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John Swinney, with his wife Elizabeth Quigley, on the steps of Bute House in Edinburgh, the official residence of the First Minister, after he was voted by MSPs to be Scotland's next first minister, succeeding Humza Yousaf who formally resigned from the post earlier on Tuesday, May 7, 2024
NEW SNP leader John Swinney is to become Scotland’s next first minister after winning a vote at Holyrood today.
Mr Swinney won the backing of 64 MSPs, with his nearest rival, Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, picking up 31.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar secured 22 votes, with the head of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, winning four.
The seven Scottish Green MSPs abstained.
It comes just eight days after predecessor Humza Yousaf announced he was stepping down.
Mr Yousaf’s decision to terminate the power-sharing agreement that the SNP had with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood left him facing a vote of no confidence in his leadership.
He formally tendered his resignation to the King earlier today.
Mr Swinney will need to be sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh before officially becoming first minister, a position he called an “extraordinary privilege” in his acceptance speech.
He can then get on with the business of appointing his cabinet, before taking First Minister’s Questions tomorrow.
