Holyrood567 / 19 October 2026

SNP conference special
Doogan’s defence plan for an independent Scotland
Interview, p26

3 Editor’s note
The Greens have become a party of intolerance and prejudice

6 Opinion
Louise Wilson

8 The Huddle
Is it time to scrap the Curriculum for Excellence?

10 Spotlight: SNP
John Swinney has made little progress towards independence

14 Political Interview
Alyn Smith on how AI will re-shape public services

20 Spotlight: Social Care
The FM may yet regret his misleading claims about pensions

24 Topical Question
Has the recent criticism of the quality of MSPs been unfair?

26 Political Interview: Dave Doogan
The SNP Westminster leader has a post-independence defence plan

34 Feature: AI
Panacea or threat to humanity? The growing hype around AI

39 Opinion
Chris Marshall

40 Feature: Cycle schemes
Despite their success, bike schemes haven’t yet reduced car numbers

45 Sketch: Committee
The FM gets a grilling at the Conveners Group

46 Political Interview: Collette Stevenson
The SNP MSP reflects on a high-profile gaffe

51 Feature: Scottish National Investment Bank
After a run of losses, the national fund needs to scale up successes

54 Connect: Aria
Risky ideas in search of transformative discoveries

58 Event Report
Holyrood Annual Garden Party and Political Awards

62 Getting to know You
Lib Dem MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie

64 Diary
Lindsay Hoyle won’t be naming any pets after Keir Starmer

65 Political Spin
Labour’s Tracy Gilbert on her love of 80s pop music

66 Last Word: Sketch
Jim Fairlie gets a rough ride from the Rural Affairs Committee