John Swinney

Built World

Leader of the Scottish National Party

Sumitomo Electric opened the UK's first high-voltage subsea cable factory at the Port of Nigg on Scotland's northeast coast on October 19. The £350 million plant, inside the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, will make 525-kilovolt cables that carry offshore wind power long distances with less energy loss than alternating current. Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander said the UK had been the only G7 country without the capacity to make them.

Updated Oct 28

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: SNP on course for a fifth consecutive Holyrood government but short of the 65 seats needed for a majority; minority government formation expected

Results from the May 7 Super Thursday elections, counted through Friday, May 8, showed Labour losing heavily and Reform surging past polling expectations. Reform gained more than 500 English council seats and took control of four authorities (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Havering, Sunderland, and Essex) for the first time.

Updated May 31