John Swinney is set to unveil his bid for SNP leadership and the position of first minister. The former senior figure in the Scottish government, with a tenure spanning 16 years until last year,
has garnered support from many within the party.
The possibility of a leadership challenge from former finance secretary Kate Forbes remains uncertain. However, recent discussions between Swinney and Forbes have fueled speculation about a potential agreement to avoid a contest.
Swinney, aged 60, will hold a press conference in Edinburgh's Grassmarket on Thursday to officially announce his candidacy, aiming to succeed Humza Yousaf, who announced his resignation on Monday.
As of now, Swinney and Forbes are the only contenders contemplating leadership roles within the party. Should they both enter the race, a ballot among SNP members will be required. Nominations for leadership candidates will close on Monday, with the contest concluding on May 27th.
Swinney, who served as Nicola Sturgeon's deputy for nearly nine years, previously led the SNP from 2000 to 2004. He expressed serious consideration for the leadership bid, with notable support from senior party members like Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, health secretary Neil Gray, and education secretary Jenny Gilruth.
In contrast, Kate Forbes, 34, has not confirmed her intention to contest the leadership. Despite narrowly losing to Yousaf in the previous leadership election, she remains a figure of interest. However, her prior remarks on gay marriage legislation, based on her religious beliefs, drew criticism during the campaign. Swinney, also a Christian, questioned the appropriateness of such views for an SNP leader.
While some senior party members, including Joanna Cherry and Fergus Ewing, have endorsed Forbes, Ewing has urged Swinney to retract his comments on her stance.
The timeline for leadership change involves nominations closing one week after opening, followed by a potential ballot among members if multiple candidates secure sufficient nominations. Yousaf has pledged to step down as first minister upon the selection of a new leader, with a 28-day window for parliament to nominate a successor, failing which a snap election would be called. Photo by Scottish Government, Wikimedia commons.