While disruption that can be traced back to the pandemic has eased, ongoing pressures on public spending, labour availability and investment confidence remain and continue to shape decision‑making across the sector. At the same time, longer‑term pressures around food production, land use, nature restoration and climate commitments are coming to the fore.

Polling suggests six parties are likely to secure representation in the next Scottish Parliament: the Scottish National Party (SNP), Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Reform Party Scotland. While approaches differ, all parties place rural land, farming and estates firmly within their manifestos. The summary below highlights the key commitments most relevant to farmers, landowners and rural businesses.

Stability and continuity: the SNP

The SNP manifesto emphasises delivery and continuity. Commitments include multi‑year agricultural support, completing the transition to post‑CAP payments, and continuing to support food production alongside climate and biodiversity outcomes. The party reiterates its statutory commitment to net zero by 2045, ongoing investment in peatland restoration and woodland creation, and support for crofting, island communities and rural infrastructure, including ferries, housing and digital connectivity.

Food security and public services: Scottish Labour

Scottish Labour frames rural policy around food security, fairness and access to services. Its manifesto promises predictable funding for farmers and crofters, measures to reduce food insecurity, and strengthening domestic food supply chains. While supporting climate and nature recovery targets, Labour places emphasis on engagement with land managers to deliver environmental outcomes and highlights rural access to healthcare, transport and housing as key priorities.

Food production and deregulation: Scottish Conservatives

The Scottish Conservatives prioritise food production, energy security and reducing regulatory pressure on rural businesses. The manifesto commits to opposing additional environmental conditionality, supporting sporting estates and shooting, and redirecting farm policy towards domestic food security. The party rejects the 2045 net zero target, supports continued oil and gas extraction and nuclear power, and focuses rural infrastructure investment on roads, bridges and ferry services.

Climate and land use reform: Scottish Greens

The Scottish Greens place rural policy firmly within a wider climate and nature framework. Proposals include expanded funding for peatland and native woodland restoration, stronger regulation of land use, enhanced deer management, and restrictions around gamebird release practices. The manifesto signals a shift in agricultural support towards biodiversity delivery and emissions reduction, alongside improved public transport provision for rural communities.

Local delivery and partnership: Scottish Liberal Democrats

The Scottish Liberal Democrats focus on fairness, local services and rural economic viability. Their manifesto commits to ring‑fenced, multi‑year agricultural funding, continued support for food production and opposition to top‑down marine protections. Proposals include support for small abattoirs, rural housing delivery and improved connectivity through ferries, roads and bus services. Climate policies centre on large‑scale home insulation and renewables, with enhanced community benefits.

Active farming and rural housing: Reform Party Scotland

Reform Party Scotland argues that rural Scotland is disadvantaged by centralised policy and environmental regulation. It pledges to halt large‑scale rewilding, poorly managed forestry, solar and battery farms, and the phase‑out of oil boilers in rural homes. For farming, it proposes reforming farm payments to support active farmers, restoring grants for land improvement, fencing, and hedges, scrapping carbon audits in favour of outcome‑based measures, and abolishing the Scottish Land Commission, while retaining the Tenant Farming Commissioner. It also supports rural housing, self‑build, broadband investment, country sports and fishing interests.

What all this means for rural businesses

What stands out across all the main manifestos is not a lack of ambition for rural Scotland, but the growing importance of how policies will be delivered in practice.  Farmers, estates and rural businesses are being asked to respond to multiple, sometimes competing priorities:  sustaining food production; contributing to climate and biodiversity goals; and adapting to evolving regulatory frameworks - often against a backdrop of rising costs and constrained public finances.

The next parliamentary term is therefore likely to be shaped less by new headline policy announcements and more by the pace, sequencing and certainty of implementation. For rural businesses, this puts renewed focus on managing transition carefully, retaining flexibility within business models, and ensuring environmental delivery can be balanced with long‑term commercial viability.  Clear funding signals, proportionate regulation and constructive engagement with land managers will be critical in supporting resilient rural enterprises in the years ahead.

Further information

Contact Kelly Hewson-Fisher, Hugo Struthers or Adam Lewis

 Find out more in our summary regarding the Scottish parlimentary elections