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...
Oct 1, 2026
Center
As First Minister of Scotland, he faces scrutiny over the Glasgow City Council fire and rehire crisis and the £16.5bn Chapelcross data centre plans in his constituency.
Lib Dems criticise Swinney for failing to use Scottish Government powers to block fire and rehire, while welcoming the jobs potential of the data centre if union-recognised.
Sep 30, 2026
Lean Right
SNP leader is pushing for another independence referendum and attacking Labour's austerity.
Tories see him as a threat to the Union and a distraction from Scotland's real problems.
Sep 30, 2026
Center
The Scottish First Minister is not named today but the River Wear deaths and NHS Tayside inquiry have Scottish angles that draw in devolved government scrutiny.
Lib Dems will press Swinney on whether the NHS Tayside inquiry findings reveal a pattern of SNP complacency on patient safety and professional accountability.
Sep 29, 2026
Center
SNP leader in Scotland after Police Scotland launched its new advert on violence against women as a national emergency.
Lib Dems in Scotland will press him on whether SNP funding for Police Scotland matches the scale of the emergency he has declared.
Sep 26, 2026
Lean Right
The SNP leader is pushing for another independence referendum and attacking Labour's Budget.
Conservatives view him as a roadblock to unionist unity and a radical on tax and welfare.
Sep 24, 2026
Lean Right
The SNP leader is under pressure over the Scottish government's handling of the Cass Review and gender reforms.
Conservatives say the SNP is obsessed with independence and failing on schools and hospitals.
Sep 24, 2026
Center
Scotland's drug death figures have risen again, keeping the country with the worst fatality rate in Europe.
Lib Dems will hold the SNP First Minister responsible for a public health emergency that has worsened under his party's watch and demand an urgent statement.
Sep 15, 2026
Far Right
Scotland's First Minister signed a joint memorandum with Wales and Northern Ireland leaders demanding independence referendums.
Reform UK views Swinney as a nationalist agitator who ignores Scotland's real problems and prioritises breaking up the UK over improving public services.
Sep 15, 2026
Lean Left
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister among devolved leaders pressuring No 10 for a fresh independence referendum.
Labour views his push as a distraction from Scotland's real challenges and a constitutional fixation that undermines cooperation with the UK government.
Sep 12, 2026
Lean Right
The SNP leader faces internal challenges and pressure on Scottish independence, with the party's dominance in Scotland under threat from Labour.
Conservatives oppose Scottish independence and criticise Swinney for focusing on separation rather than Scotland's domestic issues like education and health.