Scottish Lib Dems Reject Swinney Leadership but Signal Budget Cooperation
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has declared his party will not support John Swinney's return as first minister following the May 7 election, while indicating potential backing for an SNP-led government's budget proposals. The announcement came as Cole-Hamilton launched his party's manifesto in Edinburgh on Friday, outlining a platform focused on health, social care, and infrastructure improvements.
"Grown-Up" Politics Versus Leadership Opposition
Speaking to the Press Association after the manifesto launch at the Edinburgh Food and Drink Academy, Cole-Hamilton drew a clear distinction between opposing SNP leadership and cooperating on budgetary matters. "Dealing with the SNP, or any government, on a budget is not a referendum on their performance as a government – and by any metric, the SNP Government has failed the people of Scotland," he stated. "Instead, it's a means of unpicking some of the damage that they've done."
The Lib Dem leader emphasized that voters expect pragmatic approaches from political leaders, saying: "Your viewers will want their politicians from any party to be able to roll up their sleeves when necessary, put aside their differences and work in the interests of the people of Scotland." He described this as "the grown-up approach to politics that Liberal Democrats always embrace."
Firm Stance Against Swinney's Leadership
Cole-Hamilton was unequivocal about his party's position regarding the first minister vote that will follow the election. "I've been very clear I would resign as leader of my party before I put John Swinney back in power," he declared. The Lib Dem leader criticized the SNP's record, arguing: "For all of the questions that Scotland currently faces, the answer to none of them is a third decade of SNP administration."
He pointed to what he described as systemic failures across Scottish institutions: "They've had their time, and look at the state of our economy, our NHS, our schools, our justice system – it's time that they had a period of quiet reflection on the opposition benches." This position marks a continuation of the party's recent approach of supporting Scottish Government budgets in exchange for policy concessions, including increased mental health spending, while maintaining opposition to SNP leadership.
Manifesto Pledges and Electoral Strategy
Launching his party's policy platform, Cole-Hamilton argued that Scotland "has so much going for it" but currently feels like a country that isn't working properly. The manifesto includes several key commitments:
- Deploying 900 multidisciplinary health workers into GP practices to alleviate pressure on family doctors
- Increasing social care funding by £400 million to address delayed hospital discharges
- Creating a £100 million emergency insulation fund to improve home heating efficiency
- Initiating work on major infrastructure projects including tunnels connecting Shetland islands
The party has been particularly critical of the Scottish Government's handling of social care, which they argue has contributed to hospital capacity issues through increased delayed discharges. On the electoral front, the Lib Dems are targeting 10 constituency seats while also urging voters to support them on regional lists. Their target constituencies include:
- Edinburgh North Western (currently held)
- Fife North East (currently held)
- Orkney (currently held)
- Shetland (currently held)
- Edinburgh Northern
- Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
- Inverness and Nairn
- Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
- Argyll and Bute
- Strathkelvin and Bearsden
This strategic approach reflects the party's attempt to build on their existing parliamentary presence while expanding their influence in key regions across Scotland.
