Finlay Whiteford, associate, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
Scottish politicians are entering conference mode this week, with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens all holding their spring conferences next weekend. Expect to hear the words ‘regional list’ appear prominently from each of them.
Scottish Labour still has two weeks until its turn, by which time Anas Sarwar will hope to have shored up support from his party after an eye-catching week in which he called for Keir Starmer to step down.
Sarwar did the rounds yesterday saying that the prime minister would be welcome to assist in his Holyrood campaign, but added that his UK counterpart should focus more on his government delivering for the people of Scotland than on door-knocking.
Former chief of staff to the prime minister Morgan McSweeney returned to front pages this weekend after it emerged the Labour thinktank he directed had paid a consultancy to discredit a Sunday Times journalist (£) that had been critical of him.
Gabriel Pogrund was accused of being linked to the Kremlin in a 2024 report seen by senior government ministers within McSweeney’s thinktank Labour Together. The investigation also included personal details about the journalist’s religion, relationships and upbringing.
And while many a pint was downed at Murrayfield on Saturday for Scotland’s win over England, it may be some BrewDog employees downing tools in the future. The Aberdeenshire company has called in consultants to find alternative investment models including a potential break-up of the business.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
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Over the weekend, Aberdeenshire beer giant BrewDog called in financial consultants to explore new investment models for the business, including the potential to split off the company’s brands. The company recorded £37 million in losses in October last year and was mired in controversy over its decision to pay the legal minimum wage to staff.
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Ofgem has sounded alarm bells over the government’s ability to meet its clean power targets given the slow rate of grid upgrades and repairs (£). A report by the energy regulator has found that the National Grid, ScottishPower and SSE all face delays in delivering the asset upgrades needed to maintain resilience in the UK’s energy network.
- Scottish wave energy firm Mocean Energy has warned that contracts central to the marine sector's sustainability are under threat, due to the withdrawal of government funding for Wave Energy Scotland. The body was set up in 2014 to overcome barriers to wave technologies through contracts, grants, and attracting private investment.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
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A week after Sarwar’s bombshell press conference, Iain MacWhirter describes the move as a “supreme act of disloyalty” (£) which will give comfort to the SNP ahead of May’s election. It is only the imminence of polling day which keeps the Scottish leader in post, he argues, after which he faces the boot from his party.
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On the contrary, John McLellan writes for The Scotsman that Sarwar may as well “throw the kitchen sink” at his new strategy, calling on the leader to double down on confrontation with the “lame duck” prime minister and adopt the pro-business policies which may be disliked by UK Labour higher-ups.
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For The Scotsman, Jane Grant of the Open University argues that Scotland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem actively disadvantages rural entrepreneurs, calling for sustained funding mechanisms tuned to local differences.
- And in The Herald, Alan Simpson calls the Scottish Government’s freeze on rail fares an election pledge we’ll all have to pay for down the line (£). With endless demands on the public first, Simpson says rail passengers would be “happy” to pay their annual rise to properly fund the service.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
The House of Commons and House of Lords are on recess until Monday 23 February.
Monday
- The tenth and final module of the UK Covid-19 inquiry begins
- Rightmove house price index released
Tuesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Stage 1 Debate: Stage 1 Debate: Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill
- Stage 3 Debate: Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will take evidence on the Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft], anticipated energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector, and regulations to implement Awaab’s Law on damp and mould
- The Finance and Public Administration Committee will take evidence on the Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill at stage two
- The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will take evidence on Food Standards Scotland and the first national Good Food Nation Plan.
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Scottish government data
- Labour market trends, February 2026
Wednesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Home Affairs
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Education, Children and Young People Committee will take evidence on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill at stage two
- The Economy and Fair Work Committee will consider the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill at stage two
- UK inflation and house price figures released
Thursday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- First Minister’s Questions
- Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills
- Stage 1 debate: Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
- Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Income Tax Rate Resolution 2026-27
- UK construction statistics for 2024 released
- Donald Trump’s Board of Peace meets for the first time
Friday
- Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party annual conference begins at Murrayfield (until Saturday 21 February)
- Scottish Liberal Democrats spring conference begins at Dynamic Earth (until Saturday 21 February)
- UK retail sales figures released for January 2026
Saturday
- Scottish Green Party spring conference at the University of Strathclyde