John Swinney

Scottish politician (born 1964)

John Ramsay Swinney (born 13 April 1964) is a Scottish politician who is the First Minister of Scotland since 2024. He was the Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. He had several cabinet roles with First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon from 2007 to 2023. Swinney has been a member of the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999.

John Swinney

Official portrait, 2024
First Minister of Scotland
Assumed office
8 May 2024
MonarchCharles III
DeputyKate Forbes
Preceded byHumza Yousaf
Leader of the Scottish National Party
Assumed office
6 May 2024
DeputeKeith Brown
Preceded byHumza Yousaf
In office
26 September 2000 – 3 September 2004
DeputeRoseanna Cunningham
Preceded byAlex Salmond
Succeeded byAlex Salmond
Cabinet offices
2007–2023
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[a]
Acting[b]
16 July 2022 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byKate Forbes
Succeeded byShona Robison (Finance)
Neil Gray (Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy)
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
Party political offices
Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party[broken anchor]
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 (age 60)
Edinburgh, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)
Lorna King
(m. 1991; div. 1998)
Elizabeth Quigley
(m. 2003)
Children3
RelativesTom Hunter (uncle)
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
Websitewww.johnswinney.scot Edit this at Wikidata

Swinney was the Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2000 to 2004. In early May 2024, Swinney announced his candidacy for Leader of the Scottish National Party to replace resigning leader Humza Yousaf.[1] He was elected party leader on 8 May 2024.[2]

  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
  2. Swinney was acting Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy during the maternity leave of Kate Forbes from 2022 to 2023.

References

change
  1. "John Swinney looks set to be first minister as Kate Forbes backs him". BBC News. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  2. Cochrane, Angus (6 May 2024). "John Swinney wins SNP leadership unopposed". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2024.