Ex-Nicola Sturgeon deputy John Swinney announces SNP leadership bid

2 weeks ago 33

The former deputy first minister has thrown his hat into the ring to be Humza Yousaf's successor.

By Katie Harris, Political Reporter

10:34, Thu, May 2, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:34, Thu, May 2, 2024

John Swinney has announced he is launching an SNP leadership bid.

Mr Swinney, who served as Nicola Sturgeon's deputy, has received backing from senior nationalists following First Minister Humza Yousaf's announcement that he will step down.

The Perthshire North MSP made a statement in Edinburgh after a tumultuous week in Scottish politics.

It is not yet known whether former finance secretary Kate Forbes will also enter the leadership contest.

It emerged that she and Mr Swinney held private talks on Tuesday, but it is not known whether any agreement was reached.

Mr Swinney has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament's inception in 1999, serving North Tayside, and previously representing the same constituency at Westminster in 1997.

He previously led his party in Holyrood between 2000 and 2004 during the SNP's time on the opposition benches.

Mr Swinney has held a raft of cabinet positions, including education and finance, and resigned at the same time as Ms Sturgeon last year.

He ruled himself out of the 2023 leadership race, in which Ms Forbes ran, stating he had to put his young family first.

Senior party members, including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray and Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, have already said they would support Mr Swinney if he decides to stand for election.

Speaking to journalists in Holyrood this week, Ms Forbes said she was still considering her position and "weighing up" her options.

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP narrowly lost to Mr Yousaf in the SNP leadership election last year.

Several senior party members have backed her, including those regularly at odds with the SNP leadership such as Joanna Cherry and Fergus Ewing.

It comes after a chaotic week in Scottish politics with the collapse of a powersharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens collapsing.

The implosion of the agreement sparked a chain of events which led to Mr Yousaf quitting.

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