John Swinney
MSP
Official portrait, 2021
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
In office
21 November 2014 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byNicola Sturgeon
Succeeded byShona Robison
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy[lower-alpha 1]
Acting
16 July 2022 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byKate Forbes
Succeeded byShona Robison
In office
17 May 2007 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded byTom McCabe
Succeeded by
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
In office
20 May 2021 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
In office
18 May 2016 – 20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded by
Succeeded byShirley-Anne Somerville
Leadership offices
Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office
26 September 2000 – 3 September 2004
DeputyRoseanna Cunningham
Preceded byAlex Salmond
Succeeded byAlex Salmond
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office
25 August 1998 – 26 September 2000
LeaderAlex Salmond
Preceded byAllan Macartney
Succeeded byRoseanna Cunningham
Parliamentary offices
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Perthshire North
North Tayside (1999–2011)
Assumed office
6 May 1999
Preceded byConstituency established
Majority3,336 (9.8%)
Member of Parliament
for Tayside North
In office
1 May 1997 – 14 May 2001
Preceded byBill Walker
Succeeded byPete Wishart
Personal details
Born
John Ramsay Swinney

(1964-04-13) 13 April 1964
Edinburgh, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouses
Lorna King
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1998)​
    Elizabeth Quigley
    ​
    (m. 2003)​
    Children3
    RelativesTom Hunter (uncle)
    Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
    WebsiteOfficial website

    John Ramsay Swinney (born 13 April 1964) is a Scottish politician who served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. He held various Scottish Cabinet roles under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon from 2007 to 2023. Swinney has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Perthshire North since 2011, having previously represented North Tayside from 1999 to 2011. He was the Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2000 to 2004.

    Born in Edinburgh, Swinney graduated with a MA in politics at the University of Edinburgh. He joined the SNP at a young age and quickly rose to prominence serving as the National Secretary from 1986 to 1992 and Depute Leader of the SNP from 1998 to 2000. Swinney served in the British House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001. He was elected to the inaugural Scottish Parliament in 1999. After Alex Salmond resigned the party leadership in 2000, Swinney was elected Leader of the Scottish National Party in the ensuing leadership contest. He became Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. Swinney's leadership proved ineffectual, with a loss of one MP in 2001 and a further reduction to 27 MSPs in 2003 despite the Officegate scandal unseating previous First Minister Henry McLeish. However, the only parties to gain seats in that election were the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) which, like the SNP, support independence. After an unsuccessful leadership challenge in 2003, Swinney stepped down following disappointing results in the 2004 European Parliament election with Salmond returning to the role in the subsequent 2004 leadership contest.

    From 2004 to 2007, Swinney sat in the SNP's opposition backbench. In the 2007 Scottish election, the SNP won the highest number of seats in the Scottish Parliament and Salmond was subsequently appointed First Minister of Scotland. Swinney served under Salmond as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth from 2007 to 2014. After Nicola Sturgeon succeeded Salmond, she appointed Swinney as Deputy First Minister of Scotland in 2014. He also served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, until that role was divided into two posts in the second Sturgeon government as a result of the expansion of the Scottish Parliament's financial powers; he was then appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in 2016, and then as Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery in 2021. On 25 May 2022, Swinney became the longest serving Deputy First Minister, surpassing the previous record which was held by Sturgeon. Swinney served as Acting Finance Secretary in addition to his position of Covid Recovery Secretary from July 2022 to March 2023, covering the duties of Kate Forbes during her period of maternity leave. In March 2023, Swinney announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister in response to Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as First Minister.

    Early life

    Family, education and early career

    John Ramsay Swinney was born on 13 April 1964[1] in the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, the son of Kenneth Swinney, a garage manager,[2] and Agnes Weir Swinney (née Hunter).[3] His uncle Tom Hunter was awarded the Victoria Cross whilst serving with the Royal Marines during the Second World War.[4] His maternal grandparents, Ramsey and Mary Hunter, were from England, having moved to Edinburgh in the 1920s.[5][6]

    He was educated at Forrester High School, before attending the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with an Master of Arts Honours degree in politics in 1986.[7] Swinney was a research officer for the Scottish Coal Project from 1987 to 1988, a senior management consultant with Development Options from 1988 to 1992, and a strategic planning principal with Scottish Amicable Building Society from 1992 to 1997.[8]

    Early political involvement

    Swinney joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1979 at the age of 15,[9] citing his anger at the way in which Scotland had been portrayed by television commentators at the Commonwealth Games.[10] He quickly became a prominent figure in the party's youth wing, the Young Scottish Nationalist, now known as the Young Scots for Independence (YSI).[11] He served as the SNP's Assistant National Secretary, before becoming the National Secretary in 1986, at the age of 22.[12]

    He served as the national secretary until 1992, then vice convenor, later senior vice-convenor (deputy leader) from 1992 to 1997. At the time of the 1990 leadership contest he supported Margaret Ewing in her bid to become SNP leader, but this did not stop him becoming politically close to the man who went on to win that contest, Alex Salmond.

    Early political career

    House of Commons

    At the 1997 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tayside North constituency,[13] and in 1999 he was elected to represent the same area at the Scottish Parliament.

    He stood down as a Westminster MP at the 2001 general election in order to avoid splitting his time, in line with all of his colleagues who found themselves in a similar 'dual mandate' position.

    Election to Holyrood

    In 1999, Swinney was elected to the 1st Scottish Parliament, representing the North Tayside constituency.[14] In Salmond's opposition cabinet, he served as the Spokesman on Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. He also served on the Parliament's Finance Committee and was the Convener of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee.[15]

    Leadership of the Scottish National Party (2000–2004)

    Leadership bid

    In 2000, Alex Salmond resigned as leader of the SNP,[16][17] which triggered a leadership contest.[18][19] Swinney ran in the election against Alex Neil.[20][21] The leadership contest was dominated by internal fights in the party between Gradualists, who advocated Scottish devolution as step towards independence, and Fundamentalists, who were suspicious of devolution and supported a more radical approach.[22][23] Swinney represented the gradualist wing and Neil represented the fundamentalists wing.[24][25] Whilst both candidates supported the position of the SNP on the centre-left, Neil was seen as the more left-wing of the two, and individuals associated with the Neil campaign argued that a Swinney leadership would drag the SNP to the right.[26][27][28]

    Swinney won an overwhelming majority of votes by party delegates, securing 67.1% of votes.[29] He was appointed leader at the party's conference on 16 September 2000. Roseanna Cunningham, who endorsed Swinney in the leadership race, was elected Depute Leader.[30][31][32]

    Tenure

    Internal party divisions

    Swinney's leadership quickly came under challenge. His subdued style of debating technique was often contrasted with that of his more charismatic predecessor.[33] In 2002, Dorothy-Grace Elder, the SNP MSP for the Glasgow region, resigned her party membership after coming dissatisfied with the leadership of the SNP. She sat as an independent MSP, but Swinney called for her resignation, describing her actions as a "flout [of] the democratic will of the people of Glasgow".[34] Margo MacDonald, a fundamentalist within the SNP, voiced her lack of confidence in Swinney's leadership. MacDonald was placed fifth in the Lothians region for the 2003 Parliament election in the SNP's candidate selection, effectively ending her chances of being re-elected as an SNP MSP.[35] In protest, she ran instead as an independent candidate and was later expelled from the party.[36]

    In 2003, a former parliamentary candidate and a party activist in the Shetland Islands Brian Nugent announced that he was forming his own pro-independence party, the Scottish Party, which eventually relaunched itself as the Free Scotland Party, in response to what he perceived to be an overly pro-EU stance by the SNP.[37][38]

    2001 UK and 2003 Scottish elections

    Swinney speaking in a Scottish Parliament debate, June 2000

    Swinney led the SNP through a poor election result at the 2001 UK General election.[39] The party failed to take any of their target seats and saw the loss of one of their MPs, reducing their representation at Westminster from six to five. In the Perth constituency, the Scottish Conservatives were 50 votes behind the SNP.[40][41] Although the SNP's vote share remained the second-largest party, behind Labour, their vote share fell by 2%.[42] Swinney's predecessor, Salmond, stated "consolidating as the second party in Scotland is no mean achievement" and highlighted it put the SNP in a good position for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election in 2003.[43] Following the results of the election, Swinney admitted there were "lessons to learn" and ensured the SNP would be the "principal opposition party in Scottish politics".[44]

    In the 2003 election, the SNP performed poorly in yet another election, with the party's vote share dropping by 4.9%.[45] They lost eight of their seats they had gained in the previous election under the leadership of Salmond. Despite a poor result, this was also mirrored by the Scottish Labour Party, who lost six MSPs and their vote share dropped by 4.2%.[46] The SNP remained the second-largest party at Holyrood. The decline in support for the SNP was viewed by some as a rejection of the case for Scottish independence, however, the only parties which increased their representation in that election were the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and the Scottish Green Party, both of which also support independence.[47][48]

    2003 leadership challenge

    Following the results of the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Bill Wilson, a party activist, became convinced that a change of direction was needed by the SNP leadership.[49] After discussing this with various SNP members, he was persuaded to contest the leadership himself and launched a challenge against Swinney.[50] Wilson ran a campaign attacking Swinney's proposals for party reform, which he claimed would centralise power and impoverish local branches. Wilson also challenged Swinney to a series of debates, although Swinney refused to take part.[51][52]

    The election was yet another fight between the party's fundamentalists and gradualists, with Wilson attacking Swinney's proposal for a referendum on independence before pursuing negotiations with the British government. Wilson argued that as soon as the SNP can form a government it should pursue negotiations to end the union. Cunningham called Wilson was a "stalking horse" candidate put forward to "weaken and damage" the leadership.[53]

    The election was held at the party's 69th annual conference, and saw Swinney winning a massive victory over Wilson.[54] Moves in support of Wilson's proposition of pursuing independence negotiations without a referendum were thrown out at the party conference, and Swinney won significant policy battles over imposing a monthly levy on party MP's, MSP's, and MEP's. In a surprise result, the new central membership system was also approved.[55] The membership changes had been a key issue of attack from Wilson.[53] Soon afterwards, the party's National Executive Committee decided to suspend and then expel Campbell Martin. He had backed Wilson's leadership challenge and had continued to be overtly critical of Swinney's leadership, resulting in disciplinary action.[56] This was the last SNP election to use the delegate voting method. Future elections would be based on a one-person-one-vote postal vote system.[57]

    Scottish independence

    In September 2003 he urged SNP activists to ask the public, "Do you want independence, yes or no? And then tell the Brits to get off." A spokesman for Scottish Labour condemned the Swinney's use of language and said, "There is no place in Scotland for his brand of extreme nationalism."[58]

    2004 European Parliament elections

    Though retaining its two seats at the 2004 European elections, in a smaller field of 7 (Scotland up until then had 8 MEPs) the Scottish press and certain elements within the fundamentalist wing of the Party depicted the result as a disaster for the SNP putting further pressure on Swinney to resign.[59][60]

    Resignation

    After the results of the 2004 European Parliament election, senior figures within the SNP began privately briefing against Swinney. Gil Paterson, a former MSP for Central Scotland, was the first to call for Swinney's departure, with Michael Russell, a former potential campaign manager for Swinney calling for a change in approach from the SNP.[61] Members of the SNP shadow cabinet began privately discussing removing Swinney from the leadership, and Alex Salmond advised Swinney to resign in exchange for senior party figures not calling openly for his resignation.[62] On 22 June 2004, Swinney resigned as leader of the Scottish National Party, triggering a leadership contest.[63][64][65] He was succeeded by Alex Salmond after winning more than 75% of votes against Roseanna Cunningham and Michael Russell on a joint leadership ticket with Nicola Sturgeon.[66][67][68]

    SNP in opposition (2004–2007)

    From 2004 until the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Swinney sat on the SNP's opposition backbenches. He served as a convener on the Parliament's European and External Relations Committee from 2004 to 2005 and deputy convener on the Finance Committee from 2005 to 2007. Swinney was a substitute member of the Audit Committee from 2004 to 2007.[69] In September 2005, Swinney was made Shadow Minister for Finance.[70][71]

    Salmond administration (2007–2014)

    Finance Secretary: 2007–2016

    Swinney (far-left) with members of the first cabinet of Alex Salmond, June 2007

    In the 2007 election to the 3rd Scottish Parliament, the SNP emerged as the largest party, with one seat more than the governing Scottish Labour.[72][73] Initially the SNP proposed coalition talks with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, however, they declined and instead Swinney led coalition talks with the Scottish Greens.[74] After an agreement, Salmond was appointed first minister of Scotland and he appointed Swinney as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in his first minority government.[75]

    As response to Swinney not notifying the Scottish Parliament that he had let the Scottish Variable Rate lapse due to not funding this tax mechanism, the Scottish Parliament voted to censure him and called his actions "an abuse of power".[76] Subsequently, a freedom of information request showed that even if Swinney had funded the mechanism, problems and delays in the HM Revenue & Customs computer system made any collection of the tax impossible. The Scottish Government added, "The power has not lapsed, the HMRC simply does not have an IT system capable of delivering a ten-month state of readiness."[77][78]

    2008 financial crisis

    As Finance Secretary, Swinney was faced with the 2008 financial crash, which resulted in the Scottish economy entering recession.[79]

    Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2014-2023)

    Swinney with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after his appointment as Deputy First Minister, November 2014

    Following the defeat of the Yes Scotland campaign in the 2014 referendum, Salmond resigned as leader of the SNP and Swinney was seen as a likely candidate in the leadership race, however, he "unreservedly" ruled himself out for a second bid as leader and endorsed Nicola Sturgeon.[80][81][82] Sturgeon was elected unopposed as leader and was subsequently appointed First Minister of Scotland.[83][84] On 21 November 2014, Sturgeon appointed Swinney as Deputy First Minister.[85] He remained as Finance Secretary in Sturgeon's new cabinet.[86][87]

    Sturgeon and Swinney head the first meeting of the Scottish Cabinet, May 2016

    Education Secretary: 2016–2021

    In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP lost its overall majority, but remained the largest party with Sturgeon securing a second term as first minister.[88][89] She reappointed Swinney as deputy first minister, and for the first time in nine years, he was reshuffled from his roles as Finance Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.[90][91]

    Educational performance

    After the 2017 General Election saw the SNP lose 21 seats, pollster Professor John Curtice told the BBC that the party's record on education had likely dented its popularity: "The SNP may want to reflect that their domestic record, not least on schools, is beginning to undermine their support among those who on the constitutional question are still willing to support the Nationalist position."[92]

    In March 2020, after the results of Scottish students dropped in maths and science in the international PISA rankings for education, Swinney admitted, "There is progress to be made in maths and science."[93] Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "These two areas are so critical to the success of much of Scotland's modern economy. We should be doing so much better."[94]

    2020 SQA exam controversy

    In August 2020 he was subject to a vote of no confidence in Parliament, with the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all accusing Swinney of creating an exam results system which "unfairly penalised pupils at schools which had historically not performed so well".[95] During the No Confidence debate, Nicola Sturgeon described him as "one of the most decent and dedicated people in Scottish politics", while The Herald newspaper reported that: "Mr Swinney endured a deeply uncomfortable hour in the Holyrood chamber, as opposition MSPs said he had been a serial failure at the education portfolio, and he knew it."[96] The motion was defeated by 67 votes to 58 resulting in Swinney surviving the vote and remaining as Scottish Education Secretary.[97][98]

    Vote of no confidence

    In March 2021 Swinney was the subject of a second motion of no confidence.[99] As the minister in charge of liaising with the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, Swinney twice refused to publish legal advice requested by the committee.[100] After two votes in Parliament failed to persuade him to publish the advice, opposition parties announced a motion of no confidence in him.[100] Swinney u-turned and published the advice; the Scottish Greens declared they would not support the motion of no confidence and it was defeated by 65 votes to 57.[100]

    Attainment gap

    A report by Audit Scotland in March 2021 concluded that the results of Swinney's efforts to reduce the poverty related attainment gap in Scottish education were "limited and [fell] short of the Scottish Government’s aims. Improvement needs to happen more quickly and there needs to be greater consistency across the country." In 10 Scottish council areas the attainment gap between the richest and the poorest children increased.[101]

    Covid Recovery Secretary: 2021–2023

    Following the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Scottish Labour urged Sturgeon to replace Swinney as Cabinet Secretary for Education, citing what it called "a litany of failures", in the "hope a new minister can stop the rot."[102] On 18 May, Sturgeon announced John Swinney would continue as Deputy First Minister but would be reshuffled to the new cabinet role as Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery.[103]

    Following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, Swinney announced on 2 March 2023 that he was standing down from his position as Deputy First Minister. He stated that it had been an "honour to serve Scotland".[104]

    Political positions

    Monarchy

    In September 2022, he stated that the monarch should remain head of state of an independent Scotland.[105]

    Personal life

    Swinney was married to Lorna King from 1991 to 1998. They had two children: Judith and Stuart. The couple divorced in 1998 after the Daily Record revealed King had an affair with a married nursery teacher.[106] In 2003, he married Elizabeth Quigley, a BBC Scotland News reporter.[107] In 2010, she gave birth to Swinney's third child, Matthew.[108][109] They live in Blairgowrie in Perth and Kinross.[110]

    References

    1. ↑ "Mr John Swinney (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    2. ↑ "John Swinney will love Edinburgh trams - father". www.scotsman.com. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
    3. ↑ Death certificate of Agnes Weir Swinney, 2020, Edinburgh, Central 734/ 462 – National Records of Scotland
    4. ↑ Fraser, Gemma (30 March 2010). "School's Victoria Cross hero honoured at memorial move". The Scotsman article. Edinburgh: The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
    5. ↑ "World War II". 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    6. ↑ "News | The Scotsman". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    7. ↑ "Deputy First Minister". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    8. ↑ "The Scottish Parliament , John Swinney". 2 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2 May 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    9. ↑ "John Swinney". Scottish National Party. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    10. ↑ Young, Andrew (11 May 1983). "TV-am may have the morning off". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 1. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
    11. ↑ "History - Young Scots for Independence". YSI. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    12. ↑ "John Swinney". the Guardian. 25 March 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
    13. ↑ "UK Parliament > MPs and Lords > Find MPs > Mr John Swinney". parliament.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
    14. ↑ "FM hails John Swinney as 'nicest guy in politics' as he hits 25-year milestone". The National. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    15. ↑ "John Swinney". 19 August 1999. Archived from the original on 19 August 1999. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    16. ↑ "Salmond stuns SNP with decision to quit". the Guardian. 18 July 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    17. ↑ "Salmond resigns after 10 years as SNP leader". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    18. ↑ "SNP contenders fight for party's soul". the Guardian. 16 September 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    19. ↑ "Scramble to lead SNP as Salmond quits". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    20. ↑ "High noon for Swinney". the Guardian. 23 July 2000. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    21. ↑ "BBC News | SNP | Tussle for the top". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    22. ↑ "David Torrance: The great SNP divide". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    23. ↑ "SNP's radical wing threatens to split party". the Guardian. 6 May 1999. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    24. ↑ "BBC News | SCOTLAND | SNP leadership contest clearer". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    25. ↑ "BBC News | SNP | Tussle for the top". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    26. ↑ "BBC News | SNP | Alex Neil: My message". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    27. ↑ "BBC News | SNP | Nationalists air their views". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    28. ↑ "BBC News | SNP | Attention turns to key SNP ballots". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    29. ↑ "Emphatic SNP win for Swinney". BBC News. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
    30. ↑ "BBC News | SCOTLAND | SNP members take sides". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    31. ↑ Correspondent, Fraser Nelson Scottish Political. "SNP leader snubbed by rival". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    32. ↑ "BBC NEWS | In Depth | Conferences | SNP | Backroom boy moves to the fore". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    33. ↑ "John Swinney". the Guardian. 25 March 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    34. ↑ "MSP quits nationalists". 2 May 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    35. ↑ "Nationalists quit in Margo protest". 17 July 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    36. ↑ "Margo expelled from SNP". 28 January 2003. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    37. ↑ "Brian Nugent Archives". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    38. ↑ Times, Shetland (6 June 2016). "Vote leave to stop the EU super state, says campaigner Nugent". The Shetland Times. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    39. ↑ Mitchell, James (1 December 2001). "The 2001 general election: The view from Scotland". Representation. 38 (3): 243–248. doi:10.1080/00344890108523186. ISSN 0034-4893. S2CID 153430975.
    40. ↑ "Gain but still pain for Tories". 8 June 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    41. ↑ "Scots produce few poll surprises". 8 June 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    42. ↑ "Scots parties reflect on historic election". 8 June 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    43. ↑ "Salmond hails poll standing". 8 June 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    44. ↑ "Lessons for SNP". 10 June 2001. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    45. ↑ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    46. ↑ "Scottish Labour retains power - just". the Guardian. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    47. ↑ "Analysis of Results". 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    48. ↑ "Election result: Your reaction". 2 May 2003. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    49. ↑ "SNP lose out at the polls". 2 May 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    50. ↑ "Swinney will defend leadership". 25 July 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    51. ↑ "Leadership challenger slams Swinney". 14 August 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    52. ↑ Mitchell, James; Bennie, Lynn; Johns, Rob (2012). The Scottish National Party: Transition to Power. p. 39. ISBN 9780199580002.
    53. 1 2 Campbell, Kirsten (27 September 2003). "SNP leader looks to the future". BBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
    54. ↑ "Swinney secures victory". BBC News. 27 September 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
    55. ↑ "Swinney wins first reform battle". 23 April 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    56. ↑ "Nationalists throw out rebel MSP". 10 July 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    57. ↑ Quinn, Thomas (7 February 2012). Electing and Ejecting Party Leaders in Britain. ISBN 9780230362789.
    58. ↑ "Swinney: Now is time to tell Brits to get off". The Scotsman. 27 September 2003.
    59. ↑ Scott, Kirst (15 June 2004). "SNP snub is little comfort for Scots Labour". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    60. ↑ Correspondent, By Angus Macleod, Scottish Political. "Swinney puts leadership on line in SNP Euro campaign". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 September 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    61. ↑ "Euro poll was breaking point for Swinney". The Scotsman. 23 June 2004.
    62. ↑ "Euro poll was breaking point for Swinney". The Scotsman. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
    63. ↑ "Under-fire SNP leader resigns". 22 June 2004. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
    64. ↑ "SNP leader resigns after poor Euro poll results". the Guardian. 23 June 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
    65. ↑ "Swinney tells of the moment he left the burden of leadership behind". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    66. ↑ "Salmond named as new SNP leader". 3 September 2004.
    67. ↑ "1 July 2004". 30 June 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
    68. ↑ "Russell joins SNP leader battle". 28 June 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
    69. ↑ "John Swinney". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    70. ↑ Macleod, Angus. "Swinney returns in reshuffle". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    71. ↑ "Swinney back on SNP's front bench". 5 September 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    72. ↑ "2007 Election Results". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    73. ↑ "SNP wins historic victory". the Guardian. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    74. ↑ "SNP tipped to bring in Greens for minority rule", Edinburgh Evening News, 11 May 2007
    75. ↑ "Salmond announces his new cabinet". BBC News. 16 May 2007.
    76. ↑ "John Swinney says sorry over tax power giveaway". Telegraph.co.uk. 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010.
    77. ↑ Barnes, Eddie (16 January 2011). "UK taxman killed off Tartan Tax". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
    78. ↑ UK taxman killed off Tartan Tax Archived 19 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    79. ↑ "Dark times for Scots economy". the Guardian. 23 November 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
    80. ↑ "John Swinney rules out SNP leadership". www.scotsman.com. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    81. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon launches campaign to succeed Alex Salmond". the Guardian. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    82. ↑ "Scottish ministers 'back Sturgeon as next first minister'". BBC News. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    83. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon confirmed as next leader of the SNP". the Guardian. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    84. ↑ "Sturgeon sworn in as first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    85. ↑ "Swinney is Sturgeon's new deputy". ITV News. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    86. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon announces Scottish cabinet with equal gender balance". the Guardian. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    87. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    88. ↑ "Scottish Parliament election 2016 results - BBC News". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    89. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon confirmed as Scottish first minister". the Guardian. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    90. ↑ "Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary". BBC News. 18 May 2016.
    91. ↑ "Who is in the 2016 Scottish cabinet?". BBC News. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
    92. ↑ Henderson, Barney; Johnson, Simon (8 June 2017). "Scotland election results: Alex Salmond defeated and SNP suffer huge losses as Tory chances boosted north of the border". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
    93. ↑ McQuillan, Rebecca (11 March 2020). "Scottish education still envy of world, says John Swinney – interview". Holyrood Website.
    94. ↑ "Pisa: Mixed report for Scottish education in world rankings". BBC News. 3 December 2019.
    95. ↑ "Education Secretary John Swinney faces no-confidence vote". BBC News. 12 August 2020.
    96. ↑ "Swinney survives no confidence vote after being branded a serial failure". HeraldScotland.
    97. ↑ Peterkin, Tom (13 August 2020). "John Swinney survives vote of no confidence as SNP and Green MSPs ride to his rescue". Press and Journal.
    98. ↑ "Limited progress made on closing Scotland's attainment gap say auditors". Holyrood Website. 23 March 2021.
    99. ↑ "John Swinney survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood". BBC News. 10 March 2021.
    100. 1 2 3 McCall, Chris (10 March 2021). "John Swinney survives vote of no confidence as Greens back Deputy First Minister". Daily Record.
    101. ↑ "School attainment gap 'remains wide', watchdog warns". BBC News. 23 March 2021.
    102. ↑ Healey, Derek. "Nicola Sturgeon must drop 'failing' John Swinney as education secretary, says Scottish Labour".
    103. ↑ "John Swinney to be minister for Covid recovery". BBC News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
    104. ↑ "Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney to stand down". BBC News. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
    105. ↑ Davidson, Peter and Shanks, Ciaran (12 September 2022). "Independent Scotland would keep King Charles as head of state, says John Swinney". Aberdeen Live. Retrieved 13 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    106. ↑ "Maybe Lorna was never cut out to be a boring old MP's wife. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    107. ↑ "Biography | John Swinney MSP". www.johnswinney.scot. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    108. ↑ "Arrival of baby Matthew thrills John Swinney and wife". www.scotsman.com. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    109. ↑ Dailyrecord.co.uk (25 October 2010). "Baby boy joy for the Swinneys". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    110. ↑ StreetBlairgowrie, 17-19 Leslie; Ph10 6ah (5 September 2018). "John Swinney". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 23 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

    Notes

    1. ↑ Previously titled Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth from 2007 to 2011; Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth from 2011 to 2014; and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy from 2014 to 2016
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Swinney.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.