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...
Sep 11, 2026
Lean Left
The SNP leader is arguing that NHS pressures in Scotland and the UK-wide waiting list crisis strengthen the case for independence.
Swinney will blame Westminster for underfunding, and Labour must defend the union while showing the NHS is improving across all four nations.
Sep 8, 2026
Lean Right
Scotland's First Minister is pushing ahead with a new independence referendum bill, setting up a major clash with Westminster.
Conservatives view Swinney's separatism as a dangerous distraction from Scotland's public services and an existential threat to the Union that the SNP must be defeated on.
Sep 5, 2026
Lean Right
Scotland's First Minister is struggling with his own budget crisis, while Labour's Scottish base grows, but the SNP still pushes for a second independence vote.
Conservatives use Swinney as a warning that Labour will be held hostage by SNP demands, threatening the Union's stability.
Sep 2, 2026
Lean Right
The SNP leader is struggling with a police funding crisis and is demanding more money from Westminster, blaming Tory austerity.
Tories see this as typical Scottish Nationalist whingeing and use it to argue against further devolution.
Sep 2, 2026
Center
Swinney unveiled his programme for government, including cutting health boards from 14 to two and introducing a misogyny bill.
Lib Dems will scrutinize whether centralizing health boards improves care or reduces local accountability, while applauding the misogyny bill.
Sep 1, 2026
Lean Right
The Scottish First Minister is facing a crisis as his government's budget cuts and education policies draw criticism, affecting SNP support in Scotland.
Conservatives see his weakness as an opportunity to regain Scottish seats, especially if they can position themselves as the party of Unionism.
Aug 29, 2026
Lean Right
SNP leader faces a new party split over gender recognition and trans rights.
His weakness highlights the unionist case, but his woes distract from actual Westminster failures.
Aug 28, 2026
Lean Right
The Scottish First Minister is facing a crisis in the SNP over finances and the independence strategy.
His troubles give Tories hope that the Union can be defended against a weaker nationalist movement.
Aug 23, 2026
Lean Right
Scotland's First Minister is facing a new crisis in the SNP over finances and a falling majority in Holyrood, with independence polls again sliding.
Conservatives welcome the SNP's troubles but remain wary that Labour's softness on devolution might inadvertently boost the separatist case.
Aug 21, 2026
Lean Right
SNP first minister pushing for another independence referendum amid party finance scandal
Conservatives oppose his separatism and highlight SNP's governance failures