John Swinney to stand down as Scotland’s Deputy First Minister after new SNP leader appointed

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he will leave government when a successor to Nicola Sturgeon is appointed.

Swinney, who has been part of the Scottish Government for almost 16 years, said serving in the role, and previously as finance secretary and education secretary, had been the “privilege of my life”.

He said he would continue at Holyrood as the MSP for Perthshire North, telling  Sturgeon in his resignation letter that he looked forward to sitting on the back benches with her “to continue our contribution to Scotland’s cause”.

Swinney, who led the party between 2000 and 2004, had served as Scottish Deputy First Minister since 2014, taking over from Sturgeon after she became First Minister.

When she announced she was stepping down last month, he ruled himself out of the running to replace her, saying he wished to “create the space” for “fresh perspective” within the SNP.

After almost 16 years as a Minister, I have today written to the First Minister to say that when her successor is appointed I will leave Government. Serving Scotland has been the privilege of my life. Thank you. 👇 pic.twitter.com/2tmFXcYOtU

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) March 2, 2023

Swinney’s letter to Sturgeon read: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve in the Scottish Government since 2007 as a Cabinet Secretary with responsibility first for Finance and the Economy, then Education and Skills and finally Covid Recovery. It has been my honour to serve Scotland as your Deputy First Minister since 2014.

“These have been demanding commitments to fulfil over nearly 16 years and I have decided that, when the First Minister is appointed later in March, I will stand down from Government.

“When I joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 15 in 1979, our political prospects were poor and I could scarcely have imagined that over so many years I would have the opportunity to serve Scotland in Government in the way I have.

“In all that I have undertaken in Government, I have tried to listen carefully to different views and be open to the ideas and thoughts of people in Scotland. I have sought always to transform the life chances of everyone who lives here. I have acted to make Scotland a fairer, more prosperous and more confident country that I believe would be assured with Independence.

“In all of that work, I have deeply valued the advice and professionalism offered to me by so many outstanding civil servants with whom I have had the privilege to work. They are a credit to their service. I have been touched constantly by the kindness of people in Scotland and their understanding of the many challenges with which we have to wrestle in Government. I am grateful to my Ministerial and Parliamentary colleagues for their collaboration and support. And I am indebted to you for your leadership, constancy, friendship and loyalty.

“I will continue to faithfully represent my constituents in Perthshire North and look forward to sitting with you on the back benches of the Scottish Parliament to continue our contribution to Scotland’s cause.

“Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to serve my country.”

In response Sturgeon told him: “I could not have wished for a better partner in government than you, and there is no doubt that our Scottish Government would have achieved much less had you not been in it.

“Please accept my thanks for your support, wisdom and, above all, friendship.”

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes are all in the running to become Scotland’s next First Minister.

The candidates faced SNP members’ questions at a hustings in Cumbernauld on Wednesday night, and will also take part in TV debates, taking place on STV on March 7 and on the BBC on March 14.

The new SNP leader will be announced on March 27.