Who is John Swinney? The SNP veteran tipped for the top job
The longest-serving deputy first minister has said he is ‘actively considering’ running for SNP leader.
news.stv.tvHere’s a concise update based on the latest widely reported developments:
- John Swinney was confirmed as Scotland’s First Minister after a Holyrood vote in May 2024, securing a simple majority when the Scottish Greens abstained. This made him the SNP’s leader and the head of the Scottish Government, with a formal swearing-in in Edinburgh planned for that period.[1][2][3]
- He stated he would lead a minority administration and would seek cross-party support to pass budgets and legislation, signaling a more collaborative approach while not reappointing the Bute House Agreement with the Greens on a fixed basis.[2][3]
Notes:
- If you’re looking for the very latest minute-by-minute updates beyond May 2024, I can fetch current coverage or provide a brief wrap-up of developments since then. Let me know if you want me to pull the newest reports and summarize them with sources.[3][1]