{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox political party | name = Sovereignty | logo = File:Sovereignty Scotland logo.svg | native_name = | colorcode = {{party color|Restore Scotland}} | leader = Brian Nugent | ideology = Scottish independence <br> Hard Euroscepticism | colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}|border=darkgray}} Saltire blue | headquarters = Schoolhouse<br>Hamnavoe<br>Burra<br>ZE2 9LA | national = Alliance to Liberate Scotland (since 2025) | registered = PP12666 | foundation = {{Start date|2020|8|14|df=yes}} | website = {{URL|https://sovereignty.scot/}} | country = Scotland }}
'''Sovereignty''', previously known as '''Restore Scotland''', is a political party in Scotland, founded on 14 August 2020. The party stands for full independence for Scotland from both the United Kingdom and the European Union.
==History== The party was launched fifty days before the 2021 Scottish Parliament election where it was announced that the party is planning to contest both constituency and regional seats. According to the National, interim Party Leader David McHutchon has been critical of the "Scottish National Party's pro-Brussels stance and the Scottish Government’s new hate crime legislation",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paterson |first1=Kirsteen |title=Holyrood election: New pro-independence party Restore Scotland launches |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19165228.holyrood-election-new-pro-independence-party-restore-scotland-launched/ |date=17 March 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=The National}}</ref> while Deputy Leader Don Morrison had been a member of the SNP for 54 years, but said that he had become "increasingly exasperated by the party’s insistence on re-joining the European Union", according to ''The Scotsman''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marlborough |date=17 March 2021 |first1=Conor |title=Restore Scotland: New pro-Brexit Scottish independence party launches Holyrood campaign with attack on SNP record |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/restore-scotland-new-pro-brexit-scottish-independence-party-launches-holyrood-campaign-with-attack-on-snp-record-3168756 |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=The Scotsman}}</ref> Kevin McKenna highlighted the benefits for the Yes Movement of the party's formation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McKenna |first1=Kevin |title=New pro-indy party may not be a bad thing for Yes movement |date=17 March 2021 |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19165191.kevin-mckenna-new-pro-indy-party-may-not-bad-thing-yes-movement/ |access-date=2 April 2021 |work=The National}}</ref>
In the 2021 elections, Restore Scotland contested four constituency seats—Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Dundee City West, Inverness and Nairn, and Shetland—and two regions, North East Scotland<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Parliamentary election – regional contest North East Scotland Region Statement of persons and parties nominated and Notice of Poll |url=https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/26123/notice-of-poll-north-east-scotland-region-2021.pdf |website=Aberdeenshire Council |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> and Highlands and Islands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 H&I Regional - SP Notice of Poll |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/23513/handi_regional_-_sp_notice_of_poll |website=The Highland Council |access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref>
On 3 August 2021, ''The Herald'' announced that Jim Fairlie, former Depute Leader of the SNP had joined the party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Politics: Joanna Cherry’s shaming of the SNP's leaders was reasonable and right |date=3 August 2021 |last=McKenna |first=Kevin |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19483761.politics-joanna-cherrys-shaming-snps-leaders-reasonable-right |website=The Herald |access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref> Sovereignty joined the Liberate Scotland group for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrheadboy |date=2025-05-16 |title=Sovereignty Joins Liberate Scotland to Contest 2026 Scottish Parliament Election |url=https://www.barrheadboy.com/sovereignty-joins-liberate-scotland-to-contest-2026-scottish-parliament-election/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=BarrheadBoy |language=en-GB}}</ref> Brian Nugent, the former chair of Yes Shetland, became the new leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 January 2026 |title=Nugent enters race to become Shetland's next MSP |last=Marter |first=Hans J. |url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/01/02/nugent-enters-race-become-shetlands/ |access-date=11 January 2026 |website=Shetland News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Nugent stood in Shetland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title=Sovereignty party leader becomes fifth candidate to stand for Shetland in Scottish parliament elections |url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/news/sovereignty-party-leader-becomes-fifth-candidate-to-stand-fo-423322/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Shetland Times |language=en}}</ref> He previously stood for the party in the 2022 Shetland Islands Council election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=John |date=2022-04-01 |title=IN FULL: Here are the 36 people battling to become Shetland councillors on May 5 |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/4121255/here-are-the-36-people-battling-to-become-shetland-councillors-on-may-5/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref> Laurie Moffat, a former rugby captain stood for the constituency of Cowdenbeath.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-27 |title=Ex-rugby captain to contest Cowdenbeath seat in Scottish Parliament elections |url=https://www.centralfifetimes.com/news/25340777.new-fife-candidate-enters-race-scottish-parliament/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Central Fife Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=Rugby player to stand for Sovereignty and Liberate Scotland in Cowdenbeath |url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/politics/rugby-player-to-stand-for-sovereignty-and-liberate-scotland-in-cowdenbeath-5239535 |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Fife Today |language=en}}</ref>
In the 2026 Scottish Parliament election Sovereignty won no seats but came in 7th place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-09 |title=SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgp5ryv4qno |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Leaders == * David McHutchon (2020–2025) * Brian Nugent (2025–present)
==Electoral performance== === Scottish Parliament === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |- ! rowspan=2|Election ! rowspan=2| Political party ! colspan="3" | Constituency ! colspan="3" | Regional ! rowspan=2| Total seats ! rowspan=2| +/– ! rowspan=2| Government |- ! Vote ! % ! Seats ! Vote ! % ! Seats |- ! align="center"|2021 | align="center"|Restore Scotland | align="center"|1,192 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2021-election-results|title=2021 Election Results|website=www.parliament.scot}}</ref> | align="center"| 0.04% | {{Composition bar|0|73|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} | align="center"|1149 | align="center"|0.04% <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emb.scot/news/article/22/full-votes-and-seats-by-party-etc-spe21?newsID=22|title=Full votes and seats by party etc - SPE21|first=Chris|last=Highcock|website=Electoral Management Board for Scotland}}</ref> | {{Composition bar|0|56|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} | {{Composition bar|0|129|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} | bgcolor="lightgrey"|New | {{n/a}} |- ! align="center" |2026 | align="center" |Sovereignty | align="center" |4,768 | align="center" |0.21 |{{Composition bar|0|73|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} | align="center" |19,318 | align="center" |0.85% |{{Composition bar|0|56|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} |{{Composition bar|0|129|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} |7th | {{n/a}} |}
=== Local government === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |- ! rowspan="2" |Election ! rowspan="2" | Political party ! colspan="3" | Constituency |- ! Vote ! % ! Seats |- ! align="center" |2022 | align="center" |Restore Scotland | align="center" |26 | align="center" | 0.4 | {{Composition bar|0|23|{{party color|Restore Scotland}}}} |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{Political parties in Scotland}} {{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}}
Category:2020 establishments in Scotland Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom Category:Political parties established in 2020 Category:Politics of Scotland Category:Scottish independence Category:Scottish nationalist parties