Scottish Politician of the Year Awards, in pictures

The awards ceremony is back at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh on Thursday, November 23, with awards for 'one to watch', green champion, and of course politician of the year.  

But before then, let's look back on some of the most memorable moments from the Herald's Scottish Politician of the Year Awards over the years. 

'One to watch' 

Humza Yousaf wins One to Watch award in 2012 (Image: Gordon Terris)

Humza Yousaf wins the 'One to Watch' award during The Herald Scottish Politician Of The Year Awards 2012 at the Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh.

Last year's winner

Anas Sarwar at Herald Scottish Politician of the Year 2022 (Image: Gordon Terris)

Anas Sarwar was named the Herald's Scottish Politician of the Year at the awards in 2022, for reviving the electoral fortunes of Scottish Labour. 

A familiar face

Nicola Sturgeon wins at the 10th annual awards (Image: Gordon Terris)

Winner Nicola Sturgeon for the 10th annual Scottish Politician of the Year Awards in 2008, when she was Deputy First Minister. Ms Sturgeon has won the award five times.

Ruth Davidson

Politician of the Year Ruth Davidson (Image: Gordon Terris)

Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson won Scottish Politician of the Year in 2016. Now in the House of Lords, the former MSP also won the award in 2017. 

Former First Minister

First Minister Donald Dewar accepts his award (Image: Gordon Terris)

Former First Minister and Scottish Labour leader Donald Dewar accepts his award from Sheena MacDonald at the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards at the Royal Museum of Scotland in 1999.

Lifetime achievement

Menzies Campbell with Willie Rennie for his Lifetime Achievement award (Image: Gordon Terris)

Former Liberal Democrats leader Sir Menzies Campbell celebrates with Willie Rennie as he receives the lifetime achievement award in 2016. 

Chancellor Darling

Alistair Darling wins lifetime award (Image: Gordon Terris)

Former Chancellor under Gordon Brown and Labour MP Alistair Darling wins the Lifetime award at the Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards in 2014. 

Kezia Dugdale

Kezia Dugdale and Daniel Johnson at the awards in 2016 (Image: Gordon Terris)

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale (2015-2017) at the Politician of the Year Awards in 2016. The MSP won the 'one to watch' award in 2013 and 'debater of the year' in 2017. 

John Swinney

John Swinney at the 2009 Scottish Politician of the Year Awards (Image: Gordon Terris)

Now Deputy First Minister, John Swinney won Politician of the Year at the awards in 2009 when the SNP MSP was finance minister. 

Douglas Ross

Douglas Ross at the Herald Scottish Politician of The Year Awards (Image: Duncan McGlynn)

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross at the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards in 2022. The MSP and MP has been Tory leader since 2020 and leader of the opposition in Scotland since 2021. 

Two MSPs in a pod

Jim McGovern MSP and Stewart Hosie MSP (Image: Gordon Terris)

Jim McGovern MSP and Stewart Hosie MSP wins Politics in Business award during The Herald Scottish Politician Of The Year Awards in 2012.

Fergy attends

Sir Alex Ferguson presents Neil MacCormick with award (Image: Gordon Terris)

Sir Alex Ferguson presents Sir Neil MacCormick with his Scottish Euro MP of the year award in 2003. The legal philosophy professor was an SNP member of the European Parliament from 1999-2004.

Esteemed guests

Ian Rankin, Shirley Robertson, and George Wyllie at the awards (Image: Gordon Terris)

Author Ian Rankin, Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson and artist George Wyllie at the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards in 2008.

Former leaders

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie and Labour leader Wendy Alexander with Herald political editor Douglas Fraser (Image: Gordon Terris)

Scottish Tory leader from 2005-2011 Annabel Goldie and Labour leader 2007-2008 Wendy Alexander with Herald political editor Douglas Fraser at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards.

Two Greens and a Lib Dem

Ross Greer, Patrick Harvie and Alex Cole-Hamilton (Image: Gordon Terris)

MSPs Ross Greer (Scottish Greens), Patrick Harvie (Scottish Greens) and Alex Cole-Hamilton (Lib Dem) at the awards in 2016. Mr Harvie, who won 'one to watch' in 2004, is now Scottish Greens co-leader and minister for zero carbon.