Achi news desk-
The former deputy prime minister was the first candidate to put himself forward for the positions of SNP leader and First Minister following Humza Yousaf’s decision to announce his resignation from the roles on Monday.
It was believed that Ms Forbes could stand again after being defeated by Mr Yousaf in 2023 but a statement at 2pm from the former finance secretary said she was not taking part in the race and was supporting Mr Swinney.
She said that she had listened to his speech this morning and that his “vision” was in line with the one he set in last year’s competition.
“I have listened very carefully to the vision that John Swinney set out this morning for Scotland,” he said.
“What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country. That includes a passion to revive our party, reach out to those who feel powerless and reinvigorate the independence movement.
“It also includes an understanding that economic growth and defeating poverty must once again be key priorities, and that a just transition to ‘net zero’ must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses.
“But more than that, John is clear that he is determined to return the SNP to govern from the mainstream. A competent, honest government that wins the trust of the people.
“That’s the vision I put forward in the last leadership contest, and it’s clear that the public in Scotland are demanding it.”
He added: “I have come to the conclusion that the best way to achieve the urgent change Scotland needs is to join John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish Government. I can therefore announce today that I will try to get a nomination as the next. The SNP leader will therefore have my support and approval in any campaign to follow.”
The nominations are to close at midnight for the SNP leader but it looks very unlikely that any other candidate will come forward.
It is expected that Mr Swinney will be officially unveiled as SNP leader on Tuesday.
He will be nominated as the SNP’s candidate for First Minister and could be formally elected to the role days as early as next week.
Mr Swinney was party leader between 2000 and 2004 when the SNP was in opposition at Holyrood and is now seen as the preferred figure in the party to succeed Mr Yousaf and unify the party.
But at his press conference today Yr Herald asked why he should be leader again when the party wanted him to quit in 2004.
The Herald also pointed out that the UK’s chief interrogator, Sir John Curtice, said earlier this week that he was “very good in the role” at the time.
We asked him to respond to Sir John’s assessment.
“Perhaps I should send Sir John Curtice a Christmas card,” he said smiling as members of the audience laughed.
He went on to tackle the issue in substance: “One of my reporters, who is here today, wrote to me ‘you have to stand up. You have to realize that the party you led between 2000 and 2004 is different from the one that exists today.
“And my reporter said to me ‘if you don’t mind me saying so and so do you’. You have a lot more under your belt in the intervening 20 years.’
“And I have. I’m a different character, a stronger character, much tougher.”
He also emphasized that the party had changed since 2004, and drew attention to ‘a tremendous group of people’ who were elected in Westminster and Holyrood.
The issue of change will be a strong feature as the SNP tries to get back on the front foot ahead of the general election, expected this year, and the Holyrood election in 2006.
During the press conference at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh’s Candlemaker Row, Mr Swinney declared that he would not be a “caretaker” and told the audience that he would remain as First Minister for the duration of the new parliament after 2026 elections stay on until 2030.
Many Cabinet ministers were present with the zero net secretary, Mairi McAllan, introducing the politician who needed no introduction to many of those present.
Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon, transport secretary Fiona Hyslop and external affairs secretary Angus Robertson were among the senior government officials present to support Mr Swinney’s campaign.
Many in the SNP see Mr Swinney as the figure who can unite a deeply divided party and turn the party’s fortunes around at a critical time.
He told supporters and journalists: “I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence,” as he admitted the party is “not as cohesive as it needs to be”.
Significantly, he praised the leadership of his would-be rival Kate Forbes – who is expected to announce later on Thursday whether she will stand for the job.
Mr Swinney described the former Scottish finance secretary as “an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has a lot to contribute” to public life.
Promising that she would play a “significant part” in his team, he added: “If she is elected, I will ensure that Kate is able to make that contribution.”
However, he declined to say whether he would make Ms Forbes deputy prime minister if she won the race.
Not surprisingly, Mr Swinney also spoke of his passion and commitment to independence and said he would achieve it under pressure from the BBC.
“I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence.”
As it is early days in the contest, there were not many details yet about the new policy platform that Mr Swinney would propose if elected, but his plans may be set in the coming weeks if if Ms Forbes decides to stand.
There was a suggestion of a change of attitude towards more bread and butter issues such as a desire to put more focus on how to grow the economy and create jobs, and a desire to steer the SNP away from issues such as transgender rights which have increased. internal tensions.
It was striking that when asked by a reporter to say whether a transgender woman was a woman, Mr Swinney moved the question forward.
Mr Swinney launched his bid for the leadership a week after Mr Yousaf tore up the SNP’s power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood – a move which led to him announcing on Monday that he wanted to quit the job only 13 months after taking over. Ms Sturgeon.
With the party now facing the prospect of a second leadership contest in just over a year, Mr Swinney insisted he could “bring the SNP back together again” and “get us focused on what we are do it best”.
Mr Swinney joined the SNP as a teenager and served as an MP in Westminster before becoming an MSP when the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999.
After the SNP gained power in 2007, he then served in the Scottish Government for 16 years, giving up his post as deputy first minister only last year when Ms Sturgeon resigned.
Mr Swinney insisted: “Having served as senior minister for 16 years, having helped steer Scotland so close to independence in 2014, I want to give everything I have in me to ensure the success of our cause.
“I believe I have the experience, the skills and I command the trust and confidence of people across this country.”
Mr Swinney has already attracted significant support from his party for his bid to be the next leader – with Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray and Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth among his supporters.
