The Scotsman
Edinburgh-based Scottish daily broadsheet; founded 1817; primary source for Scottish political news.
Last refreshed: 14 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What does The Scotsman's coverage of the Section 30 dispute reveal about Scottish press opinion?
Timeline for The Scotsman
Mentioned in: Findlay refuses to quit Tory leadership
UK Local Elections 2026- Who owns The Scotsman newspaper?
- The Scotsman is owned by JPIMedia, which also owns a range of Scottish and northern English regional titles.
- Is The Scotsman pro-independence or pro-Union?
- The Scotsman's editorial stance has moved from historically Unionist to broadly neutral on constitutional questions; individual columnists span the full spectrum.
Background
The Scotsman is a Scottish daily newspaper based in Edinburgh, founded in 1817. It is one of Scotland's oldest broadsheet titles and has historically positioned itself as the newspaper of record for Scottish politics, business, and culture. The paper covers Holyrood, Westminster, and Scottish current affairs from a Scottish perspective and is considered a primary source for Scottish political developments. It moved from broadsheet to compact format in 2004.
The Scotsman's editorial line has evolved from broadly Unionist to a more neutral stance on constitutional questions, though individual columnists span the spectrum from pro-independence to firmly pro-Union. It is owned by JPIMedia and is part of a larger portfolio of Scottish and northern English regional titles. Circulation has declined significantly from its peak, but it remains the dominant paid-circulation Scottish broadsheet alongside The Herald.
In the 2026 Holyrood election coverage, The Scotsman's political reporting on the Findlay leadership crisis and the Section 30 demand was cited in broader UK media roundups of Scottish political opinion, maintaining its function as a gauge of establishment Scottish opinion on constitutional questions.
