John Swinney
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) twice; between 2000 and 2004, and since 2024. 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 North Tayside from 1997 to 2001.
Standing...
Stories...
Aug 13, 2026
Lean Right
Swinney leads a fragile SNP minority government focused on independence and budget cuts.
Conservatives highlight his weakness as a reason to defend the union and attack Labour's SNP-linked policy deals.
Aug 9, 2026
Lean Right
Swinney led the SNP into the Scottish Parliament election, defending his record after a decade of SNP government.
Conservatives in Scotland are hammering him for prioritising independence over public services and for allowing education standards to slip.
Aug 9, 2026
Center
Scotland's First Minister is under scrutiny after a child rapist who absconded from community leave was traced by police.
Lib Dems will press Swinney's SNP government on community leave decisions, insisting public safety must not be traded away to ease prison pressures.
Aug 6, 2026
Center
The Scottish First Minister must respond to the death of Minnie Merriman in Angus, a child protection case under devolved Scottish oversight.
Scottish Lib Dems are pressing Swinney for a transparent inquiry and for the Scottish Government to reverse cuts to social work and family support.
Aug 1, 2026
Lean Right
Responding to new opinion polls by arguing that the next UK general election in Scotland should be treated as a de facto referendum.
Conservative unionists see Swinney as perennially re-litigating the union and using constitutional grievance to mask the SNP's poor public service record.
Jul 28, 2026
Lean Left
Scottish First Minister pays tribute to Sir Ian Wood.
Labour may see Swinney's tribute as part of SNP's attempt to claim Scottish business legacy, but Labour also respects Wood's contributions.
Jul 23, 2026
Lean Right
The SNP leader struggles with internal division and falling poll numbers ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election.
Conservatives welcome the SNP's decline as good for the Union, but caution that independence sentiment remains.
Jul 23, 2026
Center
John Swinney continues the SNP campaign for Scottish independence.
Lib Dems oppose independence but support federalism and stronger Scottish devolution.
Jul 22, 2026
Lean Right
The Scottish First Minister confirms that the SNP will continue to push for a second independence referendum despite a lack of majority support.
Conservatives see Swinney as a divisive figure who prioritises separation over public services and economic stability in Scotland.
Jul 21, 2026
Center
The SNP leader responds to the Arthur's Seat fire in Edinburgh, a constituency matter.
Lib Dems view Swinney's focus on independence as a distraction from urgent issues like climate resilience and emergency preparedness in Scotland.