First Minister of Scotland John Swinney speaking to activists as he joins Katy Loudon, SNP candidate in the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on 5 June, at Alloway Gardens bus stop, Hamilton, May 3, 2025
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has pledged to serve a full five-year term in office should the Scottish National Party he leads win next year’s election.
His declaration appears aimed at ending speculation about the role of the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who is seeking a return to the Scottish Parliament at the forthcoming poll.
Mr Swinney said he would “absolutely” go the full five years in the event of the SNP securing a fifth term in office, the party having led the Scottish government since 2007.
He also said that Mr Flynn would be “a great asset” should he be elected to Holyrood, and an “immensely talented individual.”
The Westminster leader has won plaudits for his performances in the House of Commons, and is believed to have strong support among the many SNP MPs who lost their seats in last year’s general election during a temporary Labour surge.
The First Minister suggested there could be a way to secure a second independence referendum during the next parliament in the event of the SNP winning big.
Mr Swinney said: “That will be my pitch to people in Scotland. If they want to have guaranteed progress on the future of Scotland and for Scotland to become an independent country it is not going to come about by any other means than the SNP doing really well.”
He also said the state of the NHS and living standards will be the key issues in the election. The SNP has been vulnerable over its handling of the health service, which Mr Swinney claimed was now improving.
He added: “Brexit has reduced living standards for people in our country. Scotland voted to stay in the European Union and we were dragged out of it against our will and we have become poorer as a consequence.
“And the Labour government has done nothing in a year to recalibrate that and to improve those living standards.
“They promised to reduce fuel bills for people and fuel bills have gone up.”
Mr Swinney said: “I think an independent Scotland should be taking those decisions in the interests of the people of Scotland — that will be the mainstay of what I say to people in May 2026.”
