John Swinney
First Minister of Scotland since 2024
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John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician who has served as first minister of Scotland since 2024. Swinney has served as Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on two occasions, since 2024 and between 2000 and 2004. He has 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.
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![Swinney targets eradicating child poverty in Scotland [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20250115/1398849106-Swinney-targets-eradicating-child-poverty-in-Scotland.jpg) Swinney targets eradicating child poverty in Scotland Credit: ODN Duration: 02:11Published | |
![UK’s first drug consumption room to open in Glasgow [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20250110/1398387938-UK-first-drug-consumption-room-to-open.jpg) UK’s first drug consumption room to open in Glasgow Credit: ODN Duration: 03:08Published | |
![John Swinney visits UK's first drug consumption room [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20250110/1398380222-John-Swinney-visits-UK-first-drug-consumption.jpg) John Swinney visits UK's first drug consumption room Credit: ODN Duration: 01:35Published | |
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Ministers to consider call for standalone non-fatal strangulation law John Swinney has said the Scottish government will give "serious consideration" for non-fatal strangulation to be made a standalone offence.Sky News - Published | |
SNP Westminster leader aims to become MSP at next Holyrood election SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has announced he intends to stand at the 2026 Holyrood election - but has brushed off speculation it's a move to take over from John Swinney.Sky News - Published | |
Scottish independence admission would have sent chills down the spines of SNP's hardcore campaigners Ten years on from the referendum, this appearance from John Swinney in Edinburgh was the most candid from any SNP leader in the past decade. Sky News - Published | |
Swinney on indyref 10 years on: 'Scotland closer to independence now than in 2014' First Minister John Swinney believes Scotland is closer to independence than it was in 2014.Sky News - Published | |
SNP leader says 'soul searching' needed as Labour win big in ScotlandSNP leader John Swinney has said his party will do some "soul searching" as its support collapsed and Labour made large gains in Scotland.Sky News - Published | |
Labour and SNP leaders say they'd offer to buy baby formula if they saw parent stealing itLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Scottish First Minister John Swinney have both said they would offer to pay if they saw a struggling parent stealing baby formula milk.Sky News - Published | |
SNP faces triple whammy of crises and its central goal of independence is at serious riskJohn Swinney has now been on the campaign trail for most of his short time as Scotland's first minister, which began just six weeks ago.Sky News - Published | |
Nicola Sturgeon 'welcome' on campaign trail, says SNP leader John SwinneyJohn Swinney says Nicola Sturgeon is "welcome" on the general election campaign trail after she said she would support SNP candidates from "time to time" where necessary.Sky News - Published | |
New first minister axes cabinet independence roleJohn Swinney has axed the post of minister for independence from his cabinet team.Sky News - Published | |
Scotland's new deputy first minister announcedKate Forbes has been appointed deputy first minister of Scotland as John Swinney begins selecting his cabinet.Sky News - Published | |
John Swinney to become Scotland's new first minister after Holyrood voteJohn Swinney will become Scotland's new first minister after being backed by a majority of MSPs.Sky News - Published | |
Big questions face SNP's new leader - with the party's future at stakeJohn Swinney is preparing to take over the SNP, and the role of Scotland's first minister, after days of Holyrood drama.Sky News - Published | |
Nominations close for SNP leadership race with John Swinney set to become Scottish first ministerNominations to become the new SNP leader have closed - with John Swinney set to succeed Humza Yousaf.Sky News - Published | SNP leadership challenger Graeme McCormick pulls out of raceGraeme McCormick has pulled out of the race to become SNP leader and endorsed rival John Swinney as Scotland's next first minister.Sky News - Published |
Swinney warns against rivals entering SNP leadership raceSNP leadership hopeful John Swinney has warned rivals against entering the contest, saying it would "delay the ability for the [party] to start its rebuilding".Sky News - Published | John Swinney announces bid to succeed Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first ministerJohn Swinney has announced his bid to take over from Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.Sky News - Published |
Who is John Swinney? The frontrunner to become first ministerThe race is on to find a new SNP leader and first minister of Scotland.Sky News - Published | John Swinney expected to declare bid to become new SNP leaderJohn Swinney is expected to declare his bid to become the new leader of the SNP later today, Sky News understands.Sky News - Published |
'The SNP has got to come together': John Swinney and Kate Forbes on leadership raceJohn Swinney has told Sky News that the SNP needs to "come together" in the wake of Humza Yousaf's resignation as party leader and first minister.Sky News - Published | Next SNP leader could be 'crowned', claim Tories - as John Swinney leads fieldThe next leader of the SNP could be "crowned... with no contest", the Scottish Conservatives have claimed, after Humza Yousaf stepped down from the role on Monday.Sky News - Published |
John Swinney to stand down as Scotland's longest-serving deputy first minister John Swinney has said he will stand down as Scotland's longest-serving deputy first minister after being in the post for nearly nine years.Sky News - Published | Sturgeon 'at peace and comfortable' with decision to step down, says Swinney Nicola Sturgeon is "at peace" after her shock resignation as first minister, her friend and political ally John Swinney has told Sky News. Sky News - Published |
