John Swinney has been urged to drop his divisive independence plans 'for the sake of Scotland' after MSPs re-appointed him First Minister. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay warned him not to get 'distracted' by the constitution and focus instead on fixing the £5 billion black hole in the public finances.
He told the First Minister: 'For the sake of Scotland - drop it, Mr Swinney. Put country before party. End the petty politics of grievance. Stop blaming others for the many problems made by the SNP over two decades. Govern for all of Scotland.'
Mr Findlay also said the SNP must balance its budget by cutting the 'unaffordable and unsustainable' benefits bill, not slashing frontline services or hiking taxes again. He added: 'Cut the waste, cut the quangos. On taxes, I say this: no more.'
Mr Swinney went into the Holyrood election saying only an SNP majority would 'break the logjam' over a second referendum and deliver independence. After losing more than 400,000 votes in both seats and lists, he won 58 MSPs, six fewer than the SNP's haul in 2021, and seven short of the 65-seat majority mark. Despite going backwards, he said yesterday he would push on with his independence plans regardless with the help of the 15 MSPs from Scottish Greens.
John Swinney after his re-election as First Minister posed outside Bute House with his wife Elizabeth Quigley. MSPs congratulated John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament after his re-election on Tuesday. He said 'the largest pro-independence majority in the history of devolution' showed Scots wanted 'a more prosperous independent nation'. Holyrood has just one more Nationalist MSP than in 2021, and pro-Unionist parties won almost 60 per cent of the vote.
Watched from the gallery by his wife Elizabeth and family, Mr Swinney claimed he would be a First Minister 'for all of Scotland' and 'bring people together with a strong sense of national purpose'. He added: 'The country I seek to build is a country where everyone feels accepted and able to contribute to our national story. A country where we seek to bring communities together. A country where we act to heal division. A country where we seek to find common ground.'
But he added: 'I believe I can achieve a majority for every ambition I have for this Parliament. That, of course, includes the question of Scotland's constitutional future, on which I recognise there are profound differences of opinion. But the people have now elected the largest pro-independence majority in the history of devolution. The Scottish people have yet again made their wishes known, loud and clear. They want a more secure and more prosperous, independent nation. One where decisions are made not in Westminster, but here in Scotland. My government will continue to seek to abide by those wishes. And, again, I look forward to working with many in this Chamber to do so.'
Mr Swinney has promised a vote next week on referendum powers for Holyrood and a draft referendum Bill. He also wants a constitutional convention within his first 100 days. Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: 'People's lives have gotten materially worse and Scotland must have our chance to choose differently.'
In his response, Mr Findlay said the Tories were ready to work constructively with the SNP when they acted 'in good faith' but not on 'acts of political posturing'. He said: 'People need some respite from endless SNP and Labour tax rises. There is a looming £5billion black hole in Scotland's public finances. To plug the gap between revenue raised and government spending commitments, John Swinney is likely to do two things. One – cut funding for public services. Two – put up taxes. Both of these would be a mistake. Scots already pay almost £2 billion a year more in income tax than they would for doing the same job elsewhere in the UK. Economic growth is fundamental. It is critical. John Swinney knows this to be true.'
The leaders of all six parties put themselves forward for the FM's post. Mr Swinney won after receiving more than half the votes on the third round after the elimination of Scottish Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton and Mr Findlay. In the final round, Mr Swinney received 56 of the 105 votes cast, Ms Mackay 15, Reform's Malcolm Offord 17 and Labour's Anas Sarwar 17.
After winning, Mr Swinney left his seat to shake hands with all the other leaders, including Lord Offord, despite refusing to work with Reform more than protocol requires. Mr Swinney is expected to be sworn in as First Minister at the Court of Session today, followed by cabinet and ministerial appointments.
Lord Offord said Scots should have a first minister 'who wishes to build opportunity and prosperity for every Scot' as he insisted Reform was the only party offering it. 'All we have seen from the SNP is record highs in tax and spend and grievance stoked against the United Kingdom for cynical political gain,' he said. 'Now, in partnership with the Greens, we have seen the politics of envy take root.'
Mr Sarwar called for cross-party co-operation. He said: 'People are frustrated, angry and tired. They are tired of political arguments that seem disconnected from their lives - and that should concern every one of us. If people lose faith that not only undermines our democracy, but opens up opportunities for those that seek to divide us.'
Mr Cole-Hamilton reminded Mr Swinney that six extra LibDem MSPs had helped deny the SNP the majority he had said was vital to pursuing independence. 'I ask that we as a parliament now lay those divisive issues aside and instead focus on what the people who sent us to this place want us to focus on.'
