Perthshire MSP John Swinney has said he will not be standing to be the next first minister of Scotland.
The SNP veteran said he surprised himself at how seriously he considered putting himself forward for the top job in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s shock resignation, but admitted the party needs some “fresh thinking”.
The Perthshire North MSP was tipped as one of the bookies’ favourites to assume the role, but said it is important he makes way for someone new.
He added whoever becomes the new SNP leader will need to find a way out of the current “deadlock” in the independence debate, and reconcile public opinion on gender reforms.
‘The SNP needs some fresh thinking’
Mr Swinney has been a mainstay of Scottish politics for decades, becoming an MSP back in 1999.
He was previously SNP leader from 2000 to 2004 and since the SNP came to power he has held numerous frontbench positions, including deputy first minister.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Mr Swinney said he thought he would never consider returning to the job of SNP leader.
He said: “I am surprised by the degree to which I have actively thought about the possibility in the last 24 hours.
“A fact which weighed heavily is the significant levels of encouragement I have received from colleagues and supporters to stand for leadership.”
He added his final decision was political rather than personal, as his family were “much more open to the possibility” of him becoming a candidate.
He added: “Life is pretty busy in the Swinney household at the best of times given my role, the voluminous activities of my son and the challenges my wife faces with multiple sclerosis.
“I was quite surprised at how much we were prepared to contemplate the possibility.
“But I think the SNP needs some fresh thinking at its heart.
“It is important I create the space for someone else to come into that.”
Pressing issues for the new first minister
Mr Swinney said whoever does become the next first minister will have a busy in-tray from the start.
Two of the most pressing issues will be independence and gender reforms.
Hopes for a second independence referendum were dashed in November 2022 when the supreme court ruled Holyrood does not have the power to hold one.
Mr Swinney says he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s vision of making the next Westminster election a ‘de facto referendum’ on independence is a “genuine attempt to break the deadlock”.
And he said the new leader will need to fix the divisions caused by the gender recognition reforms.
A bill was passed back in December 2022 to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender.
However the government has come under harsh criticism and seen some of their own MSPs voting against them on this issue.
Mr Swinney said: “I am troubled by the experience of transgender individuals in our society and I want to make their lives better.
“I thought the gender recognition reforms were a means of doing that.
“We tried really hard but we were not able to reconcile enough of the opinion outside of the parliament on this question.
“That is something we need to try to do.”
History will remember Sturgeon well
Mr Swinney however said he was proud to have served under Nicola Sturgeon as first minister of Scotland, adding history will remember her “very powerfully and very strongly”.
He said one of her lasting legacies will be creating a “more progressive” tax and benefits system and her commitment to care experienced youngsters.
He added she showed “distinguished leadership” during the coronavirus pandemic and gained “significant respect for Scotland” globally – but said a big frustration for her will be failing to achieve independence.
He said one of his proudest moments of having Ms Sturgeon as first minister came during the 2021 election while he was out canvassing in the North Muirton area of Perth.
Mr Swinney said: “There was a lady down on the sheet I had spoken to before and she had resisted all previous opportunities to vote for me.
“I knew she was unlikely to do so but I knew the lady, so I knocked on her door.
“She came to the door and said ‘there is no need for you to speak to me Mr Swinney, I’ve voted for you already’.
“I was very surprised and I asked what had changed her mind.
“She said ‘for the whole of lockdown I’ve sat down with a bowl of soup at lunchtime and watched your first minister, and I thought that lady is watching out for me so the least I can do is vote for you’.
“She had never voted for me in my puff but I came away thinking if nothing else happens, there is a lady in North Muirton feeling slightly more secure because my first minister was at the podium.”
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