John Cumming, senior client manager, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
A month has passed since voters went to the polls on 7 May. Despite this, we’re only just getting an indication of what the new Holyrood committees might look like. The election of committee conveners for the first time this week is a significant moment in the history of devolution, with both prominent and ambitious backbench MSPs looking to raise their profile by putting their names forward.
Some key debates are also taking place in the Scottish Parliament this week, with the Scottish Government leading one discussion on growing the economy and another on its public service reform agenda. On Wednesday, Scottish Labour will lead a debate on public trust in Scottish politics, which Anas Sarwar’s party will use to keep the spotlight on the still unfolding Murrell scandal.
Elsewhere, two big birthday celebrations are due to take place later this week, with President Trump turning 80, and King Charles III marking his ‘official birthday’ as the monarch, a royal quirk designed to ensure national celebrations have a better chance of fine weather (his actual birthday is 14 November).
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
- The Press & Journal has published a piece this morning, exploring the factors driving the recent increase in tourists visiting Aberdeen and the North East. According to recent analysis, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire’s visitor economy generated some £1.4 billion in 2025, with major events, cruise tourism and heritage attractions encouraging people to visit the region. The Tall Ships festival nearly doubled day visitors to Aberdeen last July, while cruise ships brought more than 57,000 passengers and crew over the course of last year. It is estimated that tourism in the region supports 11,700 jobs, with visitor spending on retail, hospitality and transport supporting economic growth across the region.
- The Scotsman has reported on growing concerns about transmission charges within the Scottish renewable energy sector, after it was revealed that projects could face almost £1 billion in grid-use charges by 2030/31, while projects in England and Wales will be paid to connect. Scottish Renewables has warned that the outdated system, which was crafted to favour projects closer to large population hubs, is harming investment in projects north of the border. The industry body has called on the UK government to reform the current system so “Scotland can get on with delivering the clean and secure energy system our future generations will need.”
- Following the cancellation of two more major Scottish music festivals this summer, bringing the total to eight, The Herald spoke to legendary singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean who suggested some have collapsed due to overly ambitious organisers, and growing competition from other events. MacLean was speaking ahead of his appearance at the Reeling Festival which, after three years in Glasgow, is being held at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh for the first time, with around 10,000 music lovers expected to attend.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
- In a piece for The Scotsman, Clare Skelton-Morris argues that the loss of lives as a result of drowning should not be accepted as an inevitable part of summer. As heatwaves become more frequent, statistics show that drowning deaths continue to rise, with at least 17 people across the UK dying in open water incidents during the recent warm spell. Skelton-Morris’s uncle drowned when he was 13, during a school trip to the Lake District in 1960. Since then, she highlights how a combination of frequent heatwaves and the normalisation of drinking and taking drugs near open water makes these incidents even more likely – strengthening the case for more education about the dangers, and for drowning prevention efforts to give more consideration to factors such as the climate, inequalities and cultural norms.
- Writing for the FT, Philip Cowley points out that around three-quarters of those eligible to vote in a potential Labour leadership contest are affiliated supporters – mainly trade union members – rather than party members. This cohort helped Ed Miliband win the leadership in 2010 and, while turnout amongst them is usually low, this will be the first time affiliates have had the chance to directly choose a prime minister, making them a key factor for any contender to consider.
- In a piece for The Guardian, Simon Jenkins argues that leaks of private government communications, including messages involving Peter Mandelson and Keir Starmer, risk damaging the effectiveness of government. While transparency is important, Jenkins believes ministers, officials and diplomats require confidential channels to candidly exchange views and debate issues. He says that treating all communications as permanently “on the record” discourages honest discussion, weakens decision-making, and creates a culture of fear and self-censorship.
Shifting the dial - recent research
The Herald’s recently published Scottish Golf Survey 2026 has found that the sport is becoming increasingly divided in economic terms, with geography being a key factor.
While the research found that there is cautious optimism across the sector, with many clubs reporting steady performance, it also identified an emerging three-tier system with premium courses operating with strong pricing power, traditional members’ clubs balancing costs, and smaller rural clubs working with tighter margins.
According to data gathered from the survey, while rising costs have pushed up membership fees and visitor green fees, many clubs are shielding members from the full impact by relying more on visitor income.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Monday
-
Westminster
- Home Office questions
- Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill to be debated at committee stage
- Energy: UK Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper to hold a press conference discussing energy bills
- Tech: Business secretary Peter Kyle to deliver a speech at London Tech Week
- Tech: Elon Musk's SpaceX launches IPO roadshow for investors
- North Korea: Chinese president Xi Jinping to visit North Korea for a meeting with Kim Jong Un
- Canada: Louise Arbour, a lawyer, prosecutor, civil servant and jurist, to be installed as Canada’s 31st governor general
- HSBC Championships tennis begins at The Queen’s Club in London
Tuesday
-
Westminster
- Former NATO secretary-general and author of the Strategic Defence Review, George Robertson, to discuss defence skills and jobs at the Scottish Affairs Committee
- Health ministers to take questions in the Commons
- MPs continue to debate the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
- Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair Mary-Ann Stephenson to appear before the Women and Equalities Committee
-
Holyrood:
- FMQs (backbench members)
- First confirmation of new committee conveners expected following elections for these roles for the first time
- Scottish Government debate on growing the economy
- Tech: DSIT secretary Liz Kendall to address London Tech Week
- Russia: Leaders of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic 8) nations to gather in Tallinn to discuss the ongoing impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine
- US: Congressional primaries to be held in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina ahead of November’s midterms
Wednesday
-
Westminster
- PMQs
- Scotland Office questions
- MPs to debate Railways Bill at remaining stages
-
Holyrood:
- Confirmation of all new committee conveners expected
- Portfolio questions to cabinet secretaries and ministers in the chamber
- Scottish Labour to lead a debate on public trust in Scottish politics
- SNP MSP Alyn Smith to lead a debate on Scotland’s screen sector
- Student loans: Chief Secretary to Treasury Lucy Rigby to discuss student loans at the Education Committee
- France: business and political leaders from G7 countries to meet in Paris
- US: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to participate in a transcribed interview with the congressional House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein
Thursday
- Football: 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in Mexico, with the men’s tournament running until 19 July
-
Holyrood:
- FMQs (party leaders)
- Ministerial statement on improving maternity services
- Scottish Government debate on public service reform
-
Westminster:
- Transport questions
- MPs hold a debate on Jo Cox’s legacy
- Members of the House of Lords to discuss the political and security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Health: NHS England monthly performance stats released
Friday
- UK economy: April GDP estimates published at 7am
- Royals: King’s Birthday Honours list announced
- Housing: Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride (10.40a.m.) and ex-Deputy PM Angela Rayner (3.50p.m.) to address the Propertymark conference in London
Saturday
- Royals: King Charles’s official birthday celebrated in London with the Trooping the Colour ceremony
Sunday
- US: President Trump’s 80th birthday
- Switzerland: referendum to be held on limiting migration once the country reaches a population of 10 million