Scotland: Ex-SNP leader John Swinney running to be First Minister – as Kate Forbes confirms she won’t stand

Former SNP leader John Swinney has confirmed he is running to succeed Humza Yousaf as First Minister of Scotland, while former finance minister Kate Forbes has confirmed she won’t stand.

Swinney was the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2000 to 2004 and served as deputy First Minister under Nicola Sturgeon for more than eight years.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday to announce his leadership bid, Swinney said: “I want to build on the work of the SNP government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland that will ensure opportunities for all of our citizens.

“I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence.”

He made the announcement at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, where he said the facility brings “hope to some of the most vulnerable people in society”.

Swinney added: “This place reflects my values, who I am, and it’s therefore the right place for me to confirm that I intend to stand for election as leader of the Scottish National Party.”

His bid, coming after Yousaf resigned on Monday following a weekend of turmoil, has been backed by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish health secretary Neil Gray and Scottish education secretary Jenny Gilruth.

Meanwhile, former Holyrood finance secretary Kate Forbes – who was also touted as a successor to Yousaf – announced today she does not plan to put her name forward.

She posted on X, formerly Twitter, that: “I’ve concluded the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish government. 

“I can therefore today announce that I will not be seeking nomination as the next SNP leader.”

Forbes said she had “frank and constructive” discussions with Swinney on the “future of the SNP and our vision for Scotland” and they shared a “powerful common purpose” which matched her vision in the last leadership race of “governing from the mainstream”.

She said that purpose “includes an understanding that economic growth and tackling poverty must again be key priorities, and that a just transition to ‘net zero’ must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses”.

Forbes, who said she would support Swinney’s candidacy and efforts to deliver reform, did not confirm if she had been offered a formal role in government, but stressed: “I look forward to playing my role in making that happen.”

Swinney said earlier today: “If elected I will make sure Kate is able to make that contribution.”

Forbes came a close second to Yousaf in the leadership race last year, receiving 47.9 per cent to Yousaf’s 52.1 per cent in the first round, which saw Ash Regan eliminated, before securing 40.7 per cent to Yousaf’s 48.2 per cent in the second round.

Swinney said if he is elected he wants to be “part of a united team that draws together the whole party”, and confirmed he wants Forbes to “play a significant part in that team”.

On how long he will stay in the top job, he said: “I am no caretaker, I am no interim leader.

“I am offering to lead my party through the Westminster elections, to lead us beyond the 2026 elections, to contest, which I intend to win for the SNP and for Scotland.

“Only the SNP stand where the majority of people want their government to be, in the moderate centre-left of Scottish politics.”

Swinney has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament’s inception in 1999, serving North Tayside, and previously represented the same constituency at Westminster in 1997.