New SNP Leader John Swinney on Course to be Scotland’s First Minister

John Swinney - who has been elected unopposed as the new leader of the SNP - making a speech at Glasgow University in Glasgow, Scotland on May 6, 2024. PA Wire

John Swinney has become the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and is set to become Scotland’s First Minister, succeeding Humza Yousaf who resigned after falling out with the Greens.

In his first speech as leader Mr. Swinney, condemned the “polarisation” of Scottish politics and said he would listen to factions within the party and seek “compromises” with other parties.

Mr. Swinney, 60, led the party between 2000 and 2004 but the SNP’s electoral success came under his successors Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms. Sturgeon resigned last year and was replaced by Mr. Yousaf but he was forced out last week after he terminated the Bute House power-sharing agreement with the Greens after disagreeing on climate policy and gender identity issues.

After Scotland’s finance secretary, Kate Forbes, decided against challenging Mr Swinney, he was elected as leader of the SNP unopposed.

Because the party dominates the Scottish Parliament he is all set to become the country’s next first minister.

On Monday, Mr. Swinney gave a speech at Glasgow University in which he said: “The polarisation of politics does not serve our country well. We should be seeking solutions to problems.”

‘We Need to Stop Shouting at Each Other’

“I will reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well. We need to stop shouting at each other and talk. More than that, actually, we need to listen. As first minister, I will do exactly that,” he added.

It is not clear if he was indicating plans to resume or renegotiate the Bute House agreement with the Greens.

Mr. Swinney said: “If elected first minister, my focus will be the economy, jobs, the cost of living. It will be the NHS, our schools and our public services. It will be addressing the climate crisis.”

He urged the SNP not to, “let our disagreements dominate” and told the audience, “Join me as we open a new chapter. That’s my job, that’s our job, and I plan to get the job done.”

Mr. Swinney accepted there would be “controversy” in the fact that he had been elected unopposed but he said it was perhaps a sign of the SNP, “coming back together again.”

He promised to create an “inclusive and unified team,” which is expected to mean there will be posts for Ms. Forbes and possibly even Mr. Yousaf.

Tories Trash ‘Ultimate Continuity Candidate’

Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, described Mr. Swinney as, “the ultimate continuity candidate.”

He said, “John Swinney was joined at the hip with the disgraced Nicola Sturgeon and his fingerprints are all over her numerous policy failures and cover-ups.”

John Swinney (R) talks to Nicola Sturgeon (L) during First Minister's questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh on Jan. 11, 2024. PA Wire

“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,” he added.

Earlier he posted a message on social media platform X saying: “I am 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.”

Later this week Mr. Swinney will now face a vote at Holyrood and if he wins he would be confirmed as Scotland’s seventh first minister.

The first three—Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell—represented the Labour Party and the other four—Mr. Salmond, Ms. Sturgeon, Mr. Yousaf and potentially Mr. Swinney—were from the SNP.

Mr. Yousaf stepped down as SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister last week after pulling out of the Bute House agreement and then facing two votes of no confidence from both Labour and the Tories.

At the start of his speech on Monday, Mr. Swinney praised Mr. Yousaf’ and said, “In particular, his moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in these very dark times.”

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf answers questions during First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on March 28, 2024. Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

Mr. Yousaf in turn congratulated Mr. Swinney.

Writing on X, Mr. Yousaf went on to say: “John’s central message has been one of unity. As a party, we must heed his call, whatever has happened in the past should remain there. Let’s get behind John and his team so they can deliver for Scotland.”

But Labour’s leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, said: “At a time when Scotland is crying out for change, the SNP is offering more of the same. John Swinney has been at the heart of this incompetent government for 17 years and at the heart of the SNP for 40 years.”

“From presiding over the exam results scandal as education secretary to destroying public finances as finance secretary, John Swinney’s record is one of failure,” he added.

The latest opinion polls suggest Labour and the SNP are neck and neck with a general election due later this year and it is predicted Labour could gain back a number of seats it lost to the SNP between 2015 and 2019.

The next elections to the Scottish parliament are not until 2026.

PA Media contributed to this report.