Scottish politics has felt like a broken record for the better part of a decade. We’ve spent years caught in a constitutional tug-of-war, with the independence question looming over every budget, every policy debate, and every election cycle. It’s been exhausting. It’s been repetitive. And, according to Joe Fagan, one of the most prominent new voices in Scottish Labour, the era of treating it as the only thing that matters is effectively over.
If you’ve been paying attention to the fallout from the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, you know the feeling. The SNP remains in government, but the shine has dulled. They’ve held power for nearly two decades, yet the core promise of their platform—another independence referendum—is hitting a wall. It’s not just a political hurdle; it’s a legal reality solidified by the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that such matters are simply outside the Scottish Parliament’s remit.
Moving past the Sturgeon era
When people talk about the "Sturgeon era," they’re referencing a specific style of politics that prioritized the constitutional question above almost everything else. It was a strategy built on high-stakes mobilization. For years, it worked. But the political climate has shifted since she left office.
Joe Fagan, who was elected as an MSP for South Scotland in May 2026, is signaling a clean break from that mindset. His recent comments regarding the leadership of Scottish Labour highlight a desire to pivot toward issues that actually affect people’s daily lives: public finance, infrastructure, and health inequalities.
He’s not just talking about winning an internal party contest. He’s addressing a fatigue that’s set in across the country. Voters are tired of the "Groundhog Day" politics where every issue is filtered through the lens of unionism versus nationalism.
The numbers game
Let’s look at the reality of the situation. Support for independence has hovered stubbornly around the 50-50 mark for years. Neither side has been able to bridge that gap. While the SNP and the Scottish Greens managed to secure a majority in the Scottish Parliament in 2026, their mandate for a second referendum remains stifled by the lack of a Section 30 order and the clear stance of the UK government.
Even within the broader political spectrum, the opposition parties—Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats—have stood firm against a second vote. You don’t have to look hard to see why. The public is hungry for solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, the state of the NHS, and the slow pace of economic recovery.
Why this shift matters
What Fagan and others in the new intake of MSPs understand is that the obsession with the "next referendum" has become a bottleneck. When you spend all your energy on constitutional mechanics, you lose the ability to govern on the bread-and-butter issues that voters care about most.
During his time as Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Fagan focused on tangible results—revitalizing town centres, negotiating better pay for the home care workforce, and securing infrastructure upgrades. That’s the kind of practical, results-oriented governing that people are actually asking for.
Taking the next steps
If you’re looking for clarity on where Scottish politics is headed, stop waiting for a constitutional breakthrough. It isn't coming anytime soon. Instead, keep an eye on how these new leaders approach the fiscal challenges facing local councils and the public sector.
The era of "referendum-first" is fading because it’s no longer delivering for the average Scot. Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool nationalist or a staunch unionist, you’re likely feeling the drain of this constant cycle. It’s time to move toward a politics that prioritizes the delivery of services over the delivery of slogans.
If you want to understand how the current government handles its business, check the official Scottish Parliament motions to see what’s actually being debated on the floor. For a broader look at the constitutional arguments, the Institute for Government provides a neutral, fact-based breakdown of the legal and political landscape.
Politics shouldn't be about waiting for the next big fight. It should be about making things work today. The conversation is changing, and it’s about time.
Joe Fagan's policy work and background
This video provides additional context on the long-standing tensions and political maneuvering that have characterized the Scottish independence debate: Sturgeon's independence strategy discussion
This video is relevant because it captures the intensity of the arguments that defined the previous political era, helping to illustrate why leaders like Fagan are now pushing for a shift in focus.
