Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
John Swinney set to be first minister after becoming SNP leader [View all]
John Swinney is set to become Scotland’s seventh first minister after winning the SNP leadership unopposed.
The Perthshire North MSP was announced as Humza Yousaf’s successor at noon when nominations closed.
“I am deeply honoured to have been elected as Leader of the SNP,” Swinney said. “I will give all that I have to serve my party and my country.”
The party leader will give an acceptance speech at 3pm in Glasgow.
...
The Scottish Parliament is likely to hold a vote to elect Nicola Sturgeon’s former deputy as first minister as soon as Tuesday.
Swinney could then be officially sworn in on Wednesday before holding his inaugural First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
A new Cabinet, expected to include former leadership contender Kate Forbes, will also be announced.
https://news.stv.tv/politics/john-swinney-to-be-scotlands-first-minister-after-succeeding-humza-yousaf-as-snp-leader
The Perthshire North MSP was announced as Humza Yousaf’s successor at noon when nominations closed.
“I am deeply honoured to have been elected as Leader of the SNP,” Swinney said. “I will give all that I have to serve my party and my country.”
The party leader will give an acceptance speech at 3pm in Glasgow.
...
The Scottish Parliament is likely to hold a vote to elect Nicola Sturgeon’s former deputy as first minister as soon as Tuesday.
Swinney could then be officially sworn in on Wednesday before holding his inaugural First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
A new Cabinet, expected to include former leadership contender Kate Forbes, will also be announced.
https://news.stv.tv/politics/john-swinney-to-be-scotlands-first-minister-after-succeeding-humza-yousaf-as-snp-leader
In the end, Swiiney was unopposed following talks with Kate Forbes, who entertained the idea of standing, and Graeme McCormick, who was widely reported yesterday as having enough signatures to join the race.
The news has been greeted with general enthusiasm among SNP supporters, and such a smooth transition won't please the Holyrood Opposition (nor the general media, which had prematurely stocked up on popcorn).
The trajectory can be summed up in one tweet:
Among those disappointed are Alba's most enthusiastic online pundits, who had laid in a stock sour grapes:
The next step is a vote in the Holyrood parliament. The leader of the largest party doesn't automatically become First Minister in Scotland, there has to be an election by MSPs from the whole parliament. The SNP is two votes short of a majority, so Swinney will need the support of at least some of the Green MSPs.
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read