BVA Scottish Branch represents our members in Scotland. Working together with representatives of our specialist and territorial divisions, Government, academic institutions, and research organisations in Scotland, we address the veterinary issues and represent the interests of BVA's members in Scotland.
We champion the veterinary profession in Scotland. We provide BVA with the consensus view of members in Scotland to shape BVA policy development and advise BVA working groups on pertinent Scotland-specific issues. We also work closely with key stakeholders in Scotland to safeguard animal health and welfare.
We regularly engage with the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament on a wide range of issues to provide a strong voice for vets – from recruitment and retention in the veterinary profession to a breadth of animal health and welfare issues. We also work with stakeholders and specialist divisions to promote meetings and events that are of interest to our members.
Scotland will be going to the polls on Thursday 7th May.
To find the candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website. Summaries of candidates and their priorities can also be found here.
Constituency boundaries have changed for 2026. If you’re unsure where to vote, use the “Where Do I Vote?” online checker to enter your postcode and find out instantly.
While there are many areas that will impact your decision, we have pulled together a useful guide on what the main parties are saying.
| Party | Key Commitments | BVA Supports |
|
|
▪️Reform systems for farm payments and less favoured areas ▪️ Incentivise young people into farming and fishing, including apprenticeships for abattoir workers and fishers ▪️Reduce bureaucracy for farmers ▪️Support the Scottish fishing safety group ▪️Maintain import standards and block illegal meats, and base Quality Meats Scotland’s standards on quality and welfare, not ideology |
▪️Maintaining import standards. ▪️Strengthening biosecurity and stopping the importation of illegal meat. |
|
|
▪️£50m boost to Rural Affairs budget, and multi annual funding deals ▪️Review of farm payments scheme and agricultural paperwork ▪️New Entrant support scheme – interest-free loans, and succession support for retirees ▪️Ensure aquaculture works for communities, industry and the environment ▪️Oppose Highly Protected Marine Areas ▪️Consult farmers when assessing new rewilding proposals ▪️Tackle deer overpopulation in consultation with land managers |
▪️Sustainable aquaculture. |
|
|
▪️More powers to close fish farms not meeting environmental and welfare standards, and no new salmon farms until welfare improves ▪️Ban shock collars ▪️Tougher rules around fireworks ▪️Incentives for farmers to shift to sustainable regenerative practices ▪️Phase out: farrowing crates; cages for poultry; killing of day-old chicks; and use of antibiotics to stimulate growth ▪️Regulation to support livestock farming with plant-rich diets, cage-free rearing, calf-at-hoof dairying ▪️Support sustainable supply chains in the Highlands and Islands inc. small abattoirs ▪️Speed up beaver reintroductions and those of other keystone species ▪️Strengthen protections for at-risk native species ▪️Strategic management of deer to minimise overgrazing ▪️Control and license the release of game birds to control spread of avian flu to wild birds ▪️Oppose UK trade deals that undermine high standards ▪️Update animal welfare legislation to include additional species and new research and consolidate wildlife protections into a single Act ▪️Regulate the exotic pets, which species can be kept safely in a domestic setting, and educate owners on welfare needs |
▪️A ban on shock collars. ▪️Tighter regulation of fireworks. ▪️Phasing out of farrowing crates for pigs. ▪️Phasing out enriched cages for laying hens. ▪️Further regulation of non-traditional companion animals (exotic pets). ▪️Improvement of farmed fished welfare. ▪️The protection of the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards in the signing of trade deals. ▪️Evidence-based, targeted regulation that protects animal, environmental and public health. |
|
|
▪️Phase out use of farrowing crates ▪️Compulsory microchipping of cats ▪️Ban the use of shock collars ▪️Strategy to target rural veterinary shortages ▪️Support sustainable and data-informed fisheries and establish a marine recovery fund ▪️Strengthen and clarify wildlife and animal welfare protection laws ▪️Develop a list of permitted exotic species to be kept as pets |
▪️Phasing out of farrowing crates for pigs. ▪️Mandatory microchipping of cats. ▪️A ban on shock collars. ▪️A strategy to target rural veterinary shortages. ▪️Evidence-based, targeted regulation that protects animal, environmental and public health. ▪️Further regulation of non-traditional companion animals (exotic pets) |
|
|
▪️Champion rapid comprehensive veterinary and SPS agreements ▪️Ringfence agriculture funding, and move to 3-year funding deals ▪️Support profitable, sustainable and nature friendly agriculture ▪️Targeted measures to reverse declining livestock numbers ▪️Hold aquaculture to high environmental standards ▪️Restoring nature and protecting pollinators ▪️Bespoke EU-UK customs Union ▪️Legalise gene editing |
▪️A veterinary/SPS agreement that supports the veterinary workforce while safeguarding animal health and welfare. ▪️Improvement of farmed fished welfare. ▪️Licensed genetic edits which must have a demonstrable positive health or welfare benefit for the animal, or a neutral impact on the animal itself, and a positive One Health benefit. ▪️Sustainable agriculture. |
|
|
▪️Improving farmed fish welfare and continued support for the sustainable aquaculture innovation centre ▪️Rural Renewal Bill: support new entrants into crofting, support tenant farmers ▪️Increasing support through the 4-tier framework for nature and climate friendly farming ▪️Support firm deer control incentives and national deer management |
▪️Improvement of farmed fished welfare. ▪️Sustainable agriculture. |
Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections we have created our manifesto for Scotland’s vets and animals where we highlight our main asks for Scotland’s political parties across 5 key categories, which are:
We encourage you to read this document, share it with your networks, and engage your local MSP on it. To help with this, we have created a template letter which you can download and tailor to your own circumstances and interests. We encourage you to write to your local MSP calling for support on the issues that are important to you.
If you're a BVA member living in Scotland, you’re automatically a member of BVA Scottish Branch. Here’s how you can get involved:
What issues matter to you? How can we do more to champion the profession in Scotland? How would you like us to engage with you? We want to hear from you! Tell us your views and any general feedback you may have to help us to continue to deliver for our members in Scotland via our new Scottish Branch comment box.
You can also email Scottish Branch President, Vivienne Mackinnon, and Regional Representative for Scotland, Alastair George direct via [email protected] or [email protected].
We regularly respond to Government and stakeholder consultations on a range of BVA’s priority policy areas and campaigning issues in Scotland and the UK. Check what consultations we’re responding to and feed in your thoughts via [email protected]
Each year we seek new members for our Scottish Branch Council, usually during the summer. You can find out about our vacancies online, if there are no current opportunities you can still express your interest by emailing [email protected].
Keep an eye out for your bi-annual e-news round up to stay up to date with BVA Scottish Branch activity and upcoming events.
Scottish Branch holds its AGM in May/June and all BVA members who live in Scotland are welcome to attend. Look out for our invitations in your inbox.
It’s not all about work! Keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to upcoming member mixers and CPD evenings.
Engaging with Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) through inviting them to practice is one way to highlight the important role that vets play in Scottish society. We've created a handy template for you to use, and encourage Scottish members to tailor this to your own circumstances when extending an invitation to your local MSP to visit your practice. This offers them a unique opportunity to see first-hand the work you do, how you and your teams operate to better understand the challenges and opportunities within the veterinary sector. If you would like further support engaging with your local MSP, please contact us.
Want more information about BVA Scottish Branch or to access meeting papers and consultation responses? Drop our Secretariat a line on [email protected] and they’ll be happy to help.
BVA Scottish Branch Council
BVA Scottish Branch Council meets four times a year to discuss veterinary policy issues and arrive at a consensus opinion to feed into BVA policy development.
The Scottish Branch Council meets three times a year to discuss safeguarding animal health and welfare and issues affecting the veterinary profession in Scotland
BVA Scottish Branch will hold an AGM on Thursday 4th June at 1pm at Saughton House, Broom House Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD. All BVA members in Scotland are welcome to join us to hear from their Branch representatives and to ask questions and raise issues. We will also be electing a new Junior Vice President for Scottish Branch. Please email [email protected] if you plan to attend.
BVA Scottish Branch is represented on the following stakeholder groups:
Scottish Companion Animal Welfare Group
Connect with other graduate vets in your local area, share your career experiences, and benefit from the knowledge and support of the wider young vet community through your local YVN group.
22 Apr 2026
21 Apr 2026
14 Apr 2026
LOGIN
