John Swinney confirmed as new leader of the SNP after trouble-making rival backs down

John Swinney announces his SNP leadership bid

John Swinney has been elected unopposed as the new leader of the SNP, and is likely to be sworn in as First Minister in the coming days.

At midday, the SNP confirmed Mr Swinney was the only nomination as party leader thereby electing him unopposed to the top job.

Mr Swinney will now face a vote at Holyrood later this week, where it is likely he will become the Scottish Parliament’s nominated candidate to be the country’s seventh first minister.

It comes just a week after Mr Yousaf announced he was stepping down as both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, after his decision to tear up his party’s powersharing deal with the Greens at Holyrood left him facing a vote of confidence.

Mr Swinney and his allies spent yesterday fearing that a trouble-making rival could stand and force a costly leadership election, sparking weeks of uncertainty for Scotland and the SNP.

Graeme McCormick, party activist who stood to become SNP president in 2023, claimed he would gather the 100 signatures needed from 20 different party branches to mount a challenge for the leadership.

His team said it would be undemocratic to have a coronation without a contest, however he decided not to run, paving the way for Mr Swinney to enter Bute House.

In a brief statement, Mr Swinney said he is "deeply honoured to have been elected as Leader of the SNP".

"I will give all that I have to serve my Party and my Country."

However the Scottish Tories mocked the SNP for recycling leaders, with leader Douglas Ross congratulating Mr Swinney "on becoming SNP leader for a second time".

Mr Ross added: "We urge him to govern for all of Scotland by abandoning his relentless push for independence – but, judging by his leadership launch slogan, that looks a forlorn hope".

“The stitch-up the SNP have engineered to ensure John Swinney’s coronation highlights the mess they’re in. Is a failed former leader from two decades ago – who, as education secretary, sent Scotland plummeting down international league tables – really the best they have to offer?

“With John Swinney at the helm, the SNP will double down on their independence obsession – the one issue they agree on – and ignore the real priorities of the Scottish people, such as fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy."

John Swinney was leader of the SNP from 2000-2004, replacing Alex Salmond - who intern replaced Mr Swinney as SNP leader.

He also served as Deputy First Minister for the entire nine years of Nicola Sturgeon leadership.

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