The key challenges the next Scottish government will face

In just a few weeks' time, voters will go to the polls to cast their ballot in the 2026 Scottish parliament election.

After almost two decades in power, the SNP remain the party to beat. Ahead of the election on 7 May, we took to the streets of Clackmannanshire to ask voters what key challenges they want the next Scottish government to prioritise.

The local authority area - known as the Wee County - often reflects the opinion of Scotland as a whole. Indeed, the late former first minister Alex Salmond once told Sky News that he began to write his concession speech during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 after Clacks was the first to declare, and it was a resounding "no".

Here are some of the top issues voters want to see tackled. Alleviating the cost of living crisis The UK barely emerged from the COVID pandemic before it plunged into a cost-of-living crisis.

Years on, the situation is yet to improve for households across the country. All those we spoke to highlighted their financial woes - from having to spend more on food and general bills, to watching their energy costs soar.

Jackie Conroy and Karen McInroy, who work at Coalsnaughton Post Office and Premier store, said they had noticed a change since the pandemic. Ms McInroy said: "Everything is getting dearer and dearer and dearer.

"Even when your wages go up, they're not going up enough to cover everything else. Something needs to be done about that." Many spoke of their concern over the negative effects of the Ukraine-Russia and US/Israel-Iran conflicts.

Ms McInroy said the recent warring in the Middle East had cost her extra at the petrol pump, with further fears a potential fuel shortage could affect her ability to travel to work. Married couple Liz and Grant Gillespie also agreed there has been a "build-up" since COVID, with careful consideration now given in regard to eating out for dinner, cinema trips and the like.

Mr Gillespie added: "Everything is getting tighter and tighter. Some people can't afford these things anymore." Turning the NHS around Scotland's NHS continues to struggle with A&E delays and long waiting times for routine operations.

The rollout of GP walk-in clinics has begun, with 16 planned centres across the country as part of an investment in primary care. Campaigner Linda McLeod knows all too well how important the health service is.

She suffers from emphysema - an irreversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - and would like to see additional funds funnelled into tackling debilitating lung conditions. Mrs McLeod said: "I think lung conditions are massively under-represented and under-invested.

"Lung disease kills tens of thousands of people every year. "Whoever forms the next Scottish government needs to invest in and focus on early diagnosis, treatment, care and self-management." Mrs McLeod chairs support group Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire - a registered charity affiliated to Asthma + Lung UK - and would like to see a tobacco-free Scotland.

She said: "I'm concerned about the usage of vapes and the significant risk to lung health. "I struggle every day with my emphysema but hope to once again be a part of the next government's cross-party group on lung health.

"I do believe that everything that can be done, should be done to protect the lung health of future generations." Other voters said they would like to see more money invested into retaining and attracting health workers, with some also calling for additional cash to boost mental health support. And while immigration is a reserved matter for Westminster, a number of those we spoke to said it was an important issue for the Holyrood election and should not be ignored.

One woman, who did not wish to be named given the contentious debate, said: "People with legitimate concerns are being called racist and brushed aside. "I think people who come into this country and haven't contributed to it shouldn't be getting free National Health Service." Tackling Scotland's drug deaths 'shame' Drug misuse continues to blight Scotland's neighbourhoods.

Official data released last year showed there were 1,017 drug-related deaths in 2024, down 155 (13%) from 2023. National Records of Scotland (NRS) said while it was the lowest annual number since 2017, the nation remains the drug death capital of Europe.

Voter Peter Fisher said: "It's Scotland's shame, it's embarrassing. It's a national emergency.

"But the shame isn't on the addicts - anyone could become an addict. It's the government that needs to do more to help people." Mr Fisher would like to see increased investment in treatment centres and additional support for those who need it most.

Last month, separate statistics published by the Scottish government reported that suspected drug-related deaths had risen by 8% from 1,065 in 2024 to 1,146 in 2025. The highest number of deaths - 243 - were recorded in Police Scotland's Greater Glasgow division.

When the official stats are released later this year, all eyes will be on that Glasgow number given the city is now home to the UK's first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF). The Thistle opened in January 2025 and allows users to be able to consume drugs, including injecting heroin, under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment.

Up to March 2026, the service has been accessed 15,158 times by 671 people (525 men and 146 women). A total of 10,498 injections have taken place at the facility, with staff able to treat 137 medical emergencies.

The pilot service is being backed by up to £2.3m of Holyrood funding a year in a bid to offset wider public costs, but it is not to be seen as a "silver bullet" to tackle the crisis. Meanwhile, a consultation is ongoing in Edinburgh amid plans to open a SDCF in the Scottish capital.

While work will continue to widen access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone, a new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan (2026-2035) will aim to prevent harm and promote recovery over the next decade. Douglas Ross' Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill - which would have enshrined in law the right to treatment for people with drug addiction - was voted down at Holyrood last year.

It came after the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee raised a number of concerns - including the cost of the proposal; its potential to put further pressure on over-stretched resources; and fears of a rise in litigation if health services were unable to meet the legal rights on time. Mr Fisher said: "I think the consumption room will work.

And if it does, they should open more. "But if it doesn't, then they'll need to come up with another plan as that [situation] can't continue." Stop treating taxpayers' cash like 'Monopoly money' Voters appear to have had enough of politicians and public bodies treating taxpayers' cash like "Monopoly money".

Some of those we spoke to voiced their condemnation of ministerial cars being misused, with Alex McEwan adding that government agencies should "rein in their spending". The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), which regulates Scottish Water, was one such body that was previously quizzed over its purchases - which included spending £77,350 to send a senior executive to Harvard University in the US and a further £2,600 to provide every staff member with a £100 gift card for Christmas.

Ms McEwan said: "It actually infuriates me when I see MSPs, who get paid like £75,000 a year, charge taxpayers for things like toilet rolls or meals. "They treat it like Monopoly money.

I pay my taxes to support public services, not buy an MSP a lunchtime juice when they're on double my wage." But for many, the biggest scandal of the last parliamentary term was Michael Matheson's £11,000 iPad data roaming bill. The outgoing Falkirk West MSP, who is not standing in the upcoming election, initially billed taxpayers but later U-turned after questions were raised over the eye-watering sum.

Mr Matheson had claimed the device had only been used for parliamentary work during a family holiday to Morocco, but it later emerged his teenage sons had been using it as a hotspot to stream football while on the trip. Mr Matheson stepped down as health secretary and was later suspended from the Scottish parliament and docked wages for breaching the MSP code of conduct.

Voter Ryan Martin said: "If they step out of line, they shouldn't be protected by their party. They should be out on their ear.

"I don't ever want to see a situation like the Michael Matheson one ever again." Read more:Party 'hotshots' hoping to become an MSP for the first time Other ongoing issues that will roll into the next parliament: • Scottish independence The campaign for Scottish independence has not stopped following the result of the 2014 referendum. Although indyref was touted as a "once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path.