Scottish republicanism

Republicanism within the independence movement

Many people who advocate Scotland becoming a republic do so through their support for Scottish independence. This would entail Scotland becoming independent from the United Kingdom and instead of continuing the Union of the Crowns that predate the political union, a republic would be formed, with an elected Head of State assuming the role of the deposed monarch.

Scotland's largest pro-independence party, the Scottish National Party (SNP), favours retaining the monarchy as a Commonwealth realm similar to the situation in other crown countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, the party has a number of prominent republican members, including Roseanna Cunningham, Tommy Sheppard and Humza Yousaf, who served as First Minister from 2023 to 2024.

The republican Scottish Green Party have held two ministerial positions in the Scottish Government since 2021, under the Bute House Agreement. Green co-leader and Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights Patrick Harvie has been highly critical of the British monarchy, calling for the monarch to be replaced with a "democratically accountable head of state", as well as describing the Royal Family an "outdated, discredited and totally undemocratic institution". Harvie boycotted a service of thanksgiving for the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in St Giles' Cathedral along with fellow Green co-leader and Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater. Slater had previously spoken at a republican rally in May 2023 on Calton Hill with Maggie Chapman.

The SNP proposes that in the event of independence, the presiding officer's post be replaced with that of chancellor of Scotland. In addition to presiding over the Scottish Parliament, the chancellor would possess additional constitutional powers during the absence of the monarch from Scotland; chiefly, the chancellor should act in a role similar to a governor-general in the other Commonwealth realms.

Most of the other political parties and organisations which advocate Scottish independence also advocate Scotland becoming an independent republic. These include:

• Scottish Greens
• Scottish Socialist Party
• Alba Party (dissolved in March 2026)
• Scottish Republican Socialist Movement
• Radical Independence Campaign
• Our Republic (cross-constitutional campaign group)

British republicanism

Another concept for Scotland becoming a republic is through reform of the United Kingdom's constitutional status from a constitutional monarchy to a republican constitution. There is not an explicit link with British unionism, as this tends to advocate the Union of Crowns. This is a form of British republicanism, which is the majority position among English republicans; politicians like Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn and the advocacy group Republic have all expressed preference for this. There is no mainstream support for this concept in any Scottish political parties, and it remains a personal position, unlike support for an independent Scottish republic which does have party support.

Adam Tomkins was a republican who supported a reformed Britain without monarchy, but his opinion shifted after being elected for the firmly monarchist Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party. Additionally, Scottish Labour MSPs Katy Clark and Mercedes Villalba advocate for abolishing the Monarchy across the UK as well as radical constitutional reform. The Scottish campaign group Our Republic also contains several members who support Scotland remaining in a reformed Union.

Opinion polling

Polling on the British monarchy with Scotland as part of the UK

Polling on the British monarchy if Scotland becomes independent

More than two main options