Our Parkinson's manifesto for 2026 Scottish Parliament election

There are just over 6 months until the next Scottish Parliament election, and campaigning will be fully underway soon.

We want to make sure all political parties understand right now what people with Parkinson’s and their care partners need. 

That’s why we’ve published Your Move, our Parkinson’s manifesto for the 2026 election. 

It sets out how the next Scottish government can improve health and care, maintain financial support, increase access to physical activity and boost clinical research opportunities.

We’ve built the manifesto by working with members of the Parkinson's community so their voices are heard before people cast their votes on Thursday 7 May 2026.

What we’re calling for

Here’s what we’re saying people living with Parkinson’s in Scotland need:

• access to specialist, multidisciplinary Parkinson’s care
• faster roll-out of innovative treatments, so new drugs reach the people who need them
• protection for Adult Disability Payment so that people with Parkinson’s can live with dignity
• the right to self-administer Parkinson’s medications safely in all Scottish hospitals
• clinical research opportunities across Scotland
• local physical activity provision
• closure of the evidence gap on Parkinson’s-related dementia
• short breaks for people with complex conditions and those who support them
• condition-specific support and a "Diagnosis Connect" model for Scotland.

Read the recommendations in full in our manifesto (PDF, 5.8MB).

These actions could be life-changing for people with Parkinson’s. The next Scottish government can make it happen. 

Why does it matter?

Parkinson’s is on the rise. 

Around 14,000 people in Scotland have the condition. Every day, about 7 new people in Scotland are told they have Parkinson’s, changing their lives and the lives of those close to them.

Scotland is also in a diagnosis crisis. Our new study shows the diagnosis rate dropped during the pandemic and still hasn’t recovered. We think that up to 2,800 people are living with Parkinson’s, unaware and unsupported, in Scotland.

Read more about the findings of our new study on Parkinson's in the UK.

Tanith Muller, Parliamentary and Campaigns Manager, said:

"Election outcomes are hard to predict, and we are expecting lots of change in the next Scottish Parliament. 

"That’s why it’s important that we set out, right now, what people with Parkinson’s and their care partners need.

"We’ll be campaigning up to election day to make sure the voices of people living with Parkinson’s are heard. Then it’s up to MSPs to make their move."

How you can get involved

We’ll be campaigning on our manifesto asks in the months to come. We want to make sure that whoever wins at the polls, people with Parkinson’s don’t lose out. 

If you would like to find out more or be part of our campaign work in the run up to the Scottish Parliament election, please email us at [email protected].