Who is John Swinney, the new SNP leader?

John Swinney has become the SNP’s new leader after no other candidates challenged him for the position. 

The lifelong SNP supporter and former deputy first minister said he was “deeply honoured” to assume the role after Humza Yousaf stepped down last week. 

Swinney is highly anticipated to become Scotland’s next First Minister, but he’ll first need to get the backing of MSPs in an upcoming ballot. 

The vote could take place as early as Wednesday, meaning Swinney could actually step into the top position before the end of the week. 

It's the second time in 13 months that the SNP has elected a new leader. 

Reflecting on his new position in the SNP, Swinney vowed to unite the party and help Scotland move forward. 

“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 said, as he accepted his role as SNP leader. 

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

But who is John Swinney, the lifelong SNP member and staunch Nicola Sturgeon ally?

Edinburgh born and bed, Swinney, who celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this month, was elected MP for Tayside North during the 1997 New Labour landslide. He entered the Westminster parliament for just one term, before switching to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. 

By the time he was elected he was already a seasoned SNP veteran, having joined in 1979 aged just 15. He ran the party’s youth wing before climbing through the ranks in the national party, becoming its secretary at just 22.

He then went on to serve as then-leader Alex Salmond’s deputy between 1998 and 2000, with the two becoming close and trusted friends. 

This is not Swinney’s first foray into the leadership of the SNP for the former Tayside North MP,

In September 2000, Swinney took over as SNP leader following the first departure of Salmond.

However his leadership was widely criticised. The party’s fortunes sank, returning just five MPs at the 2001 Westminster election and 22 MSPs in the 2003 Holyrood vote.

After a poor showing at the 2004 European elections, it was clear Swinney’s time in the job was over. His party colleague Michael Russell invoked the metaphor of Conservative fixers in grey suits to warn that Swinney was facing a visit from "the men in grey kilts".

Swinney stood down but launched a furious attack on Mr Russell and other senior members of his party, blaming them for briefing against him and creating a "fog of media speculation" about his position.

He claimed they "should know better'" than to "import the grubby concepts from the Conservatives”, adding “our leader is democratically elected and, once democratically elected, should be supported by every single member of the party.”

But that was not the end of Swinney’s political story. He was brought back by Salmond to serve as finance secretary when the SNP took power in 2007.

He played a key role in shaping the SNP’s economic policies and growth initiatives, focusing on promoting sustainable economic development, supporting small businesses, and investing in infrastructure projects to stimulate growth and create jobs.

While serving under Salmond, Swinney remained a staunch advocate for Scottish independence. He was instrumental in the SNP’s campaign for independence, working closely with Salmond to build support for a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future.

Following the referendum defeat, Salmond resigned as first minister and SNP leader in September 2014. His decision came amid calls for new leadership within the party following the referendum outcome. 

When Nicola Sturgeon took over the party, she appointed Swinney as deputy first minister. 

Over the following nine years, the Perthshire North MSP served in some big ministerial roles, including education secretary, Covid-19 recovery secretary and again in finance – taking over from Kate Forbes during her maternity leave.

His time in office was not all smooth sailing, though. While education secretary, he was criticised for falling standards in science and mathematics facing two votes of no confidence while in the role, in 2020 and 2021.

Just two months after that second vote he switched roles and headed the Scottish government's response to Covid, while remaining Sturgeon's deputy.

During his time as Sturgeon’s deputy, he cemented his reputation as a dogged defender of his boss, as well as an SNP stalwart.

When Sturgeon announced her sudden resignation last February, Swinney joined her, leaving government and the SNP frontbench after 16 years to spend more time with his wife and son.

Sturgeon lauded Swinney for his time in office, saying she could not have wished for a “better partner in government”.