Election 2026: Our analysis of the Scottish Conservative manifesto

April 8, 2026

In the run up to the Holyrood election, we’re analysing what’s in each of the major party manifestos for humanists. We’re also asking candidates to adopt policies that make Scotland a more rational, socially just and compassionate country. First up are the Scottish Conservatives. Their 2026 manifesto contains pledges on a number of key humanist issues – some positive, some negative.

You can also read our analysis of the Green, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Labour manifestos.

Education and Children’s Rights

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Humanist Society Scotland is pleased to see a manifesto commitment to ‘raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 to protect girls from potential abuse’. The current legal marriage age of 16 falls below international standards and breaches children’s rights under the UNCRC. Evidence published by UNICEF found that those married under 18 are at increased risk of forced marriage, exploitation and domestic violence.

The manifesto also proposes establishing ‘panels in every local authority that would allow parents to oversee the content children are taught on socially contentious issues such as sex education or other issues of personal morality’. We have no issue with parents being informed about the curriculum at their children’s school. So too, parents should have a platform to share any concerns. But these rights are already embedded in law.

We’re worried that the proposals could undermine pupils’ own right to a comprehensive, evidence-based, and inclusive sex and relationship education. This knowledge is essential for ensuring that children and young people lead safe, happy, and healthy lives through their adolescence and into adulthood.

More concerningly, the manifesto commits to scrapping national guidance that ‘encourages the teaching of gender ideology in our schools.’ LGBT inclusive education promotes respect, helps all pupils feel included, and reduces stigma and bullying in schools. Humanist Society Scotland would oppose any dilution of this policy in the strongest possible terms.

Abortion Rights

Graphic showing a woman sitting at a doctor's table with a picture of a pregnant body on a screen.

Disappointingly, the manifesto contains no commitment to fully decriminalise abortion or modernise Scotland’s outdated abortion law.

Right now, women and pregnant people in Scotland have no legal right to end a pregnancy. The law requires two doctors to sign off on an abortion request. This means that individuals are compelled to justify a deeply personal decision. Criminalising abortion also means that prosecutions and police investigations still take place today.

We believe the status quo is failing vulnerable women, perpetuates stigma, and undermines the status of abortion as routine healthcare. That’s why we’ve joined over 70 organisations and 1000 individuals calling for the full decriminalisation of abortion and an abortion law fit for the 21st century.

LGBTQ+ Rights

The manifesto contains no commitment to legislation ending conversion practices against LGBTQ+ people. Humanist Society Scotland is disappointed to see the Conservatives walk back their 2021 promise to ‘work with the UK Government to end conversion therapy in Scotland’. We are clear that Scotland needs a comprehensive, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. That means no loopholes that exempt faith groups or those who reject trans identities.

Conversion practices are harmful, coercive behaviours that attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexuality or gender identity. Such acts are based on the false and dangerous notion that being LGBT+ is sinful, shameful or wrong and needs to be “cured”. Conversion practices are not only widely discredited as illegitimate and ineffective, but also cause significant and lasting harm to victims.

We are also concerned about the promise to “protect women and girls by requiring that all public sector bodies have single sex spaces”. If implemented, this blanket approach could further exclude and stigmatise trans people who are simply trying to live their lives in dignity. A 2025 report found that trans people already face higher rates of exclusion, discrimination and harassment when accessing services, public spaces, and at work.

In line with the Scottish LGBTQ+ manifesto, we call on the next Scottish Government to adopt the most inclusive and human-rights compliant approach when considering trans peoples’ inclusion in public life. As humanists, we will always fight to uphold the dignity, autonomy, and wellbeing of all individuals.

End of Life Choice

As an organisation that campaigns for greater end-of-life choice, including the right of terminally ill adults to choose an assisted death, we recognise the importance of improved access to hospice and palliative care. We therefore welcome the manifesto commitment to establish “a new funding model to deliver the palliative care our country deserves.”

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