Editing Scottish National Party

{{short description|Scottish political party}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| abbreviation     = SNP
| name             = Scottish National Party
| logo             = File:Scottish National Party logo 2016.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| logo_size        = 200
| colorcode        = {{party color|Scottish National Party}}
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1934|4|7|df=y}}
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Scottish nationalism]]{{refn|<ref>{{Citation |last=Hassan |first=Gerry |title=The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power |pages=5, 9 |year=2009 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press}}</ref><ref name="Harvie2004">{{Cite book |first=Christopher |last=Harvie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ko-2Pt4XVtwC |title=Scotland and Nationalism: Scottish Society and Politics, 1707 to the Present |date=12 August 2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9780203358658 |access-date=21 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075251/https://books.google.com/books?id=ko-2Pt4XVtwC |archive-date=21 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish National Party {{!}} History, Policy, & Leader |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scottish-National-Party |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080608/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scottish-National-Party |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=19 September 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2015 |title=Will there be another independence referendum? |url=https://www.snp.org/policies/pb-will-there-be-another-independence-referendum/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324090209/https://www.snp.org/policies/pb-will-there-be-another-independence-referendum/ |archive-date=24 March 2021 |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref>}}
 |[[Scottish independence]]<ref>{{Citation |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=How can the SNP support membership of the EU alongside independence? |date=7 June 2016 |url=https://www.snp.org/policies/how-can-the-snp-support-membership-of-the-eu-alongside-independence/ |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080730/https://www.snp.org/policies/how-can-the-snp-support-membership-of-the-eu-alongside-independence/ |url-status=live |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
 |[[Social democracy]]{{refn|<ref>{{cite web |title=Rocky roads ahead for Scotland's largest party |url=https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/rocky-roads-ahead-for-scotlands-largest-party-6610/ |website=[[International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society]] |first=Jan |last=Eichhorn |location=Edinburgh |date=29 March 2023 |quote="The election of Humza Yousaf to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the centre-left, social democratic Scottish National Party (SNP) is a major change in Scotland's political landscape."}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Divergent approaches to affordable housing supply in a devolved policy system: Scotland and England after 2010 |first=Kenneth |last=Gibb |volume=25 |issue=1 |journal=International Journal of Urban Sciences |doi=10.1080/12265934.2020.1730935 |year=2021 |publisher=Informa UK Limited |page=220 |quote="The paper examines the period after the financial crisis and recession of 2007–2009, since this led to the austerity coalition UK government led by David Cameron (2010–2015), as set against the distinctively social democratic, Scottish National Party (SNP) Government in minority government from 2007 to 2011 and then majority government from 2011 to 2016."|doi-access=free|bibcode=2021IJUSc..25S.218G }}</ref><ref name="Hepburn20139">{{Cite book |last=Hepburn |first=Eve |url=https://www.routledge.com/New-Challenges-for-Stateless-Nationalist-and-Regionalist-Parties/Hepburn/p/book/9781138977013 |title=New Challenges for Stateless Nationalist and Regionalist Parties |date=17 June 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-96596-1 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075242/https://www.routledge.com/New-Challenges-for-Stateless-Nationalist-and-Regionalist-Parties/Hepburn/p/book/9781138977013 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lingard">{{Cite book |last=Lingard |first=Bob |url=https://www.routledge.com/Politics-Policies-and-Pedagogies-in-Education-The-selected-works-of-Bob/Lingard/p/book/9780415841450 |title=Politics, Policies and Pedagogies in Education: The Selected Works of Bob Lingard |date=6 August 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-01998-3 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075241/https://www.routledge.com/Politics-Policies-and-Pedagogies-in-Education-The-selected-works-of-Bob/Lingard/p/book/9780415841450 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
}}
| headquarters     = Gordon Lamb House<br />3 Jackson's Entry<br />[[Edinburgh]]<br />EH8 8PJ
| website          = {{URL|https://www.snp.org/|snp.org}}
| country          = Scotland
| native_name      = {{lang|gd|Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba|italics=no}}
| country2         = the United Kingdom
| leader1_title    = [[Leader of the Scottish National Party|Leader]]
| leader1_name     = [[John Swinney]]
| leader2_title    = Depute Leader <!--"Depute" is standard in Scottish English and is the spelling used by the party. "Deputy" is incorrect. see e.g https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34256838-->
| leader2_name     = [[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]
| leader3_title    = [[Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn|Westminster Leader]]
| leader3_name     = [[Stephen Flynn]]
| leader4_title    = President
| leader4_name     = [[Maureen Watt]]
| leader5_title    = Chief Executive
| leader5_name     = [[Carol Beattie]]
| merger           = {{Plainlist|
* [[National Party of Scotland]]
* [[Scottish Party]]
 }}
| student_wing     = [[SNP Students]]
| youth_wing       = Young Scots for Independence
| wing1_title      = LGBT wing
| wing1            = Out for Independence
| membership_year  = Dec 2024
| membership       = {{decrease}} 58,940<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=SNP membership drops again as size of fall revealed |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-membership-drops-again-as-size-of-fall-revealed-5011099 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref>
| position         = [[Centre-left]]{{refn|<ref name="Colomer2008">{{Cite book |last=Colomer |first= Josep M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZF8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |title=Political Institutions in Europe |date=July 2008 |publisher=psychology press |isbn=978-1-134-07354-2 |page=26 |author-link=Josep Colomer |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517092641/https://books.google.com/books?id=TZF8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA26 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ibpus.comUSA2012">{{Cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mDZbcAlOZ3QC&pg=PA29 |title=Scotland Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws |date=1 January 2012 |publisher=International Business Publications, USA, 2015 |isbn=978-1-4387-7095-6 |page=29 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425122834/https://books.google.com/books?id=mDZbcAlOZ3QC&pg=PA29 |archive-date=25 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| european         = [[European Free Alliance]]
| colours          = {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} Yellow <br /> {{Color box|#000000|border=darkgray}} Black
| seats1_title     = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] (Scottish seats)
| seats1           = {{composition bar|9|57|hex={{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] (All seats)
| seats3_title     = [[Scottish Parliament]]<ref>{{cite web |title= Current party balance |url= https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-party-balance |website= The Scottish Parliament |publisher= parliament.scot |access-date= 19 August 2024}}</ref>
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|62|129|hex={{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Local government in Scotland|Councillors in Scotland]]<ref name="localcouncil">{{Cite web |date=24 October 2019 |title=Local Council Political Compositions |url=http://www.opencouncildata.co.uk/index.php |url-status=live |archive-date=30 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930131243/http://www.opencouncildata.co.uk/index.php |access-date=10 November 2021 |publisher=Open Council Date UK}}</ref>
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|418|1227|hex={{party color|Scottish National Party}}}} <!--Please see (and update if needed) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_make-up_of_local_councils_in_the_United_Kingdom#Scotland--> <!-- Last updated using data from May 2022 -->
| slogan           = 
| anthem           = "[[Scots Wha Hae]]"<br>('Scots Who Have')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Geoff |title=10 things you should know about Robert Burns |url=https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-robert-burns/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075240/https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-robert-burns/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=[[The History Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Lindsay |date=15 October 2016 |title=The Scottish parliament is not just a 'blip' |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/the-scottish-parliament-is-not-just-a-blip-zcwb5z2g9 |url-status=live |access-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075308/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-scottish-parliament-is-not-just-a-blip-zcwb5z2g9 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
| symbol           = [[File:SNPBallotEmblem.png{{!}}class=skin-invert|75px]]
| flag             = 
| seats5           = {{composition bar|13|32|hex={{Party colour|Scottish National Party}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Councils led]] in [[Local government in Scotland|Scotland]]
}}

The '''Scottish National Party''' ('''SNP'''; {{langx|gd|Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba}} {{IPA|gd|ˈpʰaːrˠtʰi ˈn̪ˠaːʃən̪ˠt̪ə nə ˈhal̪ˠapə|}}) is a [[Scottish nationalist]] and [[social democratic]] party. The party holds 62 of the 129 seats in the [[Scottish Parliament]], and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. It has 453 local councillors of the 1,227 available. The SNP supports and campaigns for [[Scottish independence]] from the United Kingdom and for Scotland's membership in the [[European Union]],<ref name="Schrijver2006">{{Cite book |first=Frans |last=Schrijver |url=https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789056294281/regionalism-after-regionalisation |title=Regionalism After Regionalisation: Spain, France and the United Kingdom |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-90-5629-428-1 |pages=261–290 |access-date=30 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075238/https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789056294281/regionalism-after-regionalisation |archive-date=21 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="O">{{Cite book |first=Michael |last=O'Neill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OahAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |title=Devolution and British Politics |date=22 May 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-87365-5 |page=92 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504063039/https://books.google.com/books?id=-OahAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |archive-date=4 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallardo |first=Cristina |date=27 November 2019 |title=Scottish National Party's manifesto explained |work=Politico |location=London |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/scottish-national-partys-manifesto-explained/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080745/https://www.politico.eu/article/scottish-national-partys-manifesto-explained/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |quote=The SNP wants Scotland to become an independent country and stay in the European Union.}}</ref> with a platform based on progressive social policies and [[civic nationalism]].<ref name="auto1">{{Citation |last1=Mitchell |first1=James |title=The Scottish National Party: Transition to Power |pages=107–116 |year=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |last2=Bennie |first2=Lynn |last3=Johns |first3=Rob}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Citation |last=Keating |first=Michael |title=Nationalist Movements in Comparative Perspective |work=The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power |pages=214–217 |year=2009 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press}}</ref> Founded in 1934 with the amalgamation of the [[National Party of Scotland]] and the [[Scottish Party]], the party has had continuous parliamentary [[List of Scottish National Party MPs|representation in Westminster]] since [[Winnie Ewing]] won the [[1967 Hamilton by-election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heisey |first=Monica |title=Making the case for an "aye" in Scotland |url=http://www.queensu.ca/alumnireview/making-case-aye-scotland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505143416/http://queensu.ca/alumnireview/making-case-aye-scotland |archive-date=5 May 2015 |access-date=4 April 2015 |website=Alumni Review |publisher=[[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]]}}</ref> 

With the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999, the SNP became the second-largest party, serving two terms as the [[Opposition (parliamentary)|opposition]]. The SNP gained power under [[Alex Salmond]] at the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election]], forming a [[minority government]], before going on to win the [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011 Parliament election]], after which it formed [[Scottish Parliament|Holyrood]]'s first [[majority government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=11 May 2011 |title=MSPs sworn in at Holyrood after SNP landslide |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/11/scottish-msps-sworn-in-holyrood |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219035735/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/11/scottish-msps-sworn-in-holyrood |archive-date=19 February 2014}}</ref> After Scotland voted against independence in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|2014 referendum]], Salmond resigned and was succeeded by [[Nicola Sturgeon]]. The SNP achieved a record number of 56 seats in Westminster after the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] to become the third largest party<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-08 |title=SNP wipeout Labour across Scotland with record election results |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/11588789/SNP-wipeout-Labour-across-Scotland-with-record-election-results.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> but in Holyrood it was reduced back to being a minority government at the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016 election]]. In the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021 election]], the SNP gained one seat and entered a [[Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement|power-sharing agreement]] with the [[Scottish Greens]]. In March 2023 Sturgeon resigned and was replaced by [[Humza Yousaf]]. 

In April 2024, Yousaf collapsed the power-sharing deal with the Greens and [[2024 Scottish government crisis|resigned]] the following week due to the resulting fallout of the decision. The incumbent [[John Swinney]] was elected leader in May 2024. In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the SNP lost 38 seats, reducing it to the second-largest party in Scotland and the fourth-largest party in the Westminster Parliament. The party does not have any members of the [[House of Lords]] on the principle that it [[Reform of the House of Lords#Abolition|opposes the upper house of Parliament]] and calls for it to be scrapped.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 July 2015 |title=House of Lords should be scrapped, says SNP |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33695476 |url-status=live |access-date=15 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511021805/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33695476 |archive-date=11 May 2017}}</ref> The SNP is a member of the [[European Free Alliance]] (EFA).

==History==
{{Main|History of the Scottish National Party}}

===Foundation and early breakthroughs (1934–1970)===
[[File:Mcewan.jpg|thumb|right|190px|[[Alexander MacEwen]], the first [[leader of the Scottish National Party]] from 1934 to 1936.]]

The SNP was formed in 1934 through the merger of the [[National Party of Scotland]] and the [[Scottish Party]], with the [[James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose|Duke of Montrose]] and [[Cunninghame Graham]] as its first joint presidents.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dinwoodie |first=Robbie |date=7 April 2014 |title=From radicals and Tartan Tories to the party of government |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wider-political-news/from-radicals-and-tartan-tories-to-the-party-of-government.23890738 |url-status=live |journal=The Herald |location=Glasgow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518033243/http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wider-political-news/from-radicals-and-tartan-tories-to-the-party-of-government.23890738 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=10 July 2019}}</ref> [[Alexander MacEwen]] was its first chairman.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=James |title=Scottish National Party Leaders |last2=Hassan |first2=Gerry |publisher=Biteback |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-7859-0092-1 |location=London}}</ref>

The party was divided on its approach to the [[Second World War]]. [[Douglas Young (classicist)|Professor Douglas Young]], who was SNP leader from 1942 to 1945, campaigned for the Scottish people to refuse [[conscription]] and his activities were popularly vilified as undermining the [[Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II|British war effort]] against the [[Axis powers]]. Young was imprisoned for refusing to be conscripted. The party suffered its first split during this period with John MacCormick leaving the party in 1942, owing to his failure to change the party's policy from supporting all-out independence to [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|Home Rule]] at that year's conference in Glasgow. McCormick went on to form the [[Scottish Covenant Association]], a non-partisan political organisation campaigning for the establishment of a devolved Scottish Assembly.

However, wartime conditions also enabled the SNP's first parliamentary success at the [[1945 Motherwell by-election|Motherwell by-election]] in 1945, but [[Robert McIntyre (politician)|Robert McIntyre]] MP lost the seat at the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|general election]] three months later. The 1950s were characterised by similarly low levels of support, and this made it difficult for the party to advance. Indeed, in most general elections they were unable to put up more than a handful of candidates. The 1960s, however, offered more electoral successes, with candidates polling credibly at [[1961 Glasgow Bridgeton by-election|Glasgow Bridgeton]] in 1961, [[1962 West Lothian by-election|West Lothian]] in 1962 and [[1967 Glasgow Pollok by-election|Glasgow Pollok]] in 1967. This foreshadowed [[Winnie Ewing]]'s surprise victory in [[1967 Hamilton by-election|a by-election]] at the previously safe [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] seat of [[Hamilton (UK Parliament constituency)|Hamilton]]. This brought the SNP to national prominence, leading to the establishment of the [[Kilbrandon Commission]].

=== Becoming a notable force (1970s) ===
[[File:United Kingdom general election 1974 Oct in Scotland.svg|thumb|In [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October 1974]] the SNP won 11 constituencies, a record that would stand until [[Nicola Sturgeon]] assumed the party's leadership.|350x350px]]
Despite this breakthrough, the [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970 general election]] was to prove a disappointment for the party as, despite an increase in vote share, Ewing failed to retain her seat in Hamilton. The party did receive some consolation with the capture of the [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)|Western Isles]], making [[Donald Stewart (MP)|Donald Stewart]] the party's only MP. This was to be the case until the [[1973 Glasgow Govan by-election|1973 by-election]] at [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] where a hitherto safe Labour seat was claimed by [[Margo MacDonald]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Career for Margo Macdonald – MPs and Lords |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1667/career |access-date=16 June 2023 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref>

1974 was to prove something of an ''[[annus mirabilis]]'' for the party, as it deployed its highly effective ''[[It's Scotland's oil]]'' campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dilemmas of Over-Development: Scottish Nationalism and the Future of the Union |url=https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4241-dilemmas-of-over-development-scottish-nationalism-and-the-future-of-the-union |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075240/https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4241-dilemmas-of-over-development-scottish-nationalism-and-the-future-of-the-union |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=Versobooks.com}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2020}} The SNP gained six seats at the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February general election]] before hitting a high point in the [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October re-run]], polling almost a third of all votes in Scotland and returning 11 MPs to Westminster. Furthermore, during that year's [[1974 Scottish local elections|local elections]] the party claimed overall control of [[Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (district)|Cumbernauld and Kilsyth]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

This success was to continue for much of the decade, and at the [[1977 Scottish local elections|1977 district elections]] the SNP saw victories at councils including [[East Kilbride (district)|East Kilbride]] and [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]] and held the balance of power in [[1977 Glasgow City District Council election|Glasgow]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Faux |first=Ronald |date=4 May 1977 |title=Labour lose control of Glasgow |work=The Times, p. 1}}</ref> However, this level of support was not to last and by 1978 Labour revival was evident at three by-elections ([[1978 Glasgow Garscadden by-election|Glasgow Garscadden]], [[1978 Hamilton by-election|Hamilton]] and [[1978 Berwick and East Lothian by-election|Berwick and East Lothian]]) as well as the [[1978 Scottish regional elections|regional elections]].

In 1976, [[James Callaghan]]'s minority government made an agreement with the SNP and [[Plaid Cymru]]. In return for their support in the Commons, the government would respond to the [[Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)|Kilbrandon commission]] and legislate to devolve powers from Westminster to Scotland and Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml|title=Scottish Referendums|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The resulting [[Scotland Act 1978]] would create a Scottish assembly, subject to a referendum. Labour, the Liberals and the SNP campaigned for a "yes" vote in [[1979 Scottish devolution referendum|the referendum on the Scotland Act]] and "yes" won a majority, but a threshold imposed by anti-devolution Labour MP [[George Cunningham (British politician)|George Cunningham]] requiring 40% of the electorate to be in favour was not reached due to low turnout.<ref>url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/background/pastelec/ge79.shtml|title=BBC Politics Summaries – Background to the Vote of No Confidence</ref> When the government decided not to implement the Act, the SNP's MPs withdrew their support and voted to support [[1979 vote of no confidence in the Callaghan ministry|Margaret Thatcher's motion of no confidence in Callaghan's government.]]<ref name="bbc.co.uk">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/background/pastelec/ge79.shtml BBC Politics Summaries] – Background to the Vote of No Confidence</ref> In the ensuing [[1979 United Kingdom general election|general election]], the party experienced a large drop in its support. Reduced to just 2 MPs, the successes of October 1974 were not to be surpassed until the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2018 |title=SNP MP criticised for defending party's role in bringing Thatcher to power |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16374941.snp-mp-criticised-defending-partys-role-bringing-thatcher-power/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713215706/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16374941.snp-mp-criticised-defending-partys-role-bringing-thatcher-power/ |archive-date=13 July 2021 |access-date=13 July 2021}}</ref>

=== Factional divisions and infighting (1980s) ===
[[File:Scottish National Party 79 Group Logo.svg|left|thumb|177x177px|The [[79 Group]] sought to define the party on the [[Left-wing politics|left]]. ]]
Following this defeat, a period of internal strife occurred within the party, culminating with the formation of the left-wing [[79 Group]].<ref name="BBC80">{{Cite news |date=11 April 2014 |title=The Scottish National Party at 80 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26924026 |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412104847/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26924026 |archive-date=12 April 2014}}</ref> Traditionalists within the party, centred around [[Winnie Ewing]], by this time an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]], responded by establishing the [[Campaign for Nationalism in Scotland]] which sought to ensure that the primary objective of the SNP was campaigning for independence without a traditional left-right orientation, even though this would have undone the work of figures such as [[William Wolfe]], who developed a clearly [[social democratic]] policy platform throughout the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

These events ensured the success of a leadership motion at the party's annual conference of 1982, in [[Ayr]], despite the 79 Group being bolstered by the merger of [[Jim Sillars|Jim Sillars']] [[Scottish Labour Party (1976)|Scottish Labour Party (SLP)]] although this influx of ex-SLP members further shifted the characteristics of the party leftwards. Despite this, traditionalist figure [[Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)|Gordon Wilson]] remained party leader through the electoral disappointments of [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]] and [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]], where he lost his own [[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]] seat won 13 years prior.

Through this period, Sillars' influence in the party grew, developing a clear socio-economic platform including ''Independence in Europe,'' reversing the SNP's previous opposition to membership of the [[European Economic Community|then-EEC]] which had been unsuccessful in a [[1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum|1975 referendum]]. This position was enhanced further by Sillars reclaiming [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] in a [[1988 Glasgow Govan by-election|by-election]] in 1988.

Despite this moderation, the party did not join [[Scottish Labour|Labour]], the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrats]] and the [[Scottish Greens|Greens]] as well as civil society in the [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]] which developed a blueprint for a devolved [[Scottish Parliament]] due to the unwillingness of the convention to discuss independence as a constitutional option.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-MP: Scotland 'in trouble' if lax on constitution – The Targe |url=http://thetarge.co.uk/article/current-affairs/0165/ex-mp-scotland-in-trouble-if-lax-on-constitution |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=thetarge.co.uk}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2020}}

=== First Salmond era (1990s) ===
[[File:Tayside Regional Council 1994.svg|thumb|181x181px|In [[1994 Tayside Regional Council election|1994]] the SNP gained control of [[Tayside]], the only time the party controlled a regional council, albeit without a majority.]]
[[Alex Salmond]] had been elected MP for [[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]] in 1987, after the re-admittance of 79 Group members, and was able to seize the party leadership after Wilson's resignation in [[1990 Scottish National Party leadership election|1990]] after a contest with [[Margaret Ewing]]. This was a surprise victory as Ewing had the backing of much of the party establishment, including Sillars and then-Party Secretary [[John Swinney]]. The defection of Labour MP [[Dick Douglas]] further evidenced the party's clear left-wing positioning, particularly regarding opposition to the [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|poll tax]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2014 |title=Former MP Dick Douglas dies aged 82 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27388579 |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075241/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27388579 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Despite this, Salmond's leadership was unable to avert a fourth successive general election disappointment in [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]] with the party reduced back from 5 to 3 MPs.

The mid-90s offered some successes for the party, with [[North East Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|North East Scotland]] being gained at the [[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994 European elections]] and the party securing a [[1995 Perth and Kinross by-election|by-election]] at [[Perth and Kinross (UK Parliament constituency)|Perth and Kinross]] in 1995 after a near-miss at [[1994 Monklands East by-election|Monklands East]] the previous year. Nineteen ninety-seven offered the party's most successful [[1997 United Kingdom general election|general election]] for 23 years, although in the face of the Labour landslide the party was unable to match either of the two 1974 elections. That September, the party joined with the members of the [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]] in the successful Yes-Yes campaign in the [[1997 Scottish devolution referendum|devolution referendum]] which lead to the establishment of a [[Scottish Parliament]] with tax-varying powers.

By 1999, the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|first elections]] to the parliament were being held, although the party suffered a disappointing result, gaining just 35 MSPs in the face of Salmond's unpopular '[[Kosovo]] Broadcast' which opposed [[NATO intervention in Kosovo|NATO intervention]] in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 1999 |title=Politics: Anti-bombing Salmond hits an all-time low with voters |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/politics-anti-bombing-salmond-hits-an-all-time-low-with-voters-1086961.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075241/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/politics-antibombing-salmond-hits-an-alltime-low-with-voters-1086961.html |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

=== Opposing Labour-Liberal Democrat coalitions (1999–2007) ===
This meant that the party began as the official opposition in the parliament to a [[Dewar government|Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition government]]. Salmond found the move to a more consensual politics difficult and sought a return to Westminster, resigning the leadership in [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|2000]] with John Swinney, like Salmond a [[Fundamentalists and gradualists|gradualist]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Britten |first=Nick |date=17 July 2000 |title=Scramble to lead SNP as Salmond quits |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1349165/Scramble-to-lead-SNP-as-Salmond-quits.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219070841/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1349165/Scramble-to-lead-SNP-as-Salmond-quits.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> victorious in the ensuring leadership election.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Emphatic SNP win for Swinney |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/snp/938727.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075243/https://server-uk.imrworldwide.com/a1.js |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Swinney's leadership proved ineffectual, with a loss of one MP in [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]] and a further reduction to 27 MSPs in [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]] despite the [[Officegate]] scandal unseating previous [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Henry McLeish]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 2001 |title=McLeish steps down |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/scotland/2001/mcleish_resignation/1645219.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075304/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/scotland/2001/mcleish_resignation/1645219.stm |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2020}} However, the only parties to gain seats in that election were the [[Scottish Greens]] and the [[Scottish Socialist Party|Scottish Socialist Party (SSP)]] which like the SNP support independence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Place in the World: Independence and Scotland's Future |url=https://greens.scot/our-future/independence-and-scotland-s-future |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505192300/https://greens.scot/our-future/independence-and-scotland-s-future |archive-date=5 May 2021 |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish Independence |work=Scottish Socialist Party |url=https://scottishsocialistparty.org/tag/scottish-independence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505192303/https://scottishsocialistparty.org/tag/scottish-independence/ |archive-date=5 May 2021 |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>

Following an unsuccessful [[2003 Scottish National Party leadership election|leadership challenge]] in 2003, Swinney stepped down following disappointing results in the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European elections of 2004]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2004 |title=Euro poll was breaking point for Swinney |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/euro-poll-was-breaking-point-swinney-2507632 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075309/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/euro-poll-was-breaking-point-swinney-2507632 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> with Salmond victorious in the [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|subsequent leadership contest]] despite initially refusing to be candidate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 September 2004 |title=Salmond named as new SNP leader |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3622728.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075247/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v51.js |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> [[Nicola Sturgeon]] was elected Depute Leader and became the party's leader in the Scottish Parliament until Salmond was able to return at the next parliamentary election.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Salmond governments (2007–2014)===
[[File:Scottish Cabinet at Bute House, June 2007 (2).jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The [[First Salmond government|first SNP administration]] led by [[Alex Salmond]] as [[First Minister of Scotland]], here seated next to [[Nicola Sturgeon]] in [[Bute House]]]]
In [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]], the SNP emerged as the largest party in the Scottish Parliament with 47 of 129 seats, narrowly ousting [[Scottish Labour]] with 46 seats and [[Alex Salmond]] becoming [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] after ousting the Liberal Democrats in [[Gordon (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Gordon]]. The [[Scottish Greens]] supported Salmond's election as First Minister, and his subsequent appointments of ministers, in return for early tabling of the [[Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009|climate change bill]] and the SNP nominating a Green MSP to chair a parliamentary committee.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 May 2007 |title=SNP and Greens sign working deal |publisher=BBC News Scotland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6646227.stm |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301114950/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6646227.stm |archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> Despite this, Salmond's minority government tended to strike budget deals with the [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservatives]] to stay in office.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Brian |date=23 January 2020 |title=Could the SNP do a budget deal with the Tories? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51227754 |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075309/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51227754 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>

In the final few years of the New Labour government, there were four parliamentary by-elections in Scotland. The SNP saw marginal swings towards the party in three of them; [[2006 Dunfermline and West Fife by-election|2006 in Dunfermline and West Fife]], [[2008 Glenrothes by-election|2008 in Glenrothes]] and [[2009 Glasgow North East by-election|2009 in Glasgow North East]]. None were as notable than the [[2008 Glasgow East by-election]], in which the SNP's [[John Mason (Scottish politician)|John Mason]] took the third safest Labour seat in Scotland on a 22.5% swing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-07-25 |title=Glasgow East result in full |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7524550.stm |access-date=2023-03-29}}</ref>

In [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|May 2011]], the SNP won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament with 69 seats.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2011 |title=SNP wins majority in Scottish elections |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/alex-salmonds-snp-wins-majority-in-scottish-elections |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712205311/http://www.channel4.com/news/alex-salmonds-snp-wins-majority-in-scottish-elections |archive-date=12 July 2011 |access-date=12 July 2011 |publisher=Channel 4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Our Party |language=en |work=The SNP |url=https://www.snp.org/our_party |url-status=live |access-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609001024/https://www.snp.org/our_party |archive-date=9 June 2017}}</ref> This was followed by a reverse in the party's previous opposition to [[NATO]] membership at the party's annual conference in 2012<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2012 |title=SNP votes to end anti-Nato policy |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694 |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075245/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> despite Salmond's refusal to apologise for the Kosovo broadcast on the occasion of the [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|Kosovo Declaration of Independence]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dailyrecord.co.uk |date=19 February 2008 |title=Demand For Alex Salmond Apology Over Kosovo |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/demand-for-alex-salmond-apology-over-969199 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075246/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/demand-for-alex-salmond-apology-over-969199 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=dailyrecord}}</ref>

This majority enabled the SNP government to hold a [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|referendum on Scottish independence]] in 2014. The "No" vote prevailed in a close-fought campaign, prompting the resignation of First Minister [[Alex Salmond]]. Forty-five percent of Scottish voters cast their ballots for independence, with the "Yes" side receiving less support than late polling predicted.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |last2=Wintour |first2=Patrick |last3=Mason |first3=Rowena |date=19 September 2014 |title=Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resigns-first-minister-for-scotland |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403144910/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/19/alex-salmond-resigns-first-minister-for-scotland |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> Exit polling by Lord Ashcroft suggested that many No voters thought independence too risky,<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Scotland voted, and why – Lord Ashcroft Polls |date=19 September 2014 |url=https://lordashcroftpolls.com/2014/09/scotland-voted/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714204851/https://lordashcroftpolls.com/2014/09/scotland-voted/ |archive-date=14 July 2021 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> while others voted for the Union because of their emotional attachment to Britain.<ref name="centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk">{{Cite web |title=Scotland's Decision: So Who Voted Yes and Who Voted No? |url=https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/opinions/scotlands-decision-so-who-voted-yes-and-who-voted-no |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714204857/https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/opinions/scotlands-decision-so-who-voted-yes-and-who-voted-no |archive-date=14 July 2021 |access-date=14 July 2021 |website=Centre on Constitutional Change}}</ref> Older voters, women and middle class voters voted no in margins above the national average.<ref name="centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk" />

Following the Yes campaign's defeat, Salmond resigned and [[Nicola Sturgeon]] won that [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|year's leadership election]] unopposed.

=== Sturgeon years (2014–2023) ===
[[File:2015UKelectionMapScotland.svg|alt=|thumb|234x234px|In [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]], the SNP won 56 out of 59 seats and 50% of the popular vote.|left]]
The SNP rebounded from their loss at the independence referendum at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] eight months later, led by former Depute Leader [[Nicola Sturgeon]]. The party went from holding six seats in the House of Commons to 56, ending 51 years of dominance by the Scottish Labour Party. All but three of the fifty-nine constituencies in the country elected an SNP candidate in the party's most comprehensive electoral victory at any level.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 May 2015 |title=Election 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871 |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521003643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871 |archive-date=21 May 2015}}</ref>

At the [[2016 Scottish election]], the SNP lost a net total of six seats, losing its overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, but returning for a third consecutive term as a minority government despite gaining an additional 1.1% of the constituency vote, for the party's best-ever result, from the 2011 election however 2.3% of the regional list vote. On the constituency vote, the SNP gained a net 10 seats from Labour. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each gained two constituency seats from the SNP on 2011.
[[File:Nicola Sturgeon SNP Conference (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Nicola Sturgeon]] led the party and served as First Minister for nine years from November 2014 to March 2023.]]
This election was followed by the [[2016 European Union referendum]], after which the SNP joined with the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] and [[Scottish Greens|Greens]] to call for continued UK membership of the EU. Despite a consequential increase in the Conservative Party vote at the [[2017 Scottish local elections|2017 local elections]]<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=6 May 2017 |title=Local elections: Sturgeon plays down Tory success in Scotland |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/06/local-elections-sturgeon-plays-down-tory-success-in-scotland |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702121028/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/06/local-elections-sturgeon-plays-down-tory-success-in-scotland |archive-date=2 July 2017 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the SNP for the first time became the largest party in each of Scotland's four city councils: [[2017 Aberdeen City Council election|Aberdeen]], [[2017 Dundee City Council election|Dundee]], [[2017 City of Edinburgh Council election|Edinburgh]] and [[2017 Glasgow City Council election|Glasgow]], where a Labour administration was ousted after 37 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2017 |title=Labour loses control of Glasgow City Council for the first time in 40 years |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-loses-glasgow-city-council-local-elections-2017-snp-scotland-brexit-general-a7719446.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075247/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-loses-glasgow-city-council-local-elections-2017-snp-scotland-brexit-general-a7719446.html |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

At the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], the SNP underperformed compared to polling expectations, losing 21 seats to bring their number of Commons seats down to 35 – however, this was still the party's second-best result ever at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Simon |last2=Henderson |first2=Barney |date=8 June 2017 |title=Scotland election results: Alex Salmond defeated and SNP suffer huge losses as Tory chances boosted north of the border |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/08/scotland-election-results-live-will-snp-nicola-sturgeon-do/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609041756/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/08/scotland-election-results-live-will-snp-nicola-sturgeon-do/ |archive-date=9 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 June 2017 |title=General election 2017: SNP lose a third of seats amid Tory surge |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40192707 |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609030212/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40192707 |archive-date=9 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Natalie |last2=Dickie |first2=Mure |date=8 June 2017 |title=Scottish election results strike blow to SNP plans for IndyRef2 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3bc5642e-4c96-11e7-919a-1e14ce4af89b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611053343/https://www.ft.com/content/3bc5642e-4c96-11e7-919a-1e14ce4af89b |archive-date=11 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017 |website=Financial Times}}</ref> This was largely attributed by many, including former Deputy First Minister John Swinney,<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2017 |title=General election 2017: SNP lose a third of seats amid Tory surge |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40192707 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024045322/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40192707 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> to their stance on holding a [[second Scottish independence referendum]] and saw a swing to the unionist parties, with seats being picked up by the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats and a reduction in their majorities in the other seats. High-profile losses included SNP Commons leader [[Angus Robertson]] and former SNP leader and First Minister [[Alex Salmond]].

The SNP went on to achieve its best-ever [[European Parliament]] result [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|in the final election]] before [[Brexit]], the party taking its [[Member of European Parliament|MEP]] total to three (or half of [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scottish seats]]) and achieving a record vote share for the party. This was also the best performance of any party in the era of proportional elections to the European Parliament in [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scotland]]. This was suggested as being due to the party's [[Pro-Europeanism|europhile]] sentiment during what amounted to a single-issue election.

Later that year, the SNP experienced a surge in support at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], winning a 45.0% share of the vote and 48 seats, its second-best result ever. The party gained seven seats from the Conservatives and 6 from Labour. This victory was generally attributed to Sturgeon's cautious approach regarding holding a second independence referendum and a strong emphasis on retaining EU membership during the election campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=SNP wins election landslide in Scotland |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50766014 |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207194118/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766014 |archive-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2020}} The following January, the strengthened [[Second Johnson ministry|Conservative government]] ensured that the UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020.
[[File:Scottish Government Press Conference - Renewing Democracy through Independence - 14th July 2022 (52216305020).jpg|left|thumb|Sturgeon addresses journalists at [[Bute House]] over her plans to [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|hold a referendum in 2023]], a proposal that would fail after the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|Supreme Court]] ruled the parliament didn't have the power. ]]
At the [[2021 Scottish election]], the SNP won 64 seats, one seat short of a majority, albeit achieving a record high number of votes, vote share and constituency seats, and leading to another minority government led by the SNP. Sturgeon emphasised after her party's victory that it would focus on controlling the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland|COVID-19 pandemic]] as well as pushing for a second referendum on independence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish Parliament election 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c37d28xdn99t/scottish-parliament-election-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508204547/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c37d28xdn99t/scottish-parliament-election-2021 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |access-date=2021-05-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Although they won with a majority in 2021, a majority of MSPs elected had come from parties that supported Scottish independence; this prompted negotiations between the SNP and the Scottish Green Party to secure a deal that would see Green ministers appointed to government and the [[Scottish Greens]] backing SNP policies, with hopes that this united front on independence would solidify the SNP's mandate for the second independence referendum. The [[Third Sturgeon government]] was formed with Green support.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-20 |title=SNP-Greens deal pledges indyref2 within five years |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58272209 |access-date=2022-05-06}}</ref>

In July 2021, the Scottish Police launched an investigation into possibly missing funds raised between 2017 and 2020 specifically for a second referendum. The investigation was given the code name [[Operation Branchform]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macaskill |first=Mark |date=8 May 2022 |title=SNP £600,000 fundraising fraud allegations 'may have substance' |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-600-000-fundraising-fraud-allegations-may-have-substance-fx2msxpp6}}</ref> In the [[2022 Scottish local elections]], the SNP remained as the biggest party, winning a record number of councillors and securing majority control of [[2022 Dundee City Council election|Dundee]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sim |first=Philip |date=2022-05-09 |title=The numbers behind Scotland's council election results |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61371483 |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref> On 15 February 2023, Sturgeon announced her intention to resign as leader and first minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-15 |title=End of an era as Nicola Sturgeon waves farewell |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64652687 |access-date=2023-03-03}}</ref>

On 16 March 2023, it was revealed that the SNP's membership had fallen to 72,000, down from over 125,000 at the end of 2019. As a result of this, CEO [[Peter Murrell]] resigned on 18 March after criticism was levied at him over the way the figures were published.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-18 |title=SNP chief executive Peter Murrell resigns over membership row |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65000606.amp |access-date=2023-03-18}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

=== Yousaf era (March 2023 – May 2024) ===
{{See also|Premiership of Humza Yousaf|Operation Branchform}}
[[File:First Minister meets with Icelandic President.jpg|thumb|right|Yousaf meets with [[President of Iceland]], [[Guðni Th. Jóhannesson]], 2024]]

[[Humza Yousaf]] was announced as the next Leader of the Scottish National Party on 27 March 2023 after winning the [[2023 Scottish National Party leadership election|leadership election]]. Yousaf defeated challenger [[Kate Forbes]] in the final stage, with 52% of the vote to Forbes' 48%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 February 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon resigns: SNP to announce new leader on 27 March as Swinney rules himself out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-64648879 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New SNP leader to be revealed March 27 following resignation of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/new-snp-leader-march-27-nicola-sturgeon-resignation/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=LBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The SNP leadership race's contenders to replace Nicola Sturgeon: Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf |url=https://news.sky.com/story/snp-leadership-contest-who-will-replace-nicola-sturgeon-as-next-party-leader-and-scotlands-first-minister-12815798 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Sky News}}</ref> The leadership election was dominated by the strategy for a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second independence referendum]] and the [[Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill|Gender Recognition Reform Bill]], which has divided the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-01 |title=SNP leadership hustings: Candidates split on gender reform legal challenge |url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,snp-leadership-hustings-candidates-split-on-gender-reform-legal-challenge |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Holyrood Website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Nicola Sturgeon leaves with Scotland split in two |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/02/15/nicola-sturgeon-leaves-with-scotland-split-in-two |access-date=2023-03-03 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> On 29 March 2023, Yousaf was appointed First Minister of Scotland. On 18 April, his government published its policy prospectus titled "Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A fresh start"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership – A fresh start |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/equality-opportunity-community-new-leadership-fresh-start/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=www.gov.scot}}</ref>

On 23 August 2023, Murray Foote was appointed as the new Chief Executive of the SNP.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-23 |title=Murray Foote appointed as new SNP chief executive |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66596560 |access-date=2023-10-17}}</ref> On 12 October 2023, MP [[Lisa Cameron]] [[crossed the floor]] to join the Scottish Conservatives, ahead of counting the votes on her selection contest within the SNP for the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]]. She became the first elected representative from the SNP to defect to a unionist party. Cameron claimed a "toxic and bullying" culture in the SNP led to her defection.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 October 2023 |title=SNP MP Lisa Cameron defects to the Conservatives, citing 'toxic and bullying' culture |work=[[Politics.co.uk]] |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2023/10/12/snp-mp-lisa-cameron-defects-to-the-conservatives-citing-toxic-and-bullying-culture/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 October 2023 |title=Lisa Cameron's defection has deeper roots than deselection threat |last=Gordon| first=Tom |work=[[Herald (Scotland)|The Herald]] |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23852441.lisa-camerons-defection-deeper-roots-snp-deselection-threat/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

On 15 October 2023, the SNP National Conference voted in favour of Yousaf's strategy on Scottish independence, including a number of amendments proposed from senior SNP representatives. This committed the SNP to launching a Scotland-wide independence campaign before the end of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-16 |title=Explained in five minutes: The independence strategy adopted at the SNP conference |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23857464.explained-snp-independence-strategy-adopted-conference/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=The Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-14 |title=Humza Yousaf signals change in independence strategy |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67113124 |access-date=2023-10-17}}</ref> Yousaf also made a number of policy announcements, including a freeze on Council Tax rates, additional funding for the NHS to reduce waiting lists as well as the issuing of [[government bond]]s to fund infrastructure projects.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |date=2023-10-17 |title=Scottish council tax to be frozen next year, Humza Yousaf tells SNP conference  |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/oct/17/scottish-council-tax-to-be-frozen-next-year-humza-yousaf-tells-snp-conference |access-date=2023-10-17 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mnyanda |first=Lukanyo |date=2023-10-17 |title=Scotland to issue bonds for the first time, says SNP's Humza Yousaf |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8b697548-db15-4927-8fca-3269b25f7043 |access-date=2023-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=2023-10-17 |title=Humza Yousaf to pledge £300m for Scotland's NHS to cut waiting lists |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/humza-yousaf-to-announce-300m-investment-to-tackle-scottish-nhs-waiting-lists-at-snp-aberdeen-conference |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=STV News}}</ref>

On 25 April 2024, it was announced that the [[Bute House Agreement]] would come to an end<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=2024-04-25 |title=SNP breaks off power-share agreement with Scottish Greens |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-set-to-break-off-power-sharing-bute-house-agreement-with-scottish-greens |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=STV News}}</ref> before a vote was to be held by the Scottish Greens on whether to continue the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=Scottish Greens to vote on SNP power-sharing agreement after climate target ditched |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cekl2v3124go |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=BBC News }}</ref> Four days later, Yousaf announced that he would be resigning as Leader of the Scottish National Party and as First Minister of Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Smout |first1=Alistair |last2=Bruce |first2=Andy |title=Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland's first minister in boost to Labour's chances in UK vote |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/scotlands-yousaf-set-resign-first-minister-uk-media-say-2024-04-29/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

====Operation Branchform====
In April 2023, two SNP officials were arrested and released without charge in connection with the [[Operation Branchform|investigation into Scottish National Party finances]]. Peter Murrell was arrested on 5 April<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65187823/}}</ref> and Colin Beattie, the SNP treasurer, on 18 April.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2023 |title=Colin Beattie: Police arrest SNP treasurer in finance probe |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65309791 |access-date=2023-04-18}}</ref> Murrell is the husband of former party leader, Nicola Sturgeon. The day Murrell was arrested and interviewed, [[Police Scotland]] also searched a number of addresses, including the SNP's headquarters and Murrell's home in Glasgow.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=5 April 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, arrested in SNP funding inquiry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/05/peter-murrell-nicola-sturgeons-husband-arrested-over-snp-funding-investigation |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Breaking |first=BBC |date=5 April 2023 |title=Sturgeon's husband arrested in SNP finance probe |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65187823 |access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref> Beattie resigned as SNP treasurer and was replaced by Stuart McDonald.<ref>{{Cite news |title=MP Stuart McDonald replaces Colin Beattie as SNP treasurer |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=22 April 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/22/mp-stuart-mcdonald-replaces-colin-beattie-as-snp-treasurer}}</ref>

Also in April, it was reported that the SNP's auditors, Johnston Carmichael, had resigned from their role around October 2022, and were yet to be replaced, three months before the party's accounts 2022 were due to be submitted to the Electoral Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Chris |date=2023-04-11 |title=SNP auditors quit months before Sturgeon resignation and her husband's arrest, Yousaf reveals |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/snp-auditors-quit-nicola-sturgeon-resignation-husband-arrest-humza-yousaf-2268555 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> New auditors were appointed in May.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-03 |title=SNP appoints new auditor as deadline looms for filing accounts |work=BBC News |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/03/snp-appoints-new-auditor-deadline-looms-filing-accounts |access-date=2023-08-23}}</ref> Filing the party accounts in June 2023, the new auditors highlighted that they had not been able to find original records for some cash and cheques.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auditors find records of SNP cash and cheques 'not kept by the party' |date=30 June 2023 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23624282.auditors-find-records-snp-cash-cheques-not-kept-party/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SNP auditor flags missing documents as party approves accounts |date=30 June 2023 |url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,snp-auditor-flags-missing-documents-as-party-approves-accounts}}</ref>

Murrell was re-arrested on 18 April 2024 and charged with embezzlement. He later resigned his membership of the SNP. A [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]] spokesman confirmed that it received a report in relation to Murrell and that an investigation into two other individuals "a man aged 72 and a 53-year-old woman" were still ongoing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nicola Sturgeon still being investigated over missing SNP funds |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/nicola-sturgeon-investigation-operation-branchform-missing-snp-funds-k0ff9zr78#:~:text=Nicola%20Sturgeon%20remains%20under%20investigation,her%20husband%20embezzled%20party%20funds. |access-date=24 May 2024 |agency=The Times |date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-18 |title=Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement in SNP probe |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68850088 |access-date=2024-04-18 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Swinney era (May 2024 onwards) ===
[[File:John Swinney - First Minister (53720492021).jpg|thumb|right|Swinney became party leader on 6 May 2024 and subsequently became [[First Minister of Scotland]] on 8 May]]

On 6 May 2024, [[John Swinney]] was confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish National Party in the [[2024 Scottish National Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=John Swinney wins SNP leadership unopposed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c72pk2qpqevo |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was unopposed in the race as on 2 May his main speculated challenger, [[Kate Forbes]], announced she would not stand in the race and endorsed Swinney<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=John Swinney looks set to be first minister as Kate Forbes backs him |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c88zvgl9y9go |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> and on 5 May, Graeme McCormick claimed that he secured enough member votes for a nomination but then dropped out the same evening following a conversation with Swinney, ultimately endorsing him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-05 |title=John Swinney to become SNP leader after challenger drops out |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0lgnm3037o |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

During the campaign for the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the SNP was investigated by Holyrood authorities for allegedly misusing MSPs' expenses to fund their campaigning. An anonymous complaint was sent to [[Alison Johnstone]] in which an individual claimed that stamps bought with expenses were given to Westminster election candidates for mailing leaflets. The complaint included a WhatsApp screenshot showing MSP staff discussing the traceability of the stamps. Parliamentary rules state that stationery and postage provided by the [[Scottish Parliament Corporate Body]] "must be used only for parliamentary duties and must not be used for any other purpose, including party political purposes". It was reported that John Swinney's office manager had told an SNP staff WhatsApp group chat that "stamp fairy is very useful when it comes to campaigns". An SNP spokesperson confirmed the investigation and emphasized compliance with the rules, while John Swinney stated that he had been "assured that no parliamentary stamps that have been provided by Parliament have been used to support election purposes", adding that he was "confident" that there had been no use of any public money to support the SNP general election campaign. This investigation occurred amid SNP's financial struggles, falling membership, and the police investigation into alleged embezzlement. Despite a £128,000 bequest boosting their campaign, SNP spending was minimal compared to other parties.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brooks |first=Libby |title=SNP investigated over claim funds misused to support general election candidates |date=21 June 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/21/snp-investigated-misuse-funds-stamps-post-election-leaflets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622105829/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/21/snp-investigated-misuse-funds-stamps-post-election-leaflets |archive-date=22 June 2024 |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Swinney: Parliament stamps not used for campaign |last=Williams |first=Craig |date=23 June 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck55kg2882go |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en |archive-date=24 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624171000/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck55kg2882go |url-status=live }}</ref>

The SNP ultimately won nine seats in the 2024 election, a loss of 39 seats on its 2019 result, reducing it to the second-largest party in Scotland, behind [[Scottish Labour]], and the fourth-largest party in Westminster. Swinney took full responsibility but said that he would not resign as leader. He said of the results, "There will have to be a lot of soul searching as a party as a consequence of these results that have come in tonight", and that the SNP has to be "better at governing on behalf of the people of Scotland", admitting the party was not "winning the argument" on Scottish independence.<ref>{{cite news |title=SNP leader says 'soul searching' needed as Labour win big in Scotland |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |date=5 July 2024 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/snp-leader-says-soul-searching-needed-as-labour-win-big-in-scotland-13170414 |access-date= 5 July 2024 |website= Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2024, the SNP announced a plan to reduce permanent paid staff at its headquarters from twenty-six to sixteen, a reduction of more than a third, in order to "protect the long-term finances of the party" before the next Scottish Parliament election. The pressure on the SNP's finances was attributed to a reduction in [[Short Money]] they receive following the 2024 general election, along with an increased reliance on membership fees over substantial donations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2024 |title=SNP plans to cut staff at party headquarters |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2ngw81vrlo |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref>

==Constitution and structure==
The local Branches are the primary level of organisation in the SNP. All of the Branches within each Scottish Parliament constituency form a Constituency Association, which coordinates the work of the Branches within the constituency, coordinates the activities of the party in the constituency and acts as a point of liaison between an MSP or MP and the party. Constituency Associations are composed of delegates from all of the Branches within the constituency.

The annual National Conference is the supreme governing body of the SNP and is responsible for determining party policy and electing the [[National Executive Committee of the Scottish National Party|National Executive Committee]]. The National Conference is composed of:
* delegates from every Branch and Constituency Association
* the members of the National Executive Committee
* every SNP MSP and MP
* all SNP councillors
* delegates from each of the SNP's Affiliated Organisations (Young Scots for Independence, [[SNP Students]], [[SNP Trade Union Group]], the Association of Nationalist Councillors, the Disabled Members Group, the SNP BAME Network, Scots Asians for Independence, and Out for Independence)

There are also regular meetings of the National Assembly, which provides a forum for detailed discussions of party policy by party members.

===Membership===
The SNP experienced a large surge in membership following the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=22 September 2014 |title=SNP poised to become one of UK's largest political parties |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/22/snp-poised-become-largest-political-parties |url-status=live |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826141659/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/22/snp-poised-become-largest-political-parties |archive-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> In 2013, the party's membership stood at just 20,000,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Bridget |date=23 July 2016 |title=120,000: SNP membership hits record level after post-Brexit surge |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/14904031.120000-snp-membership-hits-record-level-after-post-brexit-surge/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826141710/https://www.thenational.scot/news/14904031.120000-snp-membership-hits-record-level-after-post-brexit-surge/ |archive-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> but that number had swelled to over 100,000 by 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Tom |date=22 March 2015 |title=SNP boost as membership soars past 100k mark |work=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13206844.snp-boost-membership-soars-past-100k-mark/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826141659/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13206844.snp-boost-membership-soars-past-100k-mark/ |archive-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> Party membership peaked in 2019 at around 125,000.<ref name=rev>{{Cite web |title=SNP membership continues to plummet as 10,000 leave in a year|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-membership-continues-to-plummet-as-10000-leave-in-a-year |work=STV News |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=22 August 2024|first=Craig |last=Meighan}}</ref> Annual accounts submitted by the party to the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] showed the SNP to have over 119,000 members in 2021.<ref name="Membership">{{Cite news |last=Matchett |first=Conor |date=26 August 2021 |title=SNP spent £615,000 on office refit, annual accounts confirm |work=The Scotsman |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-spent-ps615000-on-office-refit-annual-accounts-confirm-3360396 |url-status=live |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102324/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-spent-ps615000-on-office-refit-annual-accounts-confirm-3360396 |archive-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> By the end of 2021, the party reported that this number was 103,884.<ref name="Membership_End2021">{{Citation |title=Annual Accounts 2021 |date=30 June 2022 |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/24333 |work=The Electoral Commission |access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> Membership then continued to fall: to 85,000 at the end of 2022, and to 72,186 in March 2023.<ref name="2023mem">{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Adam |date=24 April 2023 |title=SNP membership figures up by thousands since start of March, party says |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23476837.snp-membership-figures-thousands-since-start-march-party-says/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 April 2023}}</ref> By the end of 2023, this had fallen to 69,325 and then to 64,525 by June 2024.<ref name=rev/>

===European affiliation===
The SNP retains close links with [[Plaid Cymru]], its counterpart in [[Wales]]. [[UK MPs|MPs]] from both parties co-operate closely with each other and work as a single parliamentary group within the House of Commons. Both the SNP and Plaid Cymru are members of the [[European Free Alliance]] (EFA),<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2019 |title=SNP MEP elected president of key European Parliament group |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17698970.snp-mep-alyn-smith-elected-president-efa-group/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref> a European political party comprising [[regionalism (politics)|regionalist]] political parties. The EFA co-operates with the larger [[European Green Party]] to form [[The Greens–European Free Alliance]] (Greens/EFA) group in the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/who-we-are |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Greens/EFA |language=en}}</ref> Before its affiliation with The Greens–European Free Alliance, the SNP had previously been allied with the [[European Progressive Democrats]] (1979–1984), [[Rainbow Group (1989–1994)|Rainbow Group]] (1989–1994) and [[European Radical Alliance]] (1994–1999).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Résultats élections européennes 1979 |url=https://www.europe-politique.eu/elections-europeennes-1979.htm |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=www.europe-politique.eu}}</ref>

As the UK is no longer a member of the EU, the SNP has no MEPs.

==Policies==

===Ideology===
[[File:Building a New Scotland An Independent Scotland in the EU (53344432131).jpg|thumb|right|The SNP advocate for Scotland to regain its independence and re–join the [[European Union]]]]
The Scottish National Party did not have a clear ideological position until the 1970s, when it sought to explicitly present itself as a social democratic party in terms of party policy and publicity.<ref name="Lynch">{{Cite book |last=Peter Lynch |title=SNP: The History of the Scottish National Party |publisher=Welsh Academic Press |year=2002}}</ref><ref name="Brand1978">{{Cite book |last=Jack Brand |title=The National Movement in Scotland |publisher=Routledge and Kegan Paul |year=1978 |pages=216–17}}</ref> During the period from its foundation until the 1960s, the SNP was essentially a moderate [[centrist]] party.<ref name="Lynch" /> Debate within the party focused more on the SNP being distinct as an all-Scotland national movement, with it being neither of the [[Left-wing politics|left]] nor the [[Right-wing politics|right]], but constituting a new politics that sought to put Scotland first.<ref name="Brand1978" /><ref name="Brand199028">{{Cite book |last=Jack Brand |title='Scotland', in Watson, Michael (ed.), Contemporary Minority Nationalism |publisher=Routledge |year=1990 |page=28}}</ref>

The SNP was formed through the merger of the centre-left [[National Party of Scotland]] (NPS) and the centre-right [[Scottish Party]].<ref name="Brand1978" /> The SNP's founders were united over [[self-determination]] in principle, though not its exact nature, or the best strategic means to achieve self-government. From the mid-1940s onwards, SNP policy was [[Radical politics|radical]] and [[Redistribution of income and wealth|redistributionist]] concerning land and in favour of 'the diffusion of economic power', including the [[decentralisation]] of industries such as coal to include the involvement of local authorities and regional planning bodies to control industrial structure and development.<ref name="Lynch" /> Party policies supported the economic and social policy status quo of the post-war [[Welfare state in the United Kingdom|welfare state]].<ref name="Lynch" /><ref name="Hassan2009120">{{Cite book |last=Gerry Hassan |title=The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2009 |page=120}}</ref>

By the 1960s, the SNP was starting to become defined ideologically, with a social democratic tradition emerging as the party grew in urban, industrial Scotland, and its membership experienced an influx of social democrats from the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], the [[trade union]]s and the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]].<ref name="Brand199032">{{Cite book |last=Jack Brand |title='Scotland', in Watson, Michael (ed.), Contemporary Minority Nationalism |publisher=Routledge |year=1990 |page=32}}</ref><ref name="Mitchell1996208">{{Cite book |last=James Mitchell |title=Strategies for Self-government: The Campaigns for a Scottish Parliament |publisher=Polygon |year=1996 |page=208}}</ref> The emergence of [[Billy Wolfe (politician)|Billy Wolfe]] as a leading figure in the SNP also contributed to the leftwards shift. By this period, the Labour Party was also the dominant party in Scotland, in terms of electoral support and representation. Targeting Labour through emphasising left-of-centre policies and values was therefore electorally logical for the SNP, as well as tying in with the ideological preferences of many new party members.<ref name="Mitchell1996208" /> In 1961, the SNP conference expressed the party's opposition to the siting of the [[US]] [[UGM-27 Polaris|Polaris]] submarine base at the [[Holy Loch]]. This policy was followed in 1963 by a motion opposed to [[nuclear weapon]]s: a policy that has remained in place ever since.<ref name="Mitchell19961994">{{Cite book |last=James Mitchell |title=Strategies for Self-government: The Campaigns for a Scottish Parliament |publisher=Polygon |year=1996 |page=194}}</ref> The 1964 policy document, ''SNP & You'', contained a clear centre-left policy platform, including commitments to [[full employment]], government intervention in fuel, power and transport, a state bank to guide economic development, encouragement of [[cooperative]]s and [[credit union]]s, extensive building of [[council house]]s (social housing) by central and local government, pensions adjusted to cost of living, a [[minimum wage]] and an improved [[NHS Scotland|national health service]].<ref name="Lynch" />

The 1960s also saw the beginnings of the SNP's efforts to establish an industrial organisation and mobilise amongst trade unionists in Scotland, with the establishment of the SNP Trade Union Group, and identifying the SNP with industrial campaigns, such as the [[Upper-Clyde Shipbuilders Work-in]] and the attempt of the workers at the Scottish ''[[Daily Express]]'' to run as a co-operative.<ref name="Lynch" /> For the party manifestos for the two 1974 general elections, the SNP finally self-identified as a social democratic party, and proposed a range of social democratic policies.<ref name="Brand199027">{{Cite book |last=Jack Brand |title='Scotland', in Watson, Michael (ed.), Contemporary Minority Nationalism |publisher=Routledge |year=1990 |page=27}}</ref><ref name="Hassan2009121">{{Cite book |last=Gerry Hassan |title=The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2009 |page=121}}</ref> There was also an unsuccessful proposal at the 1975 party conference to rename the party as the ''Scottish National Party (Social Democrats)''.<ref name="Hepburn2013143">{{Cite book |last=Eve Hepburn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dTOOAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA143 |title=New Challenges for Stateless Nationalist and Regionalist Parties |date=18 October 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-96596-1 |page=143 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503092815/https://books.google.com/books?id=dTOOAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA143 |archive-date=3 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the UK-wide referendum on Britain's membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) in the same year as the aforementioned attempted name change, the SNP campaigned for Britain to leave the EEC.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Devenney |first=Andrew D. |year=2008 |title=Regional Resistance to European Integration: The Case of the Scottish National Party, 1961–1972 |journal=Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung |volume=33 |issue=3 (125) |pages=319–345 |issn=0172-6404 |jstor=20762312}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ley |first=Shaun |date=18 August 2016 |title=The dilemma facing Scotland's Eurosceptic nationalists |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37107148 |url-status=live |access-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075249/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37107148 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>

There were further ideological and internal struggles after 1979, with the [[79 Group]] attempting to move the SNP further to the left, away from being what could be described a "social-democratic" party, to an expressly "[[socialist]]" party. Members of the 79 Group – including future party leader and [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] – were expelled from the party. This produced a response in the shape of the [[Campaign for Nationalism in Scotland]] from those who wanted the SNP to remain a "broad church", apart from arguments of left vs. right. The 1980s saw the SNP further define itself as a party of the political left, such as campaigning against the introduction of the [[community charge|poll tax]] in Scotland in 1989; one year before the tax was imposed on the rest of the UK.<ref name="Lynch" />

Ideological tensions inside the SNP are further complicated by arguments between the so-called [[SNP gradualist]]s and [[SNP fundamentalist]]s. In essence, gradualists seek to advance Scotland to independence through further devolution, in a "step-by-step" strategy. They tend to be in the moderate left grouping, though much of the [[79 Group]] was gradualist in approach. However, this 79 Group gradualism was as much a reaction against the fundamentalists of the day, many of whom believed the SNP should not take a clear left or right position.<ref name="Lynch" />

=== Economy ===
[[File:2 North Sea oil platform240918.jpg|thumb|right|Following oil discovery in the [[North Sea]] of the coast of Scotland, the SNP used the campaign slogan ''[[It's Scotland's oil]]'']]

During the 1970s the SNP campaigned widely on the political slogan [[It's Scotland's oil]], where it was argued that the discovery of North Sea oil off the coast of Scotland, and the revenue that it created would not benefit Scotland to any significant degree while Scotland remained part of the United Kingdom.

The [[Second Sturgeon government|Sturgeon Government]] in 2017 adjusted income tax rates so that low earners would pay less and those earning more than £33,000 a year would pay more.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2017 |title=Scottish income tax changes unveiled |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42356953 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075249/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42356953 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Previously the party had replaced the flat rate [[Stamp duty in the United Kingdom|Stamp Duty]] with the [[LBTT]], which uses a graduated tax rate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2015 |title=New property tax comes into effect |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-32129904 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075248/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-32129904 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Whilst in government, the party was also responsible for the establishment of [[Revenue Scotland]] to administer devolved taxation.

Having previously defined itself in opposition to the [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|poll tax]]<ref name="Lynch" /> the SNP has also championed progressive taxation at a local level. Despite pledging to introduce a [[local income tax]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=11 February 2009 |title=Alex Salmond drops flat-rate local income tax plan |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/feb/11/alex-salmond-snp-local-income-tax |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075253/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/feb/11/alex-salmond-snp-local-income-tax |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the [[First Salmond government|Salmond Government]] found itself unable to replace the [[Council Tax in Scotland|council tax]] and the party has, particularly since the ending of the council tax freeze<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2019 |title=Nicola Sturgeon confirms end to council tax freeze as those living in more expensive homes face higher bills |url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,nicola-sturgeon-confirms-end-to-council-tax-freeze-as-those-living-in-more-_6572.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075252/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,nicola-sturgeon-confirms-end-to-council-tax-freeze-as-those-living-in-more-expensive-homes-face-higher-bills_6572.htm |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Holyrood Website |language=en}}</ref> under Nicola Sturgeon's leadership, committing to increasing the graduated nature of the tax.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 November 2016 |title=MSPs vote to raise council tax bands |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37837010 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075254/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37837010 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> Conversely, the party has also supported capping and reducing [[Business rates in Scotland|Business Rates]] in an attempt to support small businesses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 September 2017 |title=Scottish business rate reforms confirmed |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41244487 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075250/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41244487 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>

It has been noted that the party contains a broader spectrum of opinion regarding economic policy than most political parties in the UK due to its status as "the only viable vehicle for Scottish independence",<ref name="splits">{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=James |date=16 March 2017 |title=5 of the biggest splits behind the SNP's disciplined facade |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/03/5-biggest-splits-behind-snps-disciplined-facade |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171758/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/03/5-biggest-splits-behind-snps-disciplined-facade |archive-date=8 April 2017 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref> with the party's parliamentary group at Westminster in 2016 including socialists such as [[Tommy Sheppard (politician)|Tommy Sheppard]] and [[Mhairi Black]], capitalists such as [[Stewart Hosie]] and former Conservative, [[Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh]].<ref name="splits" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=James |date=13 October 2016 |title=The SNP can't mask its left-right split forever |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/10/snp-cant-mask-its-left-right-split-forever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171658/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/10/snp-cant-mask-its-left-right-split-forever |archive-date=8 April 2017 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=[[New Statesman]]}}</ref>

=== Social justice ===
In 1980, when [[Robin Cook]] moved an amendment to legalise homosexual acts to the Bill which became the [[Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980]], the SNP's two MPs [[Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)|Gordon Wilson]] and [[Donald Stewart (Scottish politician)|Donald Stewart]] both voted against the amendment.<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Homosexual Offences |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1980/jul/22/homosexual-offences#column_321 |house=House of Commons |date=22 July 1980 |column=321 }}</ref>

In June 2000, the SNP supported the repeal of [[section 28]], a series of laws across Britain that prohibited the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities.<ref>{{cite report|location=Scotland |title=Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill. |url=https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=4242&i=28188&c=729125#ScotParlOR |publisher=Scottish Parliament |date=31 August 2000}}</ref>

In government in July 2012, the SNP announced that they would legislate for civil and religious same-sex marriage in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gay marriage to be introduced in Scotland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18981287|work=BBC News|date=25 July 2012|access-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206130709/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18981287|archive-date=6 February 2016}}</ref> The bill was fast-tracked through the [[Scottish Parliament]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13120673.Same_sex_marriage_Bill_to_be_fast_tracked_through_Holyrood/|title=Same-sex marriage Bill to be fast-tracked through Holyrood|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|first=Robbie|last=Dinwoodie|date=31 August 2013|access-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313012433/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13120673.Same_sex_marriage_Bill_to_be_fast_tracked_through_Holyrood/|archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> and approved with 105 MSPs in favour in February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/02/breaking-scotland-legalizes-same-sex-marriage/|title=Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage|work=LGBTQNation|first=Dan|last=Littauer|date=4 February 2014|access-date=31 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107164402/http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/02/breaking-scotland-legalizes-same-sex-marriage/|archive-date=7 January 2016}}</ref>

Under [[Nicola Sturgeon|Sturgeon's]] leadership, Scotland was twice in succession named the best country in Europe for [[LGBT|LGBT+]] legal equality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 2016 |title=Scotland tops Europe for LGBTI equality and human rights |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scotland-tops-europe-lgbti-equality-and-human-rights-1476918 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414043340/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scotland-tops-europe-lgbti-equality-and-human-rights-1476918 |archive-date=14 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> The party is considered very supportive of gays, lesbians and bisexuals – something that historically was not the case, as stated above.<ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite news |last=MacNicol |first=David |date=27 July 2017 |title=Illegal to be gay – Scotland's history |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40731733 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075251/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40731733 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2016 |title=The tartan rainbow: Why it's great to be gay in Scotland |first1=David |last1=Torrance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/05/tartan-rainbow-why-great-to-be-gay-in-scotland-lgbt-rights-kezia-dugdale |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075251/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/05/tartan-rainbow-why-great-to-be-gay-in-scotland-lgbt-rights-kezia-dugdale |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref>

The SNP legislated to improve [[Transgender rights in the United Kingdom|gender self-identification]] with the [[Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill]]. The policy was controversial within the SNP, with some of the party's social conservatives claiming the reforms could be open to abuse.<ref name="bbc.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 October 2019 |title=Several women 'close to quitting SNP over gender recognition plans' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland |first1=Libby |last1=Brooks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093740/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/14/snp-women-close-to-quitting-gender-recognition-proposals-trans-rights-scotland |archive-date=8 May 2021 |access-date=11 May 2021 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2020, the Scottish Government paused the legislation in order to find "maximum consensus" on the issue<ref name="bbc.com"/> and commentators described the issue as having divided the SNP like no other, with many dubbing the debate a "civil war".<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2021 |title=Joanna Cherry accuses SNP colleagues of 'performative histrionics' over transgender issue |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html |first1=Adam |last1=Forrest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-joanna-cherry-transgender-rights-b1800202.html |archive-date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 April 2021 |website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wade |first=Mike |title=Anger over trans woman on all-female SNP shortlist |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t |date=October 22, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anger-over-trans-woman-on-all-female-snp-shortlist-092x6jw9t |archive-date=25 April 2021 |via=The Times }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanderson |first=Daniel |date=1 February 2021 |title=SNP civil war deepens as leading Sturgeon critic Joanna Cherry purged from Westminster team |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210101023/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/01/snp-civil-war-deepens-leading-sturgeon-critic-purged-westminster/ |archive-date=10 February 2021 |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> In January 2021, a former trans officer in the SNP's LGBT wing, Teddy Hope, quit the party, describing it was one of the "core hubs of transphobia in Scotland".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2021 |title=Why has the SNP been accused of 'transphobic views' – and who is Teddy Hope? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425095146/https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/snp-transphobia-row-why-has-nicola-sturgeons-party-been-accused-transphobic-views-and-who-teddy-hope-3117850 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 April 2021 |website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref> Large numbers of LGBT activists followed suit and Sturgeon released a video message in which she said that transphobia is "not acceptable" and that she hoped they would one day rejoin the party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2021 |title=Nicola Sturgeon says transphobia in SNP 'not acceptable' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227 |url-status=live |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503160507/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55839227 |archive-date=3 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2021 |title=Nicola Sturgeon: transphobia in SNP is 'not acceptable' – video |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video |url-status=live |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193916/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2021/jan/28/nicola-sturgeon-transphobia-in-snp-is-not-acceptable-video |archive-date=20 April 2021 |via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In December 2022, the [[Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill]] was passed by a majority of 86 to 39, with nine SNP members voting against the bill and 54 for.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-22-12-2022?meeting=14071&iob=127436|title=Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) [Draft] Meeting date: Thursday, December 22, 2022|publisher=Scottish Parliament|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

Particularly since [[Nicola Sturgeon]]'s elevation to [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] the party has highlighted its commitments to [[gender equality]] – with her first act being to appoint a [[First Sturgeon government|gender balanced cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=Libby |date=21 November 2014 |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces Scottish cabinet with equal gender balance |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514192555/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-cabinet-equal-gender-balance |archive-date=14 May 2015 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The SNP have also taken steps to implement [[all-women shortlist]]s whilst Sturgeon has introduced a mentoring scheme<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Catriona |title=Nicola Sturgeon marks International Women's day by launching search for new woman to mentor |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-marks-international-womens-day-by-launching-search-for-new-woman-to-mentor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075301/https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/nicola-sturgeon-marks-international-womens-day-by-launching-search-for-new-woman-to-mentor/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Sunday Post |date=8 March 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> to encourage women's political engagement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2015 |title=The SNP are right to adopt all women shortlists |url=https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2015/04/02/the-snp-are-right-to-adopt-all-women-shortlists/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075253/https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2015/04/02/the-snp-are-right-to-adopt-all-women-shortlists/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Bella Caledonia |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The SNP supports [[multiculturalism]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Scottish National Party Is Espousing A Multicultural Brand of Nationalism |language=en |work=NPR |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/796344881/the-scottish-national-party-is-espousing-a-multicultural-brand-of-nationalism |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075238/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/796344881/the-scottish-national-party-is-espousing-a-multicultural-brand-of-nationalism |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> with Scotland receiving thousands of [[refugee]]s from the [[Syrian civil war|Syrian Civil War.]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2019 |title=Fifth of UK's Syrian refugees in Scotland |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47597458 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075255/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47597458 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> To this end it has been claimed that refugees in Scotland are better supported than those in England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 July 2018 |title=Syrian refugees in Scotland 'much happier' than those in England |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/syrian-refugees-scotland-much-happier-those-england-272337 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075254/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/syrian-refugees-scotland-much-happier-those-england-272337 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> More generally, the SNP seeks to increase immigration to combat a declining population<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2019 |title=SNP demand immigration powers as population growth stutters |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17982766.snp-demand-immigration-powers-population-growth-stutters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080732/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17982766.snp-demand-immigration-powers-population-growth-stutters/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Herald |language=en |location=Glasgow}}</ref> and calling for a separate Scottish visa even within the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vevers |first=Dan |date=27 January 2020 |title=Sturgeon unveils proposals for new 'Scottish visa' |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/sturgeon-unveils-proposals-for-new-scottish-visa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080733/https://news.stv.tv/politics/sturgeon-unveils-proposals-for-new-scottish-visa?top |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, data for 2022 shows that Scotland houses proportionally fewer asylum seekers relative to its population than England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=Immigration minister's claims about refugees in Scotland need clarification |url=https://fullfact.org/immigration/Scotland-does-house-refugees/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Full Fact |language=en}}</ref>

=== Foreign affairs and defence ===
{{seealso|NATO debate in the Scottish National Party}}
[[File:Deputy Secretary Blinken Meets With Scottish First Minister Sturgeon (18680518311).jpg|thumb|243x243px|The SNP increasingly supports [[Atlanticism|Atlanticist]] institutions like [[NATO]].]]
Despite traditionally supporting [[military neutrality]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nato is the way forward, not Dad's Army neutrality |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/nato-is-the-way-forward-not-dads-army-neutrality-905v7jrzpgl |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080741/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nato-is-the-way-forward-not-dads-army-neutrality-905v7jrzpgl |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> the SNP's policy has in recent years moved to support both the [[Atlanticist]] and [[Pro-Europeanism|Europeanist]] traditions. This is particularly evident in the conclusion of the [[NATO debate in the Scottish National Party|NATO debate]] within the party in favour of those who support membership of the military alliance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2012 |title=SNP votes to end anti-Nato policy |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321075245/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> This is despite the party's continuing opposition to Scotland hosting [[Nuclear weapons of the United Kingdom|nuclear weapons]] and then-leader [[Alex Salmond|Salmond]]'s criticism of both the [[Kosovo War|Kosovo intervention]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hyland |first=Julie |date=1 April 1999 |title=Scottish National Party leader criticises NATO bombing of Serbia |url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/04/snp-a01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080739/https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/04/snp-a01.html |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=wsws.org |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 January 2003 |title=Holyrood has its say on Iraq |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2665027.stm |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080740/https://server-uk.imrworldwide.com/a1.js |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> The party has placed an emphasis on developing positive relations with the [[United States]] in recent years<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riley-Smith |first=Ben |date=8 June 2015 |title=How Nicola Sturgeon plans to win over America |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon/11658785/How-Nicola-Sturgeon-plans-to-win-over-America.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321080740/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon/11658785/How-Nicola-Sturgeon-plans-to-win-over-America.html |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> despite a lukewarm reaction to the [[2016 United States presidential election|election]] of part-[[Scottish American]] [[Donald Trump]] as [[President of the United States|President]] due to long running legal disputes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=12 November 2019 |title=Trump firm settles legal bill over Scottish windfarm dispute |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/12/trump-firm-settles-legal-bill-over-scottish-windfarm-dispute |access-date=10 April 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
[[File:FM meets with Juncker.jpg|left|thumb|216x216px|Sturgeon meeting EU leader [[Jean-Claude Juncker]] in 2017. [[Pro-Europeanism]] has been central to the SNP.]]
Having opposed continued membership in the [[1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum|1975 referendum]], the party has supported membership of the [[European Union]] since the adoption of the Independence in Europe policy during the 1980s. Consequentially, the SNP supported remaining within the EU during the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum]] where every Scottish council area backed this position.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 June 2016 |title=Scotland backs Remain as UK votes Leave |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36599102 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> Consequently, the party opposed [[Brexit]] and sought a [[Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement|further referendum]] on the [[withdrawal agreement]],<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dickie |first1=Mure |last2=Payne |first2=Sebastian |date=11 October 2019 |title=SNP tries to force Labour to support second independence referendum |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2275740c-ebb1-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081019/https://www.ft.com/content/2275740c-ebb1-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> ultimately unsuccessfully. The SNP would like to see an [[independent Scotland]] as a member of the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 2014 |title=Nicola Sturgeon calls for Scottish veto on EU referendum |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/29/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-veto-eu-referendum |url-status=live |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403112341/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/29/nicola-sturgeon-scottish-veto-eu-referendum |archive-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> and has left open the prospect of an independent Scotland joining the [[euro]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Kirsty |title=An independent Scotland in Europe? |url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/an-independent-scotland-in-europe-brexit-snp-conference-nicola-sturgeon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081025/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/an-independent-scotland-in-europe-brexit-snp-conference-nicola-sturgeon |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The SNP has also taken a stance against [[Russia]]n interference abroad – the party supporting the enlargement of the [[EU]] and [[NATO]] to areas such as the [[Western Balkans]] and [[Ukraine]] to counter this influence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2019 |title=SNP MP Stewart McDonald wins highest state order from Ukraine |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17860080.snp-mp-stewart-mcdonald-wins-highest-state-order-ukraine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081026/https://www.thenational.scot/news/17860080.snp-mp-stewart-mcdonald-wins-highest-state-order-ukraine/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leask |first=David |date=18 February 2020 |title=How Russia Is Prodding Scotland Toward Independence |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/18/scotland-independence-russia-putin-ukraine-propaganda/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081053/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/18/scotland-independence-russia-putin-ukraine-propaganda/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=5 April 2020 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}</ref> The party called for repercussions for Russia regarding the [[poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 2018 |title=SNP MP calls for action against Russia |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45432713 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081027/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45432713 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> and has criticised former leader [[Alex Salmond]] for broadcasting a [[The Alex Salmond Show|chat show]] on [[Government of Russia|Kremlin]]-backed<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian propaganda: 'A multitude of lies and absurd news' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russian-propaganda-a-multitude-of-lies-and-absurd-news/a-48748904 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081026/https://www.dw.com/en/russian-propaganda-a-multitude-of-lies-and-absurd-news/a-48748904 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB}}</ref> network [[RT (TV network)|RT]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ruddick |first1=Graham |last2=Brooks |first2=Libby |date=10 November 2017 |title=Alex Salmond criticised over new talk show for Russian broadcaster RT |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/10/alex-salmond-criticised-over-hosting-talk-show-for-russian-broadcaster |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081028/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/10/alex-salmond-criticised-over-hosting-talk-show-for-russian-broadcaster |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Consequently, party representatives have expressed support for movements such as [[Euromaidan]] that support the independence of countries across [[Eastern Europe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonald MP |first=Stewart |date=11 December 2018 |title=Five years ago today the Yanukovych government of Ukraine opened fire on pro-European protesters in Maidan Square, Kyiv. 100 Ukrainians – the 'heavenly hundred' – would be killed because they joined a protest that wanted their government to work towards EU membership #Euromaidan |url=https://twitter.com/StewartMcDonald/status/1072419287510470658 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081047/https://twitter.com/StewartMcDonald/status/1072419287510470658 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2020}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}

The party have supported measures including [[foreign aid]] which seek to facilitate [[international development]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2016 |title=Where does Scotland's foreign aid go? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/where-does-scotlands-foreign-aid-go-1480844 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081035/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/where-does-scotlands-foreign-aid-go-1480844 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> through various charitable organisations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macdonell |first=Hamish |title=Charities helped by Scotland must be scrutinised |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/charities-helped-by-scotland-must-be-scrutinised-vb6jztw80 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081032/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charities-helped-by-scotland-must-be-scrutinised-vb6jztw80 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In recognition of Scotland's historic links to the country, these programmes are mostly focused in [[Malawi]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2019 |title=Chiara Cotronei: Scotland-Malawi partnership means finding long-term solutions together |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/chiara-cotronei-scotland-malawi-partnership-means-finding-long-term-solutions-together-1416879 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081033/https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/chiara-cotronei-scotland-malawi-partnership-means-finding-long-term-solutions-together-1416879 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> in common with previous Scottish governments. With local authorities across the country, including [[Glasgow City Council]] being involved in this partnership since before the SNP took office in [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Catherine |date=15 January 2020 |title=Almost £270k of Glasgow taxpayers' money spent on Council hotel stays in three years |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/almost-270k-glasgow-taxpayers-money-17568710 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081033/https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/almost-270k-glasgow-taxpayers-money-17568710 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=glasgowlive}}</ref>

=== Health and education ===
[[File:New Victoria Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland.jpg|left|thumb|196x196px|The SNP abolished parking charges at hospitals including the [[New Victoria Hospital|Victoria Hospital]] in Glasgow.]]
The SNP have pledged to uphold the public service nature of [[NHS Scotland]] and are consequently opposed to any attempts at privatisation of the health service,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2019 |title=SNP promise to protect NHS from privatisation in its election manifesto |url=https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/news/snp-promise-to-protect-nhs-from-privatisation-in-its-election-manifesto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081034/https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/news/snp-promise-to-protect-nhs-from-privatisation-in-its-election-manifesto |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Parliamentary Review}}</ref> including any inclusion in a post-[[Brexit]] trade deal with the United States. The party has been fond of increasing provision under the NHS with the introduction of universal [[Maternity package|baby boxes]] based on the [[Finland|Finnish]] scheme.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2018 |title=Baby boxes accepted by 85% of parents |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-45189506 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081034/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-45189506 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> This supported child development alongside other commitments including the expansion of free childcare for children younger than school age and the introduction of universal free school meals in the first three years of school.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 January 2015 |title=Free school meals for young pupils |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30671988 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081036/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30671988 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Alex Salmond (crop).JPG|thumb|168x168px|University [[Tuition fees in the United Kingdom|tuition fees]] were abolished under [[Alex Salmond]].]]
Previously, SNP governments have abolished hospital parking charges<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tibbetts |first=Graham |date=2 September 2008 |title=Hospital parking charges scrapped in Scotland |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2669291/Hospital-parking-charges-scrapped-in-Scotland.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2669291/Hospital-parking-charges-scrapped-in-Scotland.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> as well as prescription charges<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2011 |title=Scots prescription fees abolished |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12928485 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> in efforts to promote enhanced public health outcomes by increasing access to care and treatment. Furthermore, during Sturgeon's premiership, Scotland became the first country in the world to introduce [[Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012|alcohol minimum unit pricing]] to counter [[alcohol problems]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2018 |title=Scotland calls time on cheap booze |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-43948081 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> Recently, the party has also committed to providing universal access to [[Menstrual hygiene management|sanitary products]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeginsu |first=Ceylan |date=27 February 2020 |title=Scotland Set to Be First Country to Provide Free Pads and Tampons |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/world/europe/scotland-pads-tampons.html |access-date=10 April 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and the liberalisation of [[drugs policy]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 October 2019 |title=SNP formally backs decriminalisation of drugs |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50036173 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081503/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50036173 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> through [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolution]], in an effort to increase access to treatment and improve [[public health]] outcomes. Between 2014 and 2019 the party slashed the budget for drug and alcohol treatments by 6.3%<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 July 2019 |title=Scottish Government accused of 'slashing' budget for drug and alcohol partnerships |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-government-accused-slashing-budget-drug-and-alcohol-partnerships-1413018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420191007/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-government-accused-slashing-budget-drug-and-alcohol-partnerships-1413018 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=13 July 2021 |website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref> – a cut that has been linked with Scotland recording the highest number of drug deaths per head in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2020 |title=Scotland's drug deaths rise to new record |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961 |url-status=live |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419101029/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55184961 |archive-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

The party aspires to promote universal access to education, with one of the first acts of the [[First Salmond government|Salmond government]] being to abolish [[Tuition fees in the United Kingdom|tuition fees]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Kirsty |date=25 March 2008 |title=Scottish fees abolished |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/mar/25/highereducation.tuitionfees |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081440/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/mar/25/highereducation.tuitionfees |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> – although it has also introduced a cap on the number of Scots who can attend university and cut funding for further education colleges.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Simon |date=January 2020 |title=SNP cap on university places attacked after more than 14,000 Scots miss out |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/01/snp-cap-university-places-attacked-14000-scots-miss/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/01/snp-cap-university-places-attacked-14000-scots-miss/ |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 December 2018 |title='˜Decade of SNP cuts' has cost colleges about Â£1 billion, say Labour |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/decade-snp-cuts-has-cost-colleges-about-aps1-billion-say-labour-1424061}}</ref> More recently, the party has turned its attention to widening access to [[higher education]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 October 2019 |title=Widening Access Commissioner 'within weeks' as Education 'tops priorities' in SNP's programme for government |url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,widening-access-commissioner-within-weeks-as-education-tops-priorities-in-s_12321.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081511/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,widening-access-commissioner-within-weeks-as-education-tops-priorities-in-snps-programme-for-government_12321.htm |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Holyrood Website |language=en}}</ref> with Nicola Sturgeon stating that education is her number one priority.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McIvor |first=Jamie |date=5 September 2017 |title=Education remains number one priority |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41164700 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081504/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41164700 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> At school level, the SNP had the OECD review the [[Curriculum for Excellence]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2020 |title=OECD to lead review on Curriculum of Excellence |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18213998.john-swinney-announces-review-oecd-curriculum-excellence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081511/https://www.thenational.scot/news/18213998.john-swinney-announces-review-oecd-curriculum-excellence/ |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref> When the review found that the "visionary ideals" of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) had not fully succeeded, they announced a series of educational reforms and the scrapping of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2018 |title=Scottish Qualifications Authority to be scrapped after OECD review |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57526948 |access-date=31 August 2023 }}</ref> Furthermore, it has been claimed that a recent decline in Scotland's educational standards as illustrated by PISA studies is directly related to CfE's implementation in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-05 |title=Scottish education performance falling, says study |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-67580173 |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Constitution ===
{{See also|Scottish republicanism}}
 
The foundations of the SNP are a belief that [[Scotland]] would be more prosperous by being governed [[Scottish independence|independently]] from the [[United Kingdom]], although the party was defeated in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|2014 referendum]] on this issue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2014 |title=Scotland votes 'No' to independence |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-29270441 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411043731/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-29270441 |archive-date=11 April 2020}}</ref> The party has since sought to hold a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second referendum]] at some point in the future, perhaps related to the outcome of [[Brexit]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 January 2020 |title=Nicola Sturgeon calls for patience over indyref2 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51311288 |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081506/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51311288 |archive-date=21 March 2021}}</ref> as the party sees a [[Independence referendum|referendum]] as the only route to independence. In 2016 the party convened the [[Sustainable Growth Commission]] to advise on the economy and currency of an independent Scotland. Although the [[Sustainable Growth Commission]]'s report, published in 2018, divides opinion it contains the party's official economic recommendations in the event of independence. The party is [[constitutionalist]] and as such rejects holding such a referendum [[Unilateral declaration of independence|unilaterally]] or any course of actions that could lead to comparisons with cases such as [[Catalan declaration of independence|Catalonia]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2020 |title=Nicola Sturgeon rules out Catalan-style rogue independence referendum |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/nicola-sturgeon-rules-out-catalanstyle-rogue-independence-referendum |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081443/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/nicola-sturgeon-rules-out-catalanstyle-rogue-independence-referendum |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}</ref> with the party seeing independence as a process that should be undertaken through a consensual process alongside the [[UK Government]]. As part of this process towards independence, the party supports increased [[Devolution in the United Kingdom|devolution]] to the [[Scottish Parliament]] and the [[Scottish Government]], particularly in areas such as [[welfare spending|welfare]] and [[immigration]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2014 |title=Smith Commission: SNP 'will argue for more powers' |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/smith-commission-snp-will-argue-more-powers-1519352 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081505/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/smith-commission-snp-will-argue-more-powers-1519352 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref>

Official SNP policy is supportive of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarchy]]. Many party members are republicans including former party leader [[Humza Yousaf]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=2023-05-04 |title=It will feel 'strange' attending coronation as a republican, Yousaf says |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/it-will-feel-strange-attending-king-charles-coronation-as-a-republican-humza-yousaf-says |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}</ref> but his predecessor, [[Nicola Sturgeon]], believes it is a "model with many merits", although she has proposed reducing the funds spent on the royal family.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite news |date=10 December 2014 |title=Nicola Sturgeon has first audience with the Queen |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780 |url-status=live |access-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420222242/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30422780 |archive-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 November 2019 |title=Nicola Sturgeon says 'there is a debate to be had' on the future of the monarchy |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-snp-debate-monarchy-future-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein-1327736 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081511/https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-snp-debate-monarchy-future-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein-368955 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Separately, the SNP has always opposed the UK's [[House of Lords|unelected upper house]] and would like to see both it and the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] elected by a form of [[proportional representation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2015 |title=The SNP would vote for proportional representation at Westminster, Nicola Sturgeon confirms |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-snp-would-vote-to-introduce-proportional-representation-at-westminster-nicola-sturgeon-confirms-10223302.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081510/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-would-vote-introduce-proportional-representation-westminster-nicola-sturgeon-confirms-10223302.html |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> The party also supports the introduction of a [[Constitution|codified constitution]], either for an independent Scotland or the UK as a whole,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Drummond |first=John |date=21 June 2012 |title=Scottish National party must 'grasp thistle' of a written constitution before referendum |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/scotland-blog/2012/jun/21/scotland-constitution |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081457/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/scotland-blog/2012/jun/21/scotland-constitution |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> going as far as producing a proposed interim constitution for Scotland during the independence referendum campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=16 June 2014 |title=SNP publishes draft of first constitution for an independent Scotland |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/16/scottish-constitution-first-draft-issued-nicola-sturgeon |url-status=live |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081445/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/16/scottish-constitution-first-draft-issued-nicola-sturgeon |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== Fundamentalists and gradualists ====
There have always been divisions within the party on how to achieve [[Scottish independence]], with one wing described as 'fundamentalists' and the other 'gradualists'. The SNP leadership generally subscribes to the gradualist viewpoint, that being the idea that independence can be won by the accumulation by the [[Scottish Parliament]] of powers that the [[UK Parliament]] currently has over time. Fundamentalism stands in opposition to the so-called gradualist point of view, which believes that the SNP should emphasise independence more widely to achieve it. The argument goes that if the SNP is unprepared to argue for its central policy then it is unlikely ever to persuade the public of its worthiness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Seenan |first1=Gerard |last2=MacAskill |first2=Ewen |date=6 May 1999 |title=SNP's radical wing threatens to split party |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/06/uk.politicalnews1 |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081509/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/06/uk.politicalnews1 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Leadership==
{{See also|Scottish National Party leadership election (disambiguation){{!}}Scottish National Party leadership election}}

===Leader of the Scottish National Party===
{{Main|Leader of the Scottish National Party}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Leader of the Scottish National Party
|-
!Leader <br /><small>(birth-death)</small>
!Portrait
!Political office
!Took office
!Left office
|-
|[[Alexander MacEwen]] <br /><small>(1875–1941)</small>
|[[File:Mcewan.jpg|90px]]
|[[Provost of Inverness]] (1925–1931) <br /><small>Inverness Town Councillor (1908–1931)</small><br /><small>Inverness-shire County Councillor for [[Benbecula]] (1931–1941)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish Highland Photo Archive – Image Detail |url=http://www.scottishhighlanderphotoarchive.co.uk/imageDetail.aspx?ID=10701 |access-date=2020-04-06 |website=scottishhighlanderphotoarchive.co.uk}}</ref> <br /> ''<small>Candidate for [[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)|Western Isles]] (1935)</small>''<br /><small>former member, [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]</small><br /><small>founding member, [[Scottish Party]]</small>
|7 April 1934
|1936
|-
|[[Andrew Dewar Gibb|<small>Prof</small> Andrew Dewar Gibb]] [[Queen's Counsel|<small>KC</small>]] <br /><small>(1888–1974)</small>
|
|''<small>Candidate for [[Combined Scottish Universities]] ([[1936 Combined Scottish Universities by-election|1936]], [[1938 Combined Scottish Universities by-election|1938]])</small>''<br /><small>former member, [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist Party]]; Scottish Party</small>
|1936
|1940
|-
|[[William Power (Scottish politician)|William Power]] <br /><small>(1873–1951)</small>
|
|''<small>Candidate for [[Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Argyllshire]] ([[1940 Argyllshire by-election|1940]])</small>''
|1940
|30 May 1942
|-
|[[Douglas Young (classicist)|Douglas Young]] <br /><small>(1913–1973)</small>
|<big>[[File:Douglas Young, circa 1945.jpg|113x113px]]</big>
|<small>''Candidate for [[Kirkcaldy Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy Burghs]] ([[1944 Kirkcaldy Burghs by-election|1944]])''</small>
|30 May 1942
|9 June 1945
|-
|[[Bruce Watson (politician)|<small>Prof</small> Bruce Watson]] <br /><small>(1910–1988)</small>
|
|
|9 June 1945
|May 1947
|-
|[[Robert McIntyre (politician)|Robert McIntyre]] <br /><small>(1913–1998)</small>
|
|MP for [[Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Motherwell]] (1945) <br /><small>[[Provost (civil)|Provost]] of [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]] (1967–1975)</small> <br /><small>[[Stirling]] Burgh Councillor (1956–1975)</small> <br /><small>former member, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]</small>
|May 1947
|June 1956
|-
|[[Jimmy Halliday|James Halliday]] <br /><small>(1927–2013)</small>
|
|''Candidate for [[Stirling and Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Stirling and Falkirk]] (1955 and 1959) <br /><small> Candidate for [[West Fife]] (1970)</small>''
|June 1956
|5 June 1960
|-
|[[Arthur Donaldson]] <br /><small>(1901–1993)</small>
|[[File:Arthur Donaldson, circa 1945.jpg|117x117px]]
|Angus County Councillor (1946–1955) <br /><small>[[Forfar]] Town Councillor (1945–1968)</small> <br /><small>former member, [[National Party of Scotland]]</small>
|5 June 1960
|1 June [[1969 Scottish National Party leadership election|1969]]
|-
|[[William Wolfe]] <br /><small>(1924–2010)</small>
| 
|''<small>Candidate for [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]] (1970–79)</small>''
|1 June [[1969 Scottish National Party leadership election|1969]]
|15 September [[1979 Scottish National Party leadership election|1979]]
|-
|[[Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)|Gordon Wilson]] <br /><small>(1938–2017)</small>
|[[File:Gordon_Wilson.jpg|128x128px]]
|MP for [[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]] (1974–1987)
|15 September [[1979 Scottish National Party leadership election|1979]]
|22 September [[1990 Scottish National Party leadership election|1990]]
|-
|<small>[[The Right Hon.]]</small> [[Alex Salmond]] <br /><small>(1954–2024)</small> <br /><small>(1st Term)</small>
|[[File:Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland (cropped).jpg|116x116px]]
|MP for [[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]] (1987–2010) <br /><small>MSP for [[Banff and Buchan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]] (1999–2001)</small>
|22 September [[1990 Scottish National Party leadership election|1990]]
|26 September [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|2000]]
|-
|[[John Swinney]] <br /><small>(born 1964)</small> <br /><small>(1st Term)</small>
|[[File:Official Portrait of John Swinney.jpg|119x119px]]
|'''[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] (2024–present)'''<br /><small>[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (2014–2023)<br>MSP for [[Perthshire North]] (since 2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[North Tayside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1999–2011)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[North Tayside (UK Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1997–2001)</small>
|26 September [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|2000]]
|3 September [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|2004]]
|-
|<small>The Right Hon.</small> Alex Salmond <br /><small>(1954–2024)</small> <br /><small>(2nd Term)</small>
|[[File:Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland (cropped).jpg|119x119px]]
|'''[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] (2007–2014)''' <br /><small>MSP for [[Aberdeenshire East]] (2011–2016)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Gordon (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Gordon]] (2007–2011)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[Gordon (UK Parliament constituency)|Gordon]] (2015–2017)</small>
|3 September [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|2004]]
|14 November [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|2014]]
|-
|<small>The Right Hon.</small> [[Nicola Sturgeon]] <br /><small>(born 1970)</small>
|[[File:Nicola_Sturgeon_2021.jpg|119x119px]]
|'''[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] (2014–2023)'''<br /><small>[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (2007–2014)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow Southside]] (since 2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (2007–2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]] (1999–2007)</small>
|14 November [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|2014]]
|27 March [[2023 Scottish National Party leadership election|2023]]
|-
|<small>[[The Right Hon.]]</small> [[Humza Yousaf]]<br /><small>(born 1985)</small>
|[[File:First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf.jpg|frameless|85px]]
|'''[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] (2023–2024)''' <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow Pollok (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Pollok]] (since 2016)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]] (2011–2016)</small> 
|27 March [[2023 Scottish National Party leadership election|2023]]
|6 May [[2024 Scottish National Party leadership election|2024]]
|-
|[[John Swinney]] <br /><small>(born 1964)<br/>(2nd Term)</small>
|[[File:Official Portrait of John Swinney.jpg|119x119px]]
|'''[[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] (2024–present)'''<br /><small>[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (2014–2023)<br>MSP for [[Perthshire North]] (since 2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[North Tayside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1999–2011)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[North Tayside (UK Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1997–2001)</small>
|6 May [[2024 Scottish National Party leadership election|2024]]
|Incumbent
|}

===Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party=== <!--Note: Depute is not a spelling error. That is how the party officially spells his/her post and is part of the Scots language.-->
{| class="wikitable"
|+Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
|-
!Depute Leader <br /><small>(birth-death)</small>
!Portrait
!Political office
!Took office
!Left office
|-
|[[Sandy Milne]]<br /><small>(1920–1984)</small>
|
|Councillor for [[Stirling]] (1950s) 
|17 May 1964<ref name=":11" />
|5 June 1966<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=HISTORY OF THE SNP {{!}} Aberdeen SNP |url=https://aberdeensnp.org/node/9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321081448/https://aberdeensnp.org/node/9 |archive-date=21 March 2021 |access-date=2020-04-07 |website=aberdeensnp.org}}</ref>
|-
|William Wolfe <br /><small>(1924–2010)</small>
| 
|''<small>Candidate for [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]] (1966)</small>''
|5 June 1966<ref name=":11" />
|1 June [[1969 Scottish National Party leadership election|1969]]
|-
|[[George Leslie (politician)|George Leslie]] <br /><small>(1936–2023)</small>
|
|Councillor for [[Calderwood, East Kilbride|Calderwood]]/[[St Leonards, East Kilbride|St Leonards]] ([[1974 Scottish local elections|1974]]–[[1978 Scottish regional elections|1978]]) 
|1 June [[1969 Scottish National Party leadership election|1969]]
|30 May 1971<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Douglas Henderson (SNP politician)|Douglas Henderson]] <br /><small>(1935–2006)</small> <br /><small>(1st Term)</small>
|
|MP for [[East Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Aberdeenshire]] (1974–1979) 
|30 May 1971<ref name=":11" />
|3 June 1973<ref name=":11" />
|-
|Gordon Wilson <br /><small>(1938–2017)</small>
|
|MP for [[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]] (1974–1987)
|3 June 1973<ref name=":11" />
|2 June 1974<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Margo MacDonald]]<br /><small>(1943–2014)</small>
|[[File:MargoMacDonaldMSP20111121.jpg|alt=|112x112px]]
|MSP for [[Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]] (1999–2014) <br /><small>MP for [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (1973–1974)</small>
|2 June 1974<ref name=":11" />
|15 September 1979<ref name=":11" />
|-
|Douglas Henderson <br /><small>(1935–2006)</small> <br /><small>(2nd Term)</small>
|
|MP for [[East Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Aberdeenshire]] (1974–1979) 
|15 September 1979<ref name=":11" />
|30 May 1981<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Jim Fairlie (politician, born 1940)|Jim Fairlie]]<br /><small>(born 1940)</small>
|
|''<small>Candidate for [[Dunfermline West (UK Parliament constituency)|Dunfermline West]] ([[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]])</small>''
|30 May 1981<ref name=":11" />
|15 September 1984<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Margaret Ewing]] <br /><small>(1945–2006)</small>
|
|MSP for [[Moray (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Moray]] (1999–2006) <br /><small>MP for [[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]] (1987–2001)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[East Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Dunbartonshire]] (1974–1979)</small>
|15 September 1984<ref name=":11" />
|26 September 1987<ref name=":11" />
|-
|<small>The Right Hon.</small> Alex Salmond <br /><small>(1954–2024)</small>
|[[File:Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland (cropped).jpg|123x123px]]
|MP for [[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]] (1987–2010) 
|26 September 1987<ref name=":11" />
|22 September [[1990 Scottish National Party leadership election|1990]]
|-
|[[Alasdair Morgan]]<br /><small>(born 1945)</small>
|
|MSP for [[South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South of Scotland]] (2003–2011) <br /><small>MSP for [[Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Galloway and Upper Nithsdale]] (1999–2003)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Galloway and Upper Nithsdale]] (1997–2001)</small>
|22 September [[1990 Scottish National Party leadership election|1990]]
|22 September 1991<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Jim Sillars]]<br /><small>(born 1937)</small>
|
|MP for [[Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (1988–1992) <br /><small>MP for [[South Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Ayrshire]] (1970–1979)</small>
|22 September 1991<ref name=":11" />
|25 September 1992<ref name=":11" />
|-
|[[Allan Macartney]]<br /><small>(1941–1998)</small>
|
|MEP for [[North East Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|North East Scotland]] (1994–1998)
|25 September 1992<ref name=":11" />
|25 August 1998<ref name=":11" />
|-
|John Swinney <br /><small>(born 1964)</small>
|[[File:Official Portrait of John Swinney.jpg|119x119px]]
|MSP for [[Perthshire North]] (since 2011) <br /><small>MSP for [[North Tayside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1999–2011)</small><br /><small>MP for [[North Tayside (UK Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]] (1997–2001)</small>
|25 August 1998<ref name=":11" />
|26 September [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|2000]]
|-
|[[Roseanna Cunningham]]<br /><small>(born 1951)</small>
|[[File:Roseanna Cunningham.jpg|119x119px]]
|MSP for [[Perthshire South and Kinross-shire]] (2011–2021) <br /><small>MSP for [[Perth (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Perth]] (1999–2011)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[Perth (UK Parliament constituency)|Perth]] (1997–2001)</small> <br /><small>MP for [[Perth and Kinross (UK Parliament constituency)|Perth and Kinross]] (1995–1997)</small>
|26 September [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|2000]]
|3 September [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|2004]]
|-
|<small>The Right Hon.</small> Nicola Sturgeon<br /><small>(born 1970)</small> 
|[[File:Nicola Sturgeon 2021.jpg|117x117px]]
|[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (2007–2014) <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow Southside]] (since 2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow Govan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Govan]] (2007–2011)</small> <br /><small>MSP for [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]] (1999–2007)</small>
|3 September [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|2004]]
|14 November [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|2014]]
|-
| <small>The Right Hon.</small> [[Stewart Hosie]]<br /><small>(born 1963)</small>
|[[File:Official portrait of Stewart Hosie crop 2.jpg|alt=|119x119px]]
|MP for [[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]] (2005–2024) 
|14 November [[2014 Scottish National Party leadership election|2014]]
|13 October [[2016 Scottish National Party depute leadership election|2016]]
|-
|<small>The Right Hon.</small> [[Angus Robertson]] <br /><small>(born 1969)</small> 
|[[File:Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson.jpg|119x119px]]
|MSP for [[Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] (since 2021) <br /><small>MP for [[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]] (2001–2017)</small>
|13 October [[2016 Scottish National Party depute leadership election|2016]]
|8 June [[2018 Scottish National Party depute leadership election|2018]]
|-
|[[Keith Brown (Scottish politician)|Keith Brown]]<br /><small>(born 1961)</small>
|[[File:Cabinet Secretary, Keith Brown.jpg|123x123px]]
|MSP for [[Clackmannanshire and Dunblane]] (since 2011) <br /><small>MSP for [[Ochil (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Ochil]] (2007–2011)</small> <br /><small>Leader of [[Clackmannanshire|Clackmannanshire Council]] (1999–2003)</small> <br /><small>Councillor for [[Alva, Clackmannanshire|Alva]] (1996–2007)</small>
|8 June [[2018 Scottish National Party depute leadership election|2018]]
|Incumbent
|}
[[File:Mike Russell SNP Conference.jpg|thumb|225x225px|Mike Russell, the most recent President of the Scottish National Party]]

===President of the Scottish National Party===
* [[James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose]] and [[Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham]] (joint), 1934–1936 
* [[Roland Muirhead]], 1936–1950
* [[Tom Gibson (Scottish politician)|Tom Gibson]], 1950–1958
* [[Robert McIntyre (politician)|Robert McIntyre]], 1958–1980
* [[William Wolfe]], 1980–1982
* [[Donald Stewart (Scottish politician)|Donald Stewart]], 1982–1987
* [[Winnie Ewing]], 1987–2005
* [[Ian Hudghton]], 2005–2020
* [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Michael Russell]], 2020–2023
* [[Maureen Watt]], 2024–

===National Secretary of the Scottish National Party===
* [[John MacCormick]], 1934–1942
* [[Robert McIntyre (politician)|Robert McIntyre]], 1942–1947
* [[Mary Fraser Dott]], 1947–1951
* [[Robert Curran (Scottish politician)|Robert Curran]], 1951–1954
* John Smart, 1954–1963
* Malcolm Shaw, 1963–1964
* [[Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)|Gordon Wilson]], 1964–1971
* [[Muriel Gibson (SNP)|Muriel Gibson]], 1971–1972
* [[Rosemary Hall (political activist)|Rosemary Hall]], 1972–1975
* [[Muriel Gibson (SNP)|Muriel Gibson]], 1975–1977
* Chrissie MacWhirter, 1977–1979
* Iain Murray, 1979–1981
* [[Neil MacCallum]], 1981–1986
* [[John Swinney]], 1986–1992
* [[Alasdair Morgan]], 1992–1997
* [[Stewart Hosie]], 1999–2003
* [[Alasdair Allan]], 2003–2006
* [[Duncan Ross (Scottish politician)|Duncan Ross]], 2006–2009
* William Henderson, 2009–2012
* [[Patrick Grady]], 2012–2016
* Angus MacLeod, 2016–2020
* [[Stewart Stevenson]], 2020–2021
* Lorna Finn, 2021–2024
* Alex Kerr, 2024–present

===Leader of the parliamentary party, Scottish Parliament===
* [[Alex Salmond]] <small>([[Banff and Buchan (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]]),</small> 1999–2000 
* [[John Swinney]] <small>([[North Tayside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]]),</small> 2000–2004
* [[Alex Salmond]] <small>([[Aberdeenshire East]]),</small> 2004–2014
* [[Nicola Sturgeon]] <small>([[Glasgow Southside]])</small> 2014–2023
* [[Humza Yousaf]] <small>([[Glasgow Pollok (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Pollok]])</small> 2023–2024
* [[John Swinney]] <small>([[Perthshire North]])</small> 2024–present

===Deputy Leader of the parliamentary party, Scottish Parliament===
* [[Nicola Sturgeon]] <small>([[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]])</small> 2007–2014
* [[John Swinney]] <small>([[North Tayside (Scottish Parliament constituency)|North Tayside]])</small> 2014–2023
* [[Shona Robison]] <small>([[Dundee City East]])</small> 2023–2024
* [[Kate Forbes]] <small>([[Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch]])</small> 2024–present

===Leader of the parliamentary party, House of Commons===
[[File:Flynn SNPconference 2022.png|thumb|207x207px|Stephen Flynn, SNP Westminster Leader]]
* [[Donald Stewart (Scottish politician)|Donald Stewart]] <small>([[Na h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)|Western Isles]]),</small> 1974–1987
* [[Margaret Ewing]] <small>([[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]]),</small> 1987–1999
* [[Alasdair Morgan]] <small>([[Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Galloway and Upper Nithsdale]]),</small> 1999–2001
* [[Alex Salmond]] <small>([[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]]),</small> 2001–2007
* [[Angus Robertson]] <small>([[Moray (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray]]),</small> 2007–2017
* [[Ian Blackford]] <small>([[Ross, Skye and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency)|Ross, Skye and Lochaber]]),</small> 2017–2022
* [[Stephen Flynn]] <small>([[Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen South]]),</small> 2022–present

===Deputy Leader of the parliamentary party, House of Commons===
* [[Stewart Hosie]] <small>([[Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee East]])</small> 2015–2017
* [[Kirsty Blackman]] <small>([[Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen North]])</small> 2017–2020
* [[Kirsten Oswald]] <small>([[East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Renfrewshire]])</small> 2020–2022
* [[Mhairi Black]] <small>([[Paisley and Renfrewshire South]])</small> 2022–2024
* [[Pete Wishart]] <small>([[Perth and North Perthshire]])</small> 2024–present

=== Chief Executive ===

* [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Michael Russell]], 1994–1999 (and 18–27 March 2023)
* Vacant 1999–2001<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 October 2001 |title=Swinney shuns spin in party posts |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12143178.swinney-shuns-spin-in-party-posts/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=HeraldScotland |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Peter Murrell]], 2001–2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Investigation: Inside the SNP money machine |date=6 August 2023 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23703844.investigation-inside-snp-money-machine/}}</ref>
* Murray Foote, 2023–2024<ref>{{Cite news |title=Murray Foote appointed as new SNP chief executive |work=BBC News |date=23 August 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66596560 |access-date=2023-12-28 |language=en}}</ref>
* Carol Beattie, 2024–present

=== Current SNP Council Leaders ===
{{Update|local council leaders|date=December 2022|reason=not reflective of the 2022 local election results}}
* [[Clackmannanshire]]: Les Sharp <small>([[Clackmannanshire West]]),</small> since [[2017 Clackmannanshire Council election|2017]] 
* [[Dundee|Dundee City]]: [[John Alexander (councillor)|John Alexander]] <small>([[Strathmartine (ward)|Strathmartine]]),</small> since [[2017 Dundee City Council election|2017]]
* [[East Ayrshire]]: Douglas Reid <small>(Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse),</small> since [[2007 East Ayrshire Council election|2007]]
* [[East Renfrewshire]]: Tony Buchanan <small>([[Newton Mearns North & Neilston (ward)|Newton Mearns North and Neilston]]),</small> since [[2017 East Renfrewshire Council election|2017]]
* [[City of Edinburgh Council|City of Edinburgh]]: Simita Kumar <small>([[Southside/Newington (Edinburgh ward)|Southside/Newington]]),</small> since [[2024 City of Edinburgh Council election|2024]]
* [[Falkirk Council|Falkirk]]: Cecil Meiklejohn <small>([[Falkirk North (ward)|Falkirk North]]),</small> since [[2017 Falkirk Council election|2017]]
*[[Fife]]: David Alexander <small>(Leven, Kennoway and Largo),</small> since [[2017 Fife Council election|2017]]
* [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow City]]: Susan Aitken <small>([[Langside (ward)|Langside]]),</small> since [[2017 Glasgow City Council election|2017]]
* [[Moray]]: Graham Leadbitter <small>([[Elgin City South (ward)|Elgin South]]),</small> since 2018
* [[Renfrewshire]]: Iain Nicolson <small>(Erskine and Inchinnan),</small> since [[2017 Renfrewshire Council election|2017]]
* [[South Ayrshire]]: Douglas Campbell <small>(Ayr North),</small> since [[2017 South Ayrshire Council election|2017]]
* [[South Lanarkshire]]: John Ross <small>([[Hamilton South (ward)|Hamilton South]]),</small> since [[2017 South Lanarkshire Council election|2017]]
* [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]: Scott Farmer <small>([[Stirling West (ward)|Stirling West]]),</small> since [[2017 Stirling Council election|2017]]
* [[West Dunbartonshire]]: Jonathon McColl <small>([[Lomond (ward)|Lomond]]),</small> since [[2017 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2017]]

==Scottish Parliament==

=== Members of the Scottish Parliament ===
{{see also|Swinney government|List of Scottish National Party Members of the Scottish Parliament|6th Scottish Parliament}}

The SNP has formed the [[Scottish Government]] since 2007. {{As of|May 2024|}}, [[Swinney government|the Cabinet]] of the Scottish Government is as follows:
{| class="wikitable" 
!Portfolio 
!Portrait 
!Minister
!Term
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#ccc;" |'''Cabinet secretaries'''
|-
| [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]]
| [[File:Court_of_Session_(53707469110)_(cropped).jpg|133x133px]]
| '''[[John Swinney]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
| May 2024 – present
|-
|[[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Deputy First Minister - designate and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic - designate, Kate Forbes (53707856301) (cropped).jpg|frameless|126x126px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Kate Forbes]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
| rowspan="2" | May 2024 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic]]
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government]]
|[[File:Official portrait of deputy first minister Shona Robison (Cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Shona Robison]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|May 2024 – present{{Efn|Robison previously held the Finance portfolio since March 2023 but gained the additional portfolio of Local Government in May 2024}}
|-
| [[Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care|Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care]]
| [[File:Official portrait of wellbeing economy secretary Neil Gray (cropped 1).jpg|133x133px]]
|'''[[Neil Gray]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|February 2024 – present{{Efn|Portfolio was titled Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care until 8 May 2024}}
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition|Cabinet Secretary for Transport]]
|[[File:Official ministerial portrait of Fiona Hyslop MSP (2023).jpg|frameless|116x116px]]
|'''[[Fiona Hyslop]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|February 2024 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy]]
|[[File:Official portrait of net zero secretary Màiri McAllan (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Màiri McAllan]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|February 2024 – present{{Efn|McAllan had additional responsibility for the Economy until this was shuffled to Kate Forbes on 8 May 2024}}
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills]]
|[[File:Official portrait of education secretary Jenny Gilruth (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Jenny Gilruth]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|2023 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands]]
|[[File:Official portrait of rural affairs secretary Mairi Gourgeon (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Mairi Gougeon]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|2021 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture]]
|[[File:Official portrait of constitution secretary Angus Robertson (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|{{small|[[Privy Counsellor (UK)|The Rt Hon]]}} '''[[Angus Robertson]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|2021 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice]]
|[[File:Official portrait of social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Shirley-Anne Somerville]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|2023 – present
|-
|[[Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs]]
|[[File:Official portrait of justice secretary Angela Constance (cropped 1).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
|'''[[Angela Constance]]''' {{small|[[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]}}
|2023 – present
|}

== Parliament of the United Kingdom ==
=== Members of Parliament ===
{{see also|List of Scottish National Party MPs|List of MPs for constituencies in Scotland (2024–present)}}
Following the 2024 general election, the SNP holds nine seats in the House of Commons. The [[Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn|SNP frontbench team]] in the House of Commons is as follows.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Frontbench Team of Stephen Flynn
!Portfolio 
! colspan="2" |Spokesperson
|-
|[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Group Leader]]
|[[File:Official portrait of Stephen Flynn MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|frameless|113x113px]]
|[[Stephen Flynn]] {{small|[[Member of Parliament|MP]]}}
|-
|[[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Leader]]
|[[File:Official portrait of Pete Wishart crop 2.jpg|frameless|113x113px]]
|[[Pete Wishart]] {{small|MP}}
|-
|Chief Whip
|[[File:Official portrait of Kirsty Blackman crop 2.jpg|frameless|113x113px]]
|[[Kirsty Blackman]] {{small|MP}}
|-
|}

== Local government ==

===Councillors===
The SNP had 453 [[councillor]]s in [[local government in Scotland|local government]] elected from the [[2022 Scottish local elections]].

==Electoral performance==

=== Scottish Parliament ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! rowspan=2|Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party">{{Cite web |date=30 March 2007 |title=The Scottish National Party |url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/scottish_national_party.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231210732/http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/scottish_national_party.htm |archive-date=31 December 2010 |access-date=20 April 2010 |publisher=Historylearningsite.co.uk}}</ref>
! rowspan=2| Leader
! colspan="3" | Constituency
! colspan="3" | Regional
! rowspan=2| Total seats
! rowspan=2| ±
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
! rowspan=2| Government
|-
! Vote
! %
! Seats
! Vote
! %
! Seats
|-
! [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]]
| align=left| [[Alex Salmond]]
| 672,768
| 28.7
| {{Composition bar|7|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 638,644
| 27.3
| {{Composition bar|28|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|35|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]]
| align=left| [[John Swinney]]
| 455,722
| 23.7
| {{Composition bar|9|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 399,659
| 20.9
| {{Composition bar|18|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|27|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 8
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Alex Salmond]]
| 664,227
| 32.9
| {{Composition bar|21|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 633,611
| 31.0
| {{Composition bar|26|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|47|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 20
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]]
| 902,915
| 45.4
| {{Composition bar|53|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 876,421
| 44.0
| {{Composition bar|16|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|69|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 22
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016]]
| rowspan=2 align=left| [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| 1,059,898
| 46.5
| {{Composition bar|59|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 953,587
| 41.7
| {{Composition bar|4|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|63|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021]]
| 1,291,204
| 47.7
| {{Composition bar|62|73|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| 1,094,374
| 40.3
| {{Composition bar|2|56|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|64|129|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|}

===House of Commons===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! rowspan=2| Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party" />
! rowspan=2| Leader
! colspan=3| Scotland
!United Kingdom
! rowspan="2" | ±
! colspan=2| Position
! rowspan=2| Government
|-
! Votes
! %
! Seats
!%
! {{flagicon|SCO}}
! {{flagicon|GBR}}
|-
! [[1935 United Kingdom general election|1935]]
| align=left| [[Alexander MacEwen]]
| 29,517
| 1.1
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.2
| bgcolor="lightgrey" |
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945]]
| align=left| [[Douglas Young (classicist)|Douglas Young]]
| 26,707
| 1.2
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.1
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950]]
| rowspan="3" align=left| [[Robert McIntyre (politician)|Robert McIntyre]]
| 9,708
| 0.4
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.01
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1951 United Kingdom general election|1951]]
| 7,299
| 0.3
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.01
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1955 United Kingdom general election|1955]]
| 12,112
| 0.5
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.1
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959]]
| align=left| [[Jimmy Halliday]]
| 21,738
| 0.5
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.1
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1964 United Kingdom general election|1964]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Arthur Donaldson]]
| 64,044
| 2.4
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.2
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966]]
| 128,474
| 5.0
| {{Composition bar|0|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|0.5
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
! [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]
| rowspan="4" align=left| [[William Wolfe]]
| 306,802
| 11.4
| {{Composition bar|1|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.1
| {{increase}} 1
| {{increase}} 4th
| {{increase}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb 1974]]
| 633,180
| 21.9
| {{Composition bar|7|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|2.0
| {{increase}} 6
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{increase}} 4th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|Oct 1974]]
| 839,617
| 30.4
| {{Composition bar|11|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|2.9
| {{increase}} 4
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{steady}} 4th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]
| 504,259
| 17.3
| {{Composition bar|2|71|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.6
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{decrease}} 4th
| {{decrease}} 6th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)|Gordon Wilson]]
| 331,975
| 11.7
| {{Composition bar|2|72|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.1
| {{steady}}
| {{decrease}} 5th
| {{decrease}} 7th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]]
| 416,473
| 14.0
| {{Composition bar|3|72|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.3
| {{increase}} 1
| {{increase}} 4th
| {{increase}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Alex Salmond]]
| 629,564
| 21.5
| {{Composition bar|3|72|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.9
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}} 4th
| {{decrease}} 7th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]
| 621,550
| 22.1
| {{Composition bar|6|72|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|2.0
| {{increase}} 3
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{increase}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]
| align=left| [[John Swinney]]
| 464,314
| 20.1
| {{Composition bar|5|72|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.8
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{steady}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| [[Alex Salmond]]
| 412,267
| 17.7
| {{Composition bar|6|59|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.5
| {{increase}} 1
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{steady}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
| 491,386
| 19.9
| {{Composition bar|6|59|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|1.7
| {{steady}}
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{steady}} 5th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]
| rowspan="3" align=left| [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| 1,454,436
| 50.0
| {{Composition bar|56|59|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|4.7
| {{increase}} 50
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]
| 977,568
| 36.9
| {{Composition bar|35|59|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|3.0
| {{decrease}} 21
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]
| 1,242,380
| 45.0
| {{Composition bar|48|59|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|3.9
| {{increase}} 13
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
| align=left| [[John Swinney]]
| 724,758
| 30.0
| {{Composition bar|9|57|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|2.5
| {{decrease}} 39
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{decrease}} 4th
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}
[[File:2022 Scottish local elections-vote share.svg|thumb|420x420px|[[2022 Scottish local elections|2022]] is the SNP's best local election performance to date.]]

===Local councils===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
! rowspan="2" | Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party" />
! colspan="2" | Votes
! rowspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | ±
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! %
! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
|-
! [[1995 Scottish local elections|1995]]
| 26.1
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|181|1222|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 
|-
! [[1999 Scottish local elections|1999]]
| 28.9
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|201|1222|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 20
| 
|-
! [[2003 Scottish local elections|2003]]
| 24.1
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|171|1222|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 30
| 
|-
! [[2007 Scottish local elections|2007]]
| 29.7
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|363|1222|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 192
| align=left| [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004|Single transferable vote]] introduced.
|-
! [[2012 Scottish local elections|2012]]
| 32.3 
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|425|1223|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 62
| 
|-
! [[2017 Scottish local elections|2017]]
| 32.3
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|431|1227|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 6
| 
|-
![[2022 Scottish local elections|2022]]
|34.1
|{{steady}} '''1st'''
|{{Composition bar|453|1226|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|{{increase}} 22
|
|}

=== Results by council (2022) ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:right"
|+
! rowspan="2" | Council
! colspan="2" | Votes<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-07 |title=2022 Local Elections |url=https://ballotbox.scot/le22 |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Ballot Box Scotland |language=en-US}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | Administration
|-
! %
! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
|-
! [[2022 Aberdeen City Council election|Aberdeen City]]
| 35.0
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|20|45|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|SNP–Lib Dem}}
|-
! [[2022 Aberdeenshire Council election|Aberdeenshire]]
| 30.8
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|21|70|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Angus Council election|Angus]]
| 38.3
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|13|28|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|SNP–Independent}}
|-
! [[2022 Argyll and Bute Council election|Argyll and Bute]]
| 31.0
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|12|36|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Clackmannanshire Council election|Clackmannanshire]]
| 39.4
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|9|18|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 Dumfries and Galloway Council election|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| 28.2
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|11|43|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|SNP–Labour}}
|-
! [[2022 Dundee City Council election|Dundee City]]
| 41.4
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|15|29|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Majority}}
|-
! [[2022 East Ayrshire Council election|East Ayrshire]]
| 37.9
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|14|32|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 East Dunbartonshire Council election|East Dunbartonshire]]
| 30.4
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|8|22|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 East Lothian Council election|East Lothian]]
| 28.2
| {{increase}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|7|22|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 East Renfrewshire Council election|East Renfrewshire]]
| 28.6
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|6|18|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 City of Edinburgh Council election|City of Edinburgh]]
| 25.9
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|19|63|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Falkirk Council election|Falkirk]]
| 39.7
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|12|30|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 Fife Council election|Fife]]
| 36.9
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|34|75|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Glasgow City Council election|Glasgow City]]
| 35.5
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|37|85|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 Highland Council election|Highland]]
| 30.1
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|22|74|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|SNP–Independent}}
|-
! [[2022 Inverclyde Council election|Inverclyde]]
| 37.7
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|8|22|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Midlothian Council election|Midlothian]]
| 37.6
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|8|18|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
![[2022 Moray Council election|Moray]]
|36.0
|{{decrease}} 2nd
|{{Composition bar|8|26|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar election|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
| 21.3
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|6|29|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 North Ayrshire Council election|North Ayrshire]]
| 36.3
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|12|33|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 North Lanarkshire Council election|North Lanarkshire]]
| 43.6
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|36|77|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Orkney Islands Council election|Orkney]]
| 0.0
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|0|21|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Perth and Kinross Council election|Perth and Kinross]]
| 36.6
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|16|40|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 Renfrewshire Council election|Renfrewshire]]
| 41.7
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|21|43|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{yes2|Minority}}
|-
! [[2022 Scottish Borders Council election|Scottish Borders]]
| 21.0
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|9|34|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Shetland Islands Council election|Shetland]]
| 4.4
| {{decrease}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|1|23|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 South Ayrshire Council election|South Ayrshire]]
| 33.4
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|9|28|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 South Lanarkshire Council election|South Lanarkshire]]
| 36.9
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|27|64|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 Stirling Council election|Stirling]]
| 33.3
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|8|23|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 West Dunbartonshire Council election|West Dunbartonshire]]
| 42.5
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|9|22|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2022 West Lothian Council election|West Lothian]]
| 37.9
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|15|33|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

===European Parliament (1979–2020)===
[[File:2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom area results (Scotland).svg|thumb|The SNP achieved pluralities in all mainland council areas in [[2019 European Parliament election|2019]].|285x285px]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
! rowspan="2" | Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party" />
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" | Group
! colspan="2" | Votes {{flagicon|SCO}}
! rowspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | ±
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! %
! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
|-
! [[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979]]
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|European Progressive Democrats}};" |
| align=left| [[European Progressive Democrats|EPD]]
| 19.4
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|1|8|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
|
|-
! [[1984 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1984]]
| align=left| [[European Democratic Alliance|EDA]]
| 17.8
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|1|8|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
|
|-
! [[1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1989]]
| colspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Rainbow Group (1984–1989)}};" |
| align=left| [[Rainbow Group (1989–1994)|RBW]]
| 25.6
| {{increase}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|1|8|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
|
|-
! [[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]
| colspan="2" style="background:{{party color|European Radical Alliance}};" |
| align=left| [[European Radical Alliance|ERA]]
| 32.6
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|2|8|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999]]
| rowspan="5" style="background:{{party color|Greens-European Free Alliance}};" |
| rowspan="5" style="background:{{party color|European Free Alliance}};" |
| rowspan="5" align=left| [[Greens-European Free Alliance|G-EFA]]
| 27.2
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|2|8|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| align=left| [[European Parliamentary Elections Act 1999|Proportional representation]] introduced.
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004]]
| 19.7
| {{steady}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|2|7|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009]]
| 29.1
| {{increase}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|2|6|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
|
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014]]
| 29.0
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|2|6|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{steady}}
|
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019]]
| 37.8
| {{steady}} '''1st'''
| {{Composition bar|3|6|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| align=left| Last European election before [[Brexit]]. 
|}
[[File:Scottish District local elections, 1977.svg|thumb|285x285px|The party won control of 5 districts in [[1977 Scottish local elections|1977]].]]

===Two-tier local councils (1975–1996)===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
! colspan="5" | District councils
! colspan="5" | Regional and island councils
|-
! rowspan="2" | Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party" />
! colspan="2" | Votes
! rowspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | Councils
! rowspan="2" | Election<ref name="The Scottish National Party" />
! colspan="2" | Votes
! rowspan="2" | Seats
! rowspan="2" | Councils
|-
! %
! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
! %
! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}
|-
! [[1974 Scottish local elections|1974]]
| 12.4
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|62|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1974 Scottish local elections|1974]]
| 12.6
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|18|524|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|-
! [[1977 Scottish local elections|1977]]
| 24.2
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|170|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|5|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1978 Scottish regional elections|1978]]
| 20.9
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|18|524|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|-
! [[1980 Scottish local elections|1980]]
| 15.5
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|54|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1982 Scottish regional elections|1982]]
| 13.4
| {{decrease}} 4th
| {{Composition bar|23|524|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|-
! [[1984 Scottish local elections|1984]]
| 11.7
| {{decrease}} 4th
| {{Composition bar|59|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1986 Scottish regional elections|1986]]
| 18.2
| {{steady}} 4th
| {{Composition bar|36|524|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|-
! [[1988 Scottish local elections|1988]]
| 21.3
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|113|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1990 Scottish regional elections|1990]]
| 21.8
| {{increase}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|42|524|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|-
! [[1992 Scottish local elections|1992]]
| 24.3
| {{steady}} 3rd
| {{Composition bar|150|1158|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|1|53|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
! [[1994 Scottish regional elections|1994]]
| 26.8
| {{increase}} 2nd
| {{Composition bar|73|453|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|12|background-color=#DDDDDD|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}}}
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Politics|United Kingdom|Scotland}}
* [[Bo'ness Branch SNP]]
* [[Culture of Scotland]]
* [[Politics of Scotland]]
* [[Scottish devolution]]
* [[It's Scotland's oil]]
* [[Radio Free Scotland]]
* [[Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]]
* [[The National (Scotland)|''The National'' (Scotland)]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Brand, Jack, ''The National Movement in Scotland'', Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1978
* Brand, Jack, 'Scotland', in Watson, Michael (ed.), ''Contemporary Minority Nationalism'', Routledge, 1990
* [[Winnie Ewing]], [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Michael Russell]], ''Stop the World; The Autobiography of Winnie Ewing'' [[Birlinn (publisher)|Birlinn]], 2004
* [[Richard J. Finlay]], ''Independent and Free: Scottish Politics and the Origins of the Scottish National Party 1918–1945'', John Donald Publishers, 1994
* Hanham, H.J., ''Scottish Nationalism'', [[Harvard University Press]], 1969
* [[Christopher Harvie]], ''Scotland and Nationalism: Scottish Society and Politics 1707 to the Present'', Routledge (4th edition), 2004
* [[Gerry Hassan]] (ed.), ''The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power'', [[Edinburgh University Press]], 2009, {{ISBN|0748639918}}
* Lynch, Peter, ''SNP: The History of the Scottish National Party'', Welsh Academic Press, 2002
* [[John MacCormick]], ''The Flag in the Wind: The Story of the National Movement in Scotland'', [[Victor Gollancz Ltd]], 1955
* Mitchell, James, ''Strategies for Self-government: The Campaigns for a Scottish Parliament'', [[Birlinn (publisher)|Polygon]], 1996
* Mitchell, James, Bennie, Lynn and Johns, Rob, ''The Scottish National Party: Transition to Power'', [[Oxford University Press]], 2011, {{ISBN|0199580006}}
* Mitchell, James and Hassan, Gerry (eds), ''Scottish National Party Leaders'', Biteback, 2016. 
* [[Jim Sillars]], ''Scotland: the Case for Optimism'', Polygon, 1986
* [[William Wolfe]], ''Scotland Lives: the Quest for Independence'', Reprographia, 1973

==External links==
{{Sister project links|n=Category:Scottish National Party|commons=Category:Scottish National Party|wikt=no|v=no|b=no|s=no|voy=no|q=no}}
* [https://www.snp.org Scottish National Party] – Official website

{{SNP}}
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{{Political parties in the United Kingdom}}
{{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}}
{{Members of the European Free Alliance}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Scottish National Party| ]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Centre-left parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:European Free Alliance]]
[[Category:Nationalist parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1934]]
[[Category:Scottish independence]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in the United Kingdom]]