottish Government and directly question candidates seeking to govern Scotland.
The Edinburgh Union exists to foster open, challenging, and respectful debate. Our events are open to all students, and we are proud to bring together voices from across the political spectrum to start this semester with an event centered on democratic engagement and rigorous discussion.”
What are the main arguments expected against the Scottish Government?
Opponents of the Scottish Government in the Edinburgh Union debate are anticipated to punctuate habitual failures in profitable delivery, public service decline, and systemic governance breakdowns ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election.
Critics will argue Scotland’s growth has lagged every UK region except the North East since 2010, despite high public spending, with short- termism suffocating investment and nearshoring openings while financial pressures like duty hikes alienate businesses. SNP programs are criticized for aggravating a brewing extremity through donation over policy, apparent in deposit return scheme failure and ferry detainments going millions.
NHS waiting lists exceedpre-pandemic situations, life expectancy has fallen to a decade low( worse than England), and educational attainment dropped per PISA scores, especially in calculi / wisdom among poorer pupils widening inequality under SNP watch.
