Swinney previously served as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2000 to 2004, when the party was in opposition. Yousaf announced his resignation as party leader and first minister on 29 April 2024, amid a government crisis. Swinney announced his leadership bid on 2 May, but faced potential leadership challenges from Kate Forbes and Graeme McCormick. Both candidates eventually decided not to stand and endorsed Swinney, who was therefore elected unopposed as the SNP party leader on 6 May.
On 2 May, Swinney launched his leadership bid, after Kate Forbes, who was a serious contender to become leader, declined to stand and endorsed him.[4]
Graeme McCormick announced he would challenge Swinney for the leadership, saying he had the 100 nominations on 5 May.[5] Just hours later, he withdrew and endorsed Swinney, becoming the presumptive nominee.[6]
On 6 May, with no other candidates put forward, Swinney was elected as party leader unopposed.[7]
Swinney's cabinet met for the first time on 10 May 2024, with the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish GovernmentJohn-Paul Marks and the Lord AdvocateDorothy Bain also attending the cabinet meeting. Speaking about the first meeting of his cabinet since becoming First Minister, Swinney said "today, my colleagues and I embark on a new chapter as we collectively work to build a better, brighter future for the people of Scotland. It is my greatest honour to lead us forward on that journey – one that will drive economic growth, tackle the climate crisis and eradicate the scourge of child poverty in our country once and for all".[11]
Swinney's first First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament as First Minister occurred on Thursday 9 May 2024, during which Swinney's record on education during his tenure as education secretary under former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was attacked by both Anas Sarwar (leader, Scottish Labour Party) and Douglas Ross (leader, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party). Ross asked if Swinney would "recommit to increasing teacher numbers by 3,500", whilst Sarwar asked Swinney if he "could save 450 Glasgow teachers whose jobs are under threat".[12] Swinney confirmed to the Scottish Parliament chamber that, as First Minister, he would work with local councils to "deliver on education".[13]
His decision to appoint Kate Forbes as the Deputy First Minister was criticised by Patrick Harvie, the co–leader of the Scottish Greens, who asked if the SNP was going back to "the repressive values of 1950s with the return of Kate Forbes to the cabinet". Swinney was dismissive of the claims made by Harvie and defended his decision on appointing Forbes as Deputy First Minister, claiming that Forbes "had delivered progressive taxation when she was finance secretary".[14]
Upon becoming First Minister, Swinney addressed issues within NHS Scotland, the country's national health service. He recognised that the NHS in Scotland is "operating under sustained pressure", further adding that " I am absolutely committed to working with health boards to improve standards – starting with our recent £30 million investment to drive down waiting times". Additionally, Swinney also pledged support to infrastructure projects across Scotland, stating that the Scottish Government "will also build on our investment and track record on major infrastructure projects. I'm pleased to also be able to visit one example of that record being the Levenmouth Rail Link, a line which will reconnect local communities for the first time in 50 years, and make a real contribution to the Government's net-zero transport ambitions. I pledge that I will stand with Scotland's businesses, large and small, and do whatever I can to help them to grow, innovate, and boost our economy for the benefit of those who live here".[15][excessivequote][non-primary source needed]
Swinney's early premiership was marked by the resolution of the Michael Matheson iPad scandal: the SNP MSP Michael Matheson had incurred a £11,000 bill after taking a Parliamentary iPad while on a family holiday, and had attempted to claim the bill back on expenses before admitting that the iPad had not been used for work purposes. Swinney refused to support the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's proposed sanction on Matheson, describing Matheson as a "friend and colleague" who had "made mistakes", and casting doubt on the integrity of the committee's process: describing the process as "prejudiced", Swinney claimed that Conservative MSP Annie Wells should have removed herself from the committee due to previous comments about Matheson's conduct. Swinney's support for Matheson was described as "incredible and indefensible" by the Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, and "unbelievable and embarrassing" by the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Swinney directed the SNP to abstain on the parliamentary vote on the committee's recommendations, after introducing an amendment re-iterating Swinney's complaints about the investigation into Matheson. The Scottish Parliament subsequently voted in support of the committee's proposed sanction, banning Matheson from the Scottish Parliament for 27 days and withholding his salary 54 days, the heaviest sanction ever awarded to an MSP.[16][17]
Housing crisis
In May 2024, Swinney declared a national housing crisis across Scotland following pressure in the Scottish Parliament from the Scottish Labour Party who brought forward a motion in the parliamentary chamber on the issue. Up until the declaration of a housing crisis, homelessness in Scotland had been rising significantly, with five local authorities including City of Edinburgh Council and City of Glasgow Council urging the Scottish Government to immediately intervene.[18] It was estimated that around 15,000 people in Scotland were reported to be living in temporary housing accommodation, including an estimated 10,000 children across the country.[19]
Swinney argued that "bringing back empty homes into use is key to tackling the newly declared housing emergency", further commenting that "the housing supply has to be developed and new investment has to be found to ensure more new homes are built".[20] The decision to declare a housing emergency by the Scottish Government was widely welcomed by homelinesses charities across Scotland.[21]
Programme for government
Swinney visits Capshard Primary School on the day he announced his programme for government, 22 May 2024
On 22 May 2024, Swinney outlined his programme for government as First Minister. In a speech to the Scottish Parliament, Swinney identified four priorities for Scotland including eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving public services. During his speech, Swinney highlighted "the economic and fiscal realities we face", but advocated that the priorities for the government will "guide my government's decisions on policy and budget", further claiming that "the four priorities around which I will work to secure cross-party support is for the good of the people of Scotland". Overall, Swinney argued that the programme for government's priorities are essential, stating that "eradicating child poverty, growing the economy and tackling the climate emergency all link together to support my fourth key priority – to improve Scotland's public services – not as a cost, but as a vital investment in our future health, equality and prosperity".[22] Subject to the Scottish Parliamentary timetable, the date for Programme for Government will be confirmed in due course.[23]
Swinney's Programme for Government was formally announced on 4 September 2024, aiming to deliver on eradicating child poverty, growing the Scottish economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving public services across Scotland. Swinney proposed that during 2024–2025, Scottish Parliament bills will be introduced in areas such as Adults with Incapacity, the Scottish Budget, Building Safety Levy, Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets), Community Wealth Building, Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews, Crofting, Leases (such as automatic continuation), Heat in Buildings, Misogyny, Natural Environment, Post-School Education Reform, Prisoners and Scotland's co–hosting of the UEFA Euro 2028 football tournament.[24]
Since 2007, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person in Scotland has risen by 11% compared to 6% in the rest of the United Kingdom, with Swinney advocating to build on this by spearheading a more inclusive economy by combating inequalities faced by women and minority groups, increasing investment and exports, promoting Scottish businesses and entrepreneurs, supporting business and encouraging more people into work. Swinney pledged to publish a Green Industrial Strategy to outline the Scottish Government's plans towards a more net zero based economy and to establish internationally competitive clusters. The Scottish Government recognises five internationally competitive clusters including onshore and offshore wind, carbon capture utilisation, storage, professional and financial services, together with hydrogen and clean industries.[25] Swinney announced plans as part of his programme for government to attract more investment to Scotland by creating jobs, supporting innovation and attracting additional investment through the Scottish National Investment Bank, implementing a programme to attract investment in net zero, housing and infrastructure, and a national project pipeline of investment in 2025.[26]
During a speech to the Edinburgh Futures Institute in October 2024, Swinney acknowledged the "significance of the moment we find ourselves in", claiming that the forthcoming UK Budget statement was "a make-or-break moment". Swinney stressed that the public finances were "a grave challenge" and something in which he had not seen before whilst serving in government, but advocated for an investment to grow the economy. During the speech, Swinney argued that investment in the economy "will allow us to move into an economic spring, with new growth, new opportunities, and new hope", whilst advocating for an all four nations approach towards being able to become "investing governments".[27]
Child poverty
Swinney announces extra funding for activity clubs to help families on low incomes with childcare, June 2024
One of the four priorities of government under Swinney is the eradication of child poverty in Scotland. On the same day he announced his government's priorities for government, Swinney pledged £16 million in invest in childcare across Scotland over the next two years. Scottish Government ministers have a statutory requirement to "cut the number of children living in households in relative poverty to below 10% by 2030", with an estimated 240,000 children (24%) living in relative poverty following the deduction of associated housing costs from 2020–2023.[28]
In June 2024, new measures were introduced by the Scottish Government to reduce child poverty figures. New measures include the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund (CPAF) providing "up to £80,000 per grant towards local projects that test and evaluate new approaches which target at least one of the three drivers of child poverty reduction". The three drivers involved in the reduction of child poverty include improving income from employment, supporting people with the cost of living, and increasing awareness and uptake of social security benefits.[29]
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in Swinney's government, said "Eradicating child poverty is a central mission for the Scottish Government and we must find new and innovative ways to achieve this". She further added that "the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund will support projects that target the root causes of child poverty and create lasting change in our communities".[30]
Climate change
Previously billed as the "most ambitious in the world", Scotland ditched its target to reduce climate emissions by 75% by 2030 in April 2024. The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero in Swinney's government said ministers were "steadfastly" committed to reaching net zero by 2045.[31]
Education and criminal justice
As part of his programme for government, Swinney pledged to "work with our local authority partners through the Verity House agreement across a range of policy areas". Through this collaboration, Swinney claims that the Scottish Government intends to continue the improvement of educational performance across Scotland, as well as the delivery of sustainable and affordable social care by reducing the number of delayed discharges across Scotland's hospitals. Additionally, Swinney claimed that his programme for government will "work with partners to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system to deliver better for victims".[32]
Swinney stated that the decision to hold the 2024 general election on 4 July, when many Scottish schools were on holiday, was "the latest act of disrespect" by the Conservatives towards Scotland. The SNP had previously planned to hold a second independence referendum on 19 October 2023, when many Scottish schools would have been on holiday.[33]
The SNP manifesto for the general election, launched by Swinney in Edinburgh on 19 June, included a "page one, line one" statement; "Vote SNP for Scotland to Become an Independent Country". The manifesto stated that the Scottish Government would be "empowered" to begin negotiations for a second independence referendum if the SNP won a majority of Scottish seats at the general election. Swinney said at the manifesto's launch; "If the SNP wins a majority of seats in this election in Scotland, the Scottish government will embark on negotiations with the UK government to run the democratic wishes of people in Scotland into a reality. The best way to secure independence is through a democratic referendum, the obstacle to that is the intransigence of the United Kingdom government. So what this election gives people the chance to do is to intensify the pressure to secure Scottish independence and to bring that about by voting SNP in order for us to achieve a majority of Westminster seats at this election."[34]
During the general election campaign, Scottish Parliament officials began an investigation into the SNP following a complaint that stamps bought on parliamentary expenses were passed to Westminster election candidates for campaigning activities. Parliamentary rules state that stationery and postage provided by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body "must be used only for parliamentary duties and must not be used for any other purpose, including party political purposes". It was reported that Swinney's office manager had told an SNP staff WhatsApp group chat that "stamp fairy is very useful when it comes to campaigns". Swinney stated that he had been "assured that no parliamentary stamps that have been provided by Parliament have been used to support election purposes", and added he was "confident" that there had been no use of any public money to support the SNP general election campaign.[35]
The SNP ultimately won nine seats in the 2024 election, a loss of 38 seats on its 2019 result, reducing it to the second-largest party in Scotland, behind Scottish Labour, and the fourth-largest party in Westminster. Swinney took full responsibility but said that he would not resign as leader. He said of the results, "There will have to be a lot of soul searching as a party as a consequence of these results that have come in tonight", and that the SNP has to be "better at governing on behalf of the people of Scotland", admitting the party was not "winning the argument" on Scottish independence.[36]
Net zero economy
Swinney introduced a focused strategy to "place Scotland at the forefront of the net zero economy with targeted actions to secure growth and investment". Delivered as part of Swinney's Programme for Government in September 2024, the Green Industrial Strategy sets out five priority areas relating to maximising Scotland’s wind economy, growing the hydrogen sector, developing the carbon capture, utilisation and storage sector, supporting green economy professional and financial services, and attracting clean energy intensive industries such as data centres.[37]
In the same month, the Grangemouth Refinery was earmarked for closure by current owners and operators Petroineos. In response, both the Scottish Government and the UK Government announced a joint plan to secure the industrial future of the plant, despite the plant losing more than $775 million since 2011 on the backdrop of more than $1.2 billion in investment in order to maintain the refinery’s operation. A £100 million support package was announced, including £20 million in joint funding from the Scottish Government and UK Government, with a further £80 million in joint funding from the Scottish Government and UK Government for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal.[38]
Death of Alex Salmond
Swinney signs the book of condolence in the Scottish Parliament to Alex Salmond, 15 October 2024
On 12 October 2024, Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland in which Swinney served in both the first and second Salmond governments as finance secretary, died in North Macedonia. On the day of his death, Salmond was highly critical of Swinney's attendance at the newly formed Council of Nations and Regions held in Edinburgh, having posted to X (formerly Twitter) that Swinney should have "politely declined the meeting with the words ‘Scotland is a country not a county".[39] Swinney lead the Scottish Government tributes towards Salmond following the announcement of his death, stating that Salmond "inspired a generation of people to support Scottish independence". Swinney signed the book of condolence in the Scottish Parliament as part of the tributes.[40]
On 22 October 2024, Swinney refused to confirm whether he would attend the memorial service for Alex Salmond, claiming that he would be "happy" to attend a memorial service but not confirming whether he would or not and would rather "judiciously follow" the wishes of Salmond's family. Swinney previous claimed in the months prior to Salmond's death that he felt "distant" from Salmond. When asked to clarify his position of attending the memorial event by Sky News, Swinney claimed he would "do whatever is appropriate as First Minister of Scotland and I will pay the appropriate tributes". He confirmed that he would lead the motion of condolence which was to be scheduled during a parliamentary sitting in the Scottish Parliament, further adding "if it’s appropriate for me to be at a memorial service I will do exactly that".[41]
Nicola Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond as first minister, and to whom Swinney had served as deputy first minister, had a public feud with Salmond in the years prior to his death and their relationship deteriorated. It was claimed that Sturgeon would not be invited to either a memorial service or Salmond's funeral, however, this was not confirmed by Swinney, the Scottish Government or Salmond's family.[42] Salmond's funeral was held on 29 October 2014, with both Swinney or Sturgeon not being in attendance. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government confirmed that Sturgeon and Swinney did not attend the funeral service at the request of Salmond's family, but said that the wishes of both the first minister and Scottish Government remained with Salmond's family on the day of his funeral.[43]
International relations
In June 2024, Swinney undertook his first official overseas visit as First Minister to Germany. During his visit, Swinney met with the European Affairs Minister, Eric Beisswenger, in Bavaria. During the visit, Eric Beisswenger said that it was a "great honour" to have Swinney visit Germany and Bavaria, further adding "Bavaria and Scotland have long maintained close bilateral contacts, which have been gradually expanded and formalised since the early 2000s. We are also united by self-confidence and a certain tendency towards independence".[44]
John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician who has served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since May 2024. He previously served as the leader of the SNP from 2000 to 2004 as Leader of the Opposition, and held various roles within the Scottish Cabinet from 2007 to 2023 under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Swinney was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North Tayside from 1999 to 2011 and, following boundary changes, has been MSP for Perthshire North since 2011. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001.
Fiona Jane Hyslop is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Transport since 2024. Hyslop has served in various offices under first ministers Salmond, Sturgeon, Yousaf and Swinney; as education secretary, culture secretary, and economy secretary as well as in junior ministerial roles. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Linlithgow constituency since 2011, having represented the Lothians region from 1999 to 2011.
Michael Stephen Matheson is a Scottish politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999, first representing the Central Scotland region and, since 2007, the Falkirk West constituency. Matheson previously served in the Scottish government as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care from 2023 to 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport from 2018 to 2023, and Cabinet Secretary for Justice from 2014 to 2018.
Shona McRory Robison is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government since 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she previously served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 2023 to 2024. Robison has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Dundee City East since 2003 and was an additional member for the North East Scotland region from 1999 to 2003.
The Deputy First Minister of Scotland is the second highest ranking minister of the Government of Scotland, behind the First Minister.
Keith James Brown is a Scottish politician serving as Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since 2018. He is a former Royal Marines commando and has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 2007, first representing the Ochil constituency from 2007 to 2011, then the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency since 2011. Brown previously served in the Scottish Cabinet, most recently as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans from 2021 to 2023.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, commonly referred to as the Health Secretary, is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the Health and Social Care Directorates and NHS Scotland.
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond was a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he was Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014. He then served as leader of the Alba Party from 2021 until his death.
Humza Haroon Yousaf is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as justice secretary from 2018 to 2021 and then as health secretary from 2021 to 2023. He has been Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Pollok since 2016, having previously been a regional MSP for Glasgow from 2011 to 2016.
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, commonly referred to as the Social Justice Secretary, is a position in the Scottish Government Cabinet. The Cabinet Secretary has overall responsibility for community planning, housing, social security, the third sector. The current Cabinet Secretary is Shirley-Anne Somerville since 2023.
The 2014 Scottish National Party leadership election was held to choose the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and First Minister of Scotland, following the resignation of Alex Salmond as first minister and leader. Nicola Sturgeon emerged as the only candidate and was elected unopposed as leader of the SNP.
The Minister for Employment and Investment, commonly referred to as the Employment Minister is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet. The incumbent reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.
Kate Elizabeth Forbes is a Scottish politician who has served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic since May 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy from 2020 to 2023. Forbes has been Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016.
Nicola Sturgeon formed the third Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 6th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of First Minister on 18 May 2021 and announced the formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government on 19 May.
The Bute House Agreement, officially the Cooperation Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group was a power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party (SNP) government and the Scottish Greens which was agreed in August 2021 to support the Third Sturgeon government and then was reaffirmed to support the First Yousaf government.
Humza Yousaf's term as first minister of Scotland began on 29 March 2023 when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session, and ended on 7 May 2024, when he resigned amid two votes of no confidence in him and his government.
Humza Yousaf formed the first Yousaf government on 29 March 2023 following his appointment as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. It followed the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on 15 February, triggering a leadership contest that Yousaf won.
The Michael Matheson iPad scandal, commonly known as iPadgate, emerged as a significant controversy in Scottish politics in late 2023. Michael Matheson, then serving as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care in the government of Humza Yousaf, was revealed to have incurred nearly £11,000 in roaming charges after taking a Scottish Parliament iPad on a family holiday to Morocco. Matheson initially attempted to claim the charges as a parliamentary expense, but later admitted that the iPad had been used by his sons to stream football matches, and agreed to personally pay back the full cost of the data roaming bill. Following an investigation by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, Matheson resigned as Health Secretary in February 2024. Matheson was subsequently banned from Holyrood for 27 days and had his salary withdrawn for 54 days, the heaviest sanction ever given to an MSP.
John Swinney formed the Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session.
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