New Year, New Opportunities – But No Change from Scottish Political Parties

With the arrival of the New Year, the leaders of the Scottish Parliament’s largest political parties have begun to make their pitches to voters ahead of this May’s Holyrood election.

Over the coming weeks and months there may well be new promises and new policy annoucements covering a range of issues affecting those in Scotland. These announcements may – if we are lucky – directly respond to the manifesto’s published recently by third sector organisations seeking change for various groups.

Towards an Inclusive and Accessible Scottish Election in 2026

Behind these upcoming promises and policy announcements, every Scottish political party will be finalising their manifesto and other communications for the upcoming election.

But how inclusive and accessible will this election be for disabled people in Scotland?

In December we wrote to the Scottish political party leaders, outlining that with the election in 2026, they had the opportunity to demonstrate what an inclusive and accessible election process could look like and for them to support the fact that disabled people matter.

We outlined that with some 20% of the Scottish voting population having a disability, this equated to a significant number of potential voters. So, what role could each party leader and their political party play to support this?

In terms of each party’s election manifesto and communications, we asked whether they could:

• Choose a font that was easy to read?

• Use everyday language, not abstract words or jargon?

• Check the colour contrast of their designs?

• Include alt-text and image descriptors?

• Include captions for any audio and video?

• Create an Easy Read version to include more people?

Such small changes could make a big difference to effectively include disabled people within the election process and to spread the messages and aspirations for their political party.

When writing to them, we even included a graphic that the party could use as a reference, to make their manifesto more inclusive and accessible for disabled people.

As we write, we are currently waiting for an acknowledgement of our communication from any of the parties that we contacted – let alone any sort of considered response, or promise to take action.

Inclusive Election Process?

So, 2026 brought a New Year, with potentially new opportunities, including the opportunity to demonstrate what an inclusive and accessible election process could look like and to support the fact that disabled people matter.

But so far it looks very much to be the same as previous years.

You have the right to vote for your representative in the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government that you want. So, why will Scottish political parties not actively commit to an inclusive election campaign that meets the needs of disabled people?

Once political candidates start getting out and about, knocking on doors and speaking with voters about their support, perhaps ask them what they, their political party (and its leader!) are doing to make this year’s election more inclusive and accessible that previous elections.

It could be an interesting conversation!

Disability Equality Scotland

9 January 2026