CIH Scotland reflect on the Scottish parliamentary election

The Scottish parliament elections on 7 May 2026 elected 129 MSPs to parliament with the final results being declared as:

• Scottish National Party: 58 seats (-6)
• Labour: 17 seats (-4) 
• Reform UK: +17 seats  
• Scottish Green Party: 15 seats (+6)
• Conservatives: 12 seats (-19)
• Liberal Democrats: 10 seats (+6) 

The Scottish National Party (SNP) retained the majority of seats but fell short of an overall parliamentary majority meaning they will need to work with opposition parties to successfully pass legislation in the next parliamentary term.

Reflecting on the results, Gillian McLees, national director of CIH Scotland said: “I’d like to congratulate all returning and new MSPs on taking your place in our parliament. The housing sector faces significant challenges which require strong leadership, long-term commitment and cross-party support. We know that politicians of all parties care deeply about tackling homelessness and delivering the homes and services we need to ensure that people at every stage of life have a safe, affordable place to call home.

“Investing in housing improves health and wellbeing, reduces inequalities and contributes to the economy, creating the foundations for people to flourish. Housing will be central to the success of political commitments across portfolios, and we look forward to working with our new elected representatives to ensure that housing remains a top priority for everyone.”