People · First Minister

John Swinney

Rt Hon John Swinney MSP

Party / affiliation: Scottish National Party
Area represented: Perthshire North
Current role: First Minister of Scotland
Organisation: Scottish Government

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Biography

John Swinney is a Scottish politician who serves as First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party. He was first appointed First Minister in May 2024 and was reappointed following the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Born in 1964, Swinney joined the SNP in 1979 and graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MA (Hons) in Politics. Before entering Parliament, he worked for the Scottish Coal Project, Development Options and Scottish Amicable.

He was elected as the MP for North Tayside in 1997 and became an MSP when the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999. He served as SNP deputy leader from 1998 to 2000 and as party leader from 2000 to 2004.

Swinney returned to senior government after the SNP entered office in 2007, holding a series of major portfolios including finance, education and Covid recovery. He served as Deputy First Minister between 2014 and 2023.

He represents Perthshire North in the Scottish Parliament and was re-elected for the constituency in 2026. As First Minister, he is head of the Scottish Government and chairs the Scottish Cabinet.

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Articles mentioning John Swinney

Reform UK

Reform UK Loses Second Place at Holyrood After MSP Quits Party

Reform UK has dropped behind Scottish Labour at Holyrood after Amanda Bland resigned from the party to sit as an independent MSP.

SNP

Major Bus Operator Threatens Court Battle Over SNP Plans for Public Control

McGill's Group says it expects to challenge Scottish Government bus-franchising proposals in court after John Swinney pledged greater public control of services by 2031.

SNP

Swinney Announces £30 Million Scotland Together Fund to Tackle Poverty, Inequality and Racism

First Minister John Swinney has announced a three-year Scotland Together Fund worth more than £30 million to support grassroots groups tackling poverty, disadvantage and racism from 2027–28.

SNP

Scottish Government Announces Misogyny Bill and £1 Million Schools Respect Fund

John Swinney has announced up to £1 million in additional funding from 2027–28 for school programmes challenging misogyny, alongside a renewed commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before summer 2027.

Labour

Swinney Offers to Work with Burnham on Scottish Devolution as PM Calls for More Local Powers

John Swinney says he will work with Andy Burnham on devolving more power to Scottish regions, but rejects criticism that Holyrood is too centralised.

Labour

Burnham Challenges SNP Over Devolution as Prime Minister Offers New Powers for Scottish Regions

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has invited John Swinney to work with Westminster on devolving more decision-making to Scottish regions and cities, as the SNP meets for its conference.

SNP

SNP Announces Biggest Scottish Independence Campaign Since 2014 Referendum

John Swinney says the SNP will launch its Choose Scotland independence campaign at its Aberdeen conference, including a survey aimed at nearly 1.5 million people.

SNP

SNP gains Avondale and Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire Council by-election

The SNP has gained the Avondale and Stonehouse seat on South Lanarkshire Council after Leigh Payne was elected at stage nine, with Labour second and Reform UK third on first preferences.

SNP

John Swinney predicts Andy Burnham will be 'the last prime minister of the United Kingdom'

John Swinney has predicted that Andy Burnham will be the last prime minister of the United Kingdom as the SNP leader intensifies pressure for another Scottish independence referendum.

Neutral

Swinney piles pressure on Burnham as nationalist leaders prepare Cardiff constitutional pact

John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Michelle O'Neill are expected to meet in Cardiff on Monday as nationalist leaders prepare a joint declaration on self-determination and the UK's constitutional future.

Labour

Burnham sparks Indyref2 row after saying referendum could follow majority public support

Andy Burnham has sparked a fresh Scottish independence row after saying another referendum would not take place unless majority public support emerged, prompting the SNP to claim the Prime Minister had shifted his position.

SNP

SNP to expand Scotland House network to more than 40 international locations

John Swinney's SNP Government plans to combine Scottish Government and Scottish Development International offices into an expanded Scotland House network operating in more than 40 locations.

SNP

Swinney opens second front with Westminster — demanding three Scotland-only visa routes after independence referendum Bill

John Swinney's Scottish Government has demanded a Scottish Visa, Rural Visa and Scottish Graduate Visa just a day after publishing its draft legislation for another independence referendum.

SNP

Swinney publishes draft Bill for second Scottish independence referendum — setting up fresh constitutional clash with Burnham

First Minister John Swinney has published a draft Bill for a second Scottish independence referendum, but Holyrood still needs Westminster to transfer the legal powers required to hold the vote.

Last 30 days

19 October 2026 · Article