Holyrood 558 / 26 January 2026

Exit interview: Kate Forbes
... a politician who really does want to spend more time with her family
page 38

3 Editor’s note
John Swinney is undermining the Supreme Court judgment

6 Opinion
Chris Marshall
Kirsteen Paterson

8 Spotlight: Angela Constance
The justice secretary has survived, but how costly has the row been?

12 Opinion:
Louise Wilson
Ruaraidh Gilmour

16 Spotlight: Bonds
The Scottish Government looks for new ways of borrowing

20 Economy: Feature
In an election year, the budget is nothing if not political

24 Economy: Committee
Tech is changing the definition of ‘property’

25 Economy: Minister
Richard Lochhead on tourism

26 Economy: The Huddle
How will the Scottish economy change over the next five years?

30 Connect: Tremor control
The pioneering treatment giving hope to people with Parkinson’s

38 Interview: Kate Forbes
The deputy first minister prepares to leave frontline politics

44 Health:
Ultra-processed foods
Public health concerns are growing

48 Health: Committee
The Good Food Nation plan

49 Health: Minister
Jim Fairlie

50 Health: Topical question
New Year’s resolutions

52 Interview: Jim Sillars
The SNP grandee on his latest book

56 Feature: Prisons
Rehabilitation efforts hope to reduce reoffending

62 Interview: Jamie Green
On defecting to the Lib Dems

64 Diary
Nationalist lanyard snafu

65 Political Spin
Brian Leishman on his karaoke prowess

66 Last Word: Sketch
Jackson Carlaw makes a splash