JOHN SWINNEY has used his Hogmanay message to urge Scots to follow the message of Robert Burns’s Auld Lang Syne and show small acts of kindness in 2026.

Scotland’s First Minister said that “each year, the world rings in the new year by singing a song from Scotland” that has been passed down through generations.

He said; “We may be a small country, but like Auld Lang Syne, we are celebrated. For our spirit, our bravery, our generosity and our kindness. Those strengths start here at home, in our communities.

“They come from small acts, the moments of care and togetherness that we show each other.

“Each one builds the Scotland we want to live in.”

Focusing on May’s Holyrood elections in his New Year message, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Here in Scotland, we have the chance to elect a new government to change our country and a new first minister that shares your ambition and will work as hard as you do.

“We are being held back by a tired SNP government that is out of ideas and out of time – but it doesn’t have to be like this.

“We can choose a new government that will fix our NHS, unlock opportunities for our young people, get our economy thriving again, deliver jobs for the next generation, make our communities safe places to live, respect your money, and deliver the new direction, new ideas and new leadership that Scotland needs.”

Using her Hogmanay message to thank NHS teams who have supported her as a new mother, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “I want every child family to have the same love and support as we have had and to build a Scotland where every child can flourish.”

Turning to the forthcoming elections, she reflected: “A lot of people are angry and feeling the strain of rising bills and costs. They see a political system that has promised so much change but delivered business as usual.

“It doesn’t need to be this way. The year ahead must be one where we work towards restoration and peace. It must be a year in which we strive to do better both individually and collectively.

“Scotland faces big choices in 2026, and I hope that we can build a future that we can be proud of.”