John Swinney has said he will run for the SNP’s leadership and first minister of Scotland.
He made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday morning after it emerged on Wednesday that he had met the other frontrunners to succeed Humza Yousaf, who stepped down as first minister on Monday, for informal talks in an attempt to avoid another divisive and damaging leadership contest.
Swinney told a campaign launch event in central Edinburgh he had the most experience of government and as a senior figure within the SNP would work to bind the party together, restore voters’ trust and achieve independence.
He said he had the “strong, reassuring experience” needed to “create the bridge to the future, for our party at a moment of difficulty”.
He said repeatedly the SNP was not a “cohesive” or unified party after the internal feuds and factionalism that came to the fore when his close friend and former boss Nicola Sturgeon triggered a leadership election last year.
To applause from his supporters, including five Scottish government cabinet secretaries, he said: “Only I can draw the SNP together as one unified team; opposition parties in Scotland better watch out what’s coming for them.”
Stung by suggesting he was being called in as a caretaker, Swinney said he wanted to lead the SNP well beyond the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections. “I’m not a caretaker. I’m not an interim leader. I’m offering to lead my party through the Westminster elections, lead us beyond the 2026 elections – two contests I intend to win for the SNP.”
He said he had offered Kate Forbes “a significant part” in his cabinet but implied he did not yet know whether she was going to stand for the leadership, thereby forcing a runoff between them.
He said “she’s an intelligent, creative and thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life”.
Even though, Swinney’s buoyant demeanour implied he felt very confident he would become the party’s next leader he did not answer specific questions from the media about whether he had offered Forbes the post of deputy first minister or a follow-up question on whether the election would be a coronation – which would have suggested he knew whether or not Forbes would run.
With speculation intensifying that she will not run, Forbes is expected to make a statement to the media about her decision after first minister’s questions on Thursday.
Swinney, 60, who joined the party at the age of 15 and has served in many roles across several administrations, including as party leader, has already won the backing of a number of senior cabinet members and the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn.
Sturgeon’s deputy for almost nine years, Swinney is considered the ultimate “safe pair of hands” within the party, known for his quiet charm as well as his steeliness.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Forbes, a former finance secretary, confirmed that an “informal meeting” had taken place between her and Swinney on Tuesday, increasing speculation that Swinney would present himself as a unity candidate while offering her a senior role in his administration.
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If Forbes, 34, who narrowly lost to Yousaf in last year’s leadership contest to replace Sturgeon, does decide to stand against him, a ballot will be held among SNP members.
On Wednesday evening, the SNP set out the timetable for electing a new leader. Nominations close on Monday at noon and – if there is more than one candidate – a ballot of the party membership will open on 13 May and close on 27 May.
Swinney served briefly as SNP leader from 2000, taking over after Alex Salmond unexpectedly quit, but resigned in 2004 after a poor European elections result.
Yousaf’s position became untenable after he unilaterally axed the governing partnership with the Scottish Greens, prompting a fierce backlash that left him without enough cross-party support to win a vote of confidence in his leadership.
He said on Monday he would remain as first minister until a new SNP leader had been elected.