John Swinney, veteran of Scottish politics, was appointed on Monday May 6 as the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), following the resignation last week of Humza Yousaf. He should also succeed him as Prime Minister, following the vote in the Scottish Parliament.
“I am deeply honored to have been appointed leader of the SNP. I will give everything to serve my party and my country,” John Swinney said on X, after his nomination was announced. “John’s central message is one of unity. As a party, we must heed his call,” responded Humza Yousaf, welcoming the appointment of his successor on X.
Just over a year after succeeding the charismatic Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf, 39, was forced out last week after ending his government coalition with the Greens.
In announcing his candidacy, John Swinney said he wanted to restore the unity of the SNP and Scotland, at a time when the independence fight seems to have reached an impasse and the party, under the influence of a police investigation into its finances , sees its popularity decline. At 60, this pillar of the SNP, ally of former Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was the only candidate to have put himself forward to succeed Mr Yousaf.
A hope of restoration for the SNP
To become Prime Minister, he must still be elected by Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament, where the SNP, with 63 seats out of 129, is far ahead of the various opposition parties, but does not have an absolute majority. A vote could take place “later this week”, according to British media, and Mr Swinney could benefit from the support of the Greens, who defend stability at the head of the Scottish government.
The Scottish Parliament is responsible for many areas including health and education, while foreign affairs and defense fall to London.
John Swinney had been Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy prime minister from 2014 to 2023 and left this post when the latter’s surprise resignation.
He previously led the SNP between 2000 and 2004, when the party was in opposition. The party is undermined by the ongoing investigation into its finances, in which the party’s former chief executive, and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell, is charged with embezzlement.
The new leader’s main challenge will also be to limit the rise of the Labor Party in Scotland, in view of the legislative elections to come this year and aimed at renewing the British Parliament.
