John Swinney to become Scotland's new first minister after Holyrood vote

7 May 2024, 07:20 | Updated: 7 May 2024, 16:46

John Swinney will become Scotland's new first minister after being backed by a majority of MSPs.

Following his victory in the SNP leadership race on Monday, the 60-year-old faced a vote at Holyrood to confirm him as Humza Yousaf's successor.

The Scottish Greens abstained from the vote, with Mr Swinney able to fend off challenges from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.

His name will now be submitted to the King, with an official swearing-in ceremony expected to take place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh as early as Wednesday.

Mr Swinney will then be able to appoint his cabinet.

Following the vote, Mr Swinney said: "It is an extraordinary privilege and it is my honour to accept the office of first minister, committing myself to do the best I can for Scotland.

"I will be unapologetic about bringing to this parliament the measures we can take to eradicate child poverty and I look forward to seeking the support of others to achieve that aim.

"I recognise, that is how it is going to have to work. I am leading a minority government. I will need to reach out to others to make things happen.

"If we want to fund our schools and our hospitals, if we want to give our businesses a competitive edge, if we want to take climate action, if we want to eradicate child poverty, if we want to change people's lives for the better, we have to work together to do so.

"I commit my government to working to create that agreement across the chamber. I hope there is the space and the willingness for that to happen in the interests of the people who sent us here.

"To the people of Scotland I would simply say this - I offer myself to be the first minister for everyone in Scotland. I am here to serve you. I will give everything I have to build the best future for our country."

In his acceptance speech, Mr Swinney spoke about his wife's multiple sclerosis (MS) and the impact it has had on his family.

He offered "eternal gratitude" to his wife Elizabeth for the "sacrifices she is prepared to make to enable her husband to serve our country as first minister".

He told the chamber: "Members will know that my wife Elizabeth has multiple sclerosis.

"She is indefatigable in trying to make sure that MS does not get in the way of her living life to the full. But much to her frustration, she does often have to rely on her husband for support and assistance.

"I could not just commit myself to become first minister without being able to properly work out with my family how we would be able to manage as a family."

Mr Yousaf was forced to step down last week in the face of two votes of no confidence after terminating the power-sharing Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens.

During his final speech as first minister, Mr Yousaf said his heart would "forever belong to Scotland" as he told how leading his country had given him the opportunity to defy "racist bigots".

He said: "Young Humza Yousaf could never have imagined he would be able to lead this country.

"I was six-years-old when I was first told to go home, and I am afraid since then it has been a regular occurrence - in fact, almost daily if you look at my social media feeds."

He said that "racial slur" had hurt him most "simply because I have no other home than this one, I never will, I never have".

Mr Yousaf continued: "My heart will forever belong to Scotland.

"So, to have the opportunity to defy the far-right, to defy the racist bigots who told me to go home, to be in a position to serve my home, to contribute to public life in my home, and to have the opportunity to lead my home - that has been the most tremendous honour that I didn't think was reserved for people who looked like me."

Mr Swinney was unopposed in the SNP leadership contest and promised a "new chapter" for the party as he pledged to use "respect and courtesy" to make the case for Scottish independence.