John Swinney considering bid to be next SNP leader

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf to resign as First Minister

He is currently the favourite to replace Humza Yousaf. Leading bookmaker Coral has already suspended betting on who will be the next first minister "following strong sustained support" for Mr Swinney.

One supporter of the Perthshire North MSP described him as the “safest pair of hands in Scottish politics.”

However, one MP said they feared he would take the party "backwards."

In his resignation speech, Mr Yousaf said he had told Lorna Finn, the SNP's national secretary, of his intention to stand down as party leader and asked that she "commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible."

It is understood the party's ruling NEC will meet later this week to set out a timetable for the vote. 

Mr Yousaf said that he would remain as First Minister until his successor had been elected.

Mr Swinney was in London, appearing at an event marking 25 years of devolution held by the Resolution Foundation. 

Asked by broadcasters if he would run for leadership, he said he would "give it consideration."

"I've got lots of things to think about. There's the whole question of my family and I have to make sure that I'm doing the right by my family, they're precious to me.

"I have to do the right thing by my party and by my country.

"So there's lots to be thought about. And I'll give all of that consideration in the days to come."

READ MORE: Tearful Humza Yousaf announces his resignation as First Minister

Mr Swinney appeared to offer an olive branch to the Scottish Greens. He said there had clearly been "strains within the Bute House Agreement, and it's important that these issues are considered carefully and handled with care."

"And obviously, I spent a lot of my time in government doing exactly that in the past," he added.  So it's important that those are the values and the characteristics that are brought to how we deal with other political parties, particularly now, the SNP will be a minority government in the Scottish Parliament.

"It's important that there is an approach taken which ensures that we work carefully with all political parties in Scottish Parliament. "

Mr Swinney said that politically, the "right place" for the SNP was as a "moderate left of centre political party in the mainstream tradition of Scottish public opinion."

He added: "You only ever win success if you're in line with the mainstream of public opinion in the country. And that's where I've always endeavoured to make sure the SNP was positioned, and I think that's where the SNP should be positioned in the future."

There is broad support for Mr Swinney amongst the Holyrood group, who are keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s deeply divisive leadership contest.

Other names being touted as potential successors include Kate Forbes, Neil Gray and Jenny Gilruth. 

But given Mr Swinney's popularity with the grassroots, they may be wary of standing against him. 

READ MORE: Who will succeed Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and FM?

One source suggested Mr Swinney would be a "caretaker" leader, stepping down after the general election.

They said: “You can’t impose someone like Forbes to be FM as she is too divisive She also wouldn’t have the backing of all SNP MSPs."

They added: “Ideal scenario is one name we can all rally behind. Full contest after the general election later this year. Temporary FM for now”

Mr Swinney served as the SNP's leader between 2000 and 2004 before being ousted by unhappy backbenchers after a string of disappointing election results. 

Ian Blackford, the former Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party and MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, told the BBC that he believed Mr Swinney was best placed to lead the party.

He said: “He certainly is an individual that I believe carries widespread respect in the party across the Parliament, and indeed the country, a long experience.

“So I think someone that has operated right through the period of the SNP being in government, of course, as deputy leader under Nicola Sturgeon.

“I think, if anyone has the qualities, the capabilities to lead us not just in the short term, but right through the electoral cycle, then John has these characteristics.

He continued: “In terms of where we are here, and the leadership that we need to show, showing that we can win in the Scottish Parliament, get our legislative programme through, fight the Westminster election and then go into the Scottish election in 2026, John is the man that I think has what it takes to lead us.”

However, SNP MP Joanna Cherry said that would be a backward step. 

She tweeted: "John Swinney is hugely respected across our party but the lesson of the last year is that the SNP needs a complete reset. We must go forward not backwards.

"Kate was right when she said that continuity would not cut it. The next leader must deliver change."

John Swinney is hugely respected across our party but the lesson of the last year is that the SNP needs a complete reset. We must go forward not backwards. Kate was right when she said that continuity would not cut it. The next leader must deliver change.

— Joanna Cherry KC (@joannaccherry) April 29, 2024