Holyrood 559 / 23 February 2026

Dog days: How parliament went from legislating to virtue signalling
Cover Story, p18
Editor’s Note, p3

3 Editor’s note:
The Epstein affair reveals much about how men see women

6 Opinion:
Kirsteen Paterson
Louise Wilson

8 Political Spotlight:
Sarwar’s Last Stand

12 Opinion:
Chris Marshall
Ruaraidh Gilmour

16 Topical Question:
What are the the highs and lows of the current parliament?

18 Cover story: Dog tired
As this parliament draws to a close, does it have its priorities right?

22 Women: Hospital safety
A year after a landmark report on sex attacks, is progress being made?

26 Committee:
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice

27 Minister: Jennie Minto
Talks women’s health

28 Political Interview:
Gillian Martin on why the just transition is so close to home

34 Women: Economic abuse
Women continue to suffer financially at the hands of men

38 Transport: Feature
The issues that defined transport this parliament

44 Transport: The Huddle
What should be a priority in the next parliament?

46 Transport: Committee
Net Zero, Energy and Transport

48 Transport: Interview
Eddie Dempsey, RMT general secretary, gets transactional

50 Connect: Feature
Should governments be on X?

54 Women: Interview
Marie Macklin, businesswoman

60 Event Report
Holyrood’s Energy Summit

62 Exit Interview
Richard Lochhead

64 Diary

65 Political Spin
Chris Murray, the ‘emo-adjacent’ Labour MP

66 Last Word: Sketch
MSPs succumb to their animal instincts