John Swinney has been accused of stoking more division after launching his bid to become the next first minister with a pitch for breaking up the UK. The former deputy first minister confirmed on Thursday he will run to succeed Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s next first minister - but question marks remain as to how long he would stay in the post.
If successful it will be the second time Mr Swinney – who was Scottish deputy first minister for more than eight years under Nicola Sturgeon – has led his party, after holding the post between 2000 and 2004. His leadership bid has already been backed by a number of prominent SNP figures, including the party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish health secretary Neil Gray and Scottish education secretary Jenny Gilruth.
But he has been accused of being lined up as a 'caretaker' having previously expressed. desire to leave frontline politics behind. He launched his campaign at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh where he said he wanted to "unite Scotland for independence".
He mentioned independence 10 times in his speech - more than housing, health, education, the cost of living crisis and the economy combined. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross pounced his comments at FMQs, saying whoever takes the keys to Bute House "must focus on what really matters to Scotland."
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He added: "They have to forget about independence, and prioritise growing our economy, creating jobs and improving public services. By focusing his campaign on ‘uniting for independence’, all John Swinney offers is more division for Scotland.
"He’s another continuity candidate pushing more of the same nationalist obsession that has damaged Scotland for more than a decade. He’s fixated on independence, not on the things that really matter." He said Mr Swinney was the "SNP’s man for the future is their failed leader from the past" and accused him of acting as Nicola Sturgeon's "human shield".
He added: "He masterminded the deal with the extreme Greens. For 16 out of 17 years of SNP Government, John Swinney sat at the cabinet table. His fingerprints are all over their most toxic policies.
"They think John Swinney is a safe pair of hands – but he dropped the ball dozens of times. He was the Deputy First Minister who stood right by Nicola Sturgeon when she obsessed about independence, raised taxes and wrecked Scotland’s public services.
"He was the architect of the hated Named Persons law. He deleted every pandemic WhatsApp message that should have gone to the UK Covid Inquiry in a shocking cover-up.
"He was the education secretary who let our schools spiral down international league tables below Estonia, Latvia and Hungary. He was the finance secretary who oversaw the disastrous ferries deal – but he’s supposed to steady the ship.
"His campaign slogan confirms that John Swinney will just be another divisive nationalist focused only on independence. John Swinney has been at the very heart of the failures that have defined the SNP’s time in office."
Former Holyrood finance secretary Kate Forbes – who has also been touted as a successor to Mr Yousaf following his resignation on Monday – is expected to announce later on Thursday whether she will run for the post.
Party bosses are keen to avoid a contest and anoint Swinney as the victor. He and Ms Forbes held private talks on Tuesday, but it is not known whether any agreement was reached.
Announcing his leadership bid at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh on Thursday, he was asked how long he would stay in the role if elected. But he merely said: "I am no caretaker, I am no interim leader."
Addressing SNP members, he said: "I want to build on the work of the SNP Government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland that will ensure opportunities for all of our citizens. I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence."
Mr Swinney said, if elected, he will be "part of a united team that draws together the whole party", and said he wants Ms Forbes to "play a significant part in that team" adding to speculation the pair have effectively carved up the role of first minister. Mr Swinney has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament’s inception in 1999, serving North Tayside, and previously represented the same constituency at Westminster in 1997.
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