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News of the appointment comes just one week after the an academic published a paper that called for the Scottish Secretary to get new powers to call a second independence referendum.
The report – co-authored with former Scottish Labor leader Kezia Dugdale – was published by the University of Glasgow’s Center for Public Policy, where Mr Noon has a part-time role.
A source close to Mr Swinney told The Times: “Stephen Noon is a highly respected thinker and political strategist with a proven track record.
“It comes at a time when it is clear that momentum has shifted away from Labor and towards the SNP led by Swinney. This is good news for the government and bad news for Labour.”
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It is believed that he will focus on longer term policy with a particular eye on the 2026 Holyrood election.
Mr Noon supported Kate Forbes during the SNP leadership contest last year but supported Mr Swinney when Humza Yousaf resigned after the Bute House Agreement expired.
He told The Herald at the time: “I voted for Kate Forbes last year because I was persuaded by her argument that ‘continuity won’t cut it’.
“A year on, I believe the more pressing need is unity and stability and that is something John offers.”
After the independence referendum, Mr Noon left Scotland and moved to Canada where he gave up everything for a life of poverty, chastity and obedience as a Jesuit priest in training.
He returned to Scotland two years ago and entered academia.
Mr Noon worked for Mr Swinney during his first period as SNP leader in the early 2000s and in Alex Salmond’s constituency office, then in the SNP whips office in Westminster.
His appointment comes as part of a reshuffle of Swinney’s councillors, which will be formalized in the coming days and will see some roles being swapped internally.
It was expected that Swinney would add to his team after he sacked Kevin Pringle and asked Callum McCaig to resign earlier this year.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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