John Swinney officially confirmed as new SNP leader

John Swinney has been confirmed as the new SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland.

It has emerged he was the only candidate to stand for the role, after veteran campaigner Graeme McCormick announced last night that he would be standing aside and not taking part in the leadership contest.

Nominations for the post closed at midday today (Monday 6th May).

Mr Swinney will now face a vote at Holyrood later this week, where it is likely he will become the Scottish Parliament's nominated candidate to be the country's seventh first minister.

It comes just a week after Mr Yousaf announced he was stepping down as both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, after his decision to tear up his party's powersharing deal with the Greens at Holyrood left him facing a vote of confidence.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said the party's seven MSPs would meet to discuss how they would vote in the ballot for first minister.

Mr Harvie stated: "We are committed to delivering on our vision of a fairer, greener and more equal Scotland, and are open to talks with John Swinney and his team about how we can work together to make that happen."

He added: "Scotland needs a period of stable government. Mr Swinney knows that if he is to have our support then it must be on the basis of progressive policies that help us to tackle the climate crisis and build a fairer and more equal future."

The Green MSP added: "There are a lot of important policies already on their way to delivery as a result of the Bute House Agreement, including better rights for tenants and rent controls, transforming the way we heat our homes and a watertight ban on conversion therapy.

"We remain utterly committed to these policies and will oppose any move away from them or steps to dilute them."

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross meanwhile urged Mr Swinney to "govern for all of Scotland by abandoning his relentless push for independence".

Mr Ross insisted his party would seek to "hold John Swinney to account when he lets the Scottish people down - just as we've done with Humza Yousaf".

But the Conservative added: "It's difficult to see how he can be the fresh start Scotland needs, when he's the ultimate continuity candidate.

"John Swinney was joined at the hip with the disgraced Nicola Sturgeon and his fingerprints are all over her numerous policy failures and cover-ups."

With Mr Swinney having led the SNP previously between 2000 and 2004, Mr Ross went on to question if a "failed former leader from two decades ago - who, as education secretary, sent Scotland plummeting down international league tables" was the best person to lead the country.

He claimed: "With John Swinney at the helm, the SNP will double down on their independence obsession - the one issue they agree on - and ignore the real priorities of the Scottish people, such as fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy."

What's next for the new SNP leader

Becoming the new leader of the SNP does not mean John Swinney will automatically become Scotland's next first minister.

For that to happen the former deputy first minister has to face a vote in the Scottish Parliament, where he will need to win the support of MSPs.

It is likely other party leaders could put themselves forward for the ballot, though it is in reality unlikely that they would be successful in this.

However for Mr Swinney to win the vote in Holyrood, which could take place as early as Wednesday, he will need some MSPs from opposition parties to either back him in the vote, or at least abstain.

That is because without the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens, which was ripped up by Humza Yousaf, the SNP is short of an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament.

The support of Scottish Greens therefore could still be crucial going forward, in this vote and in others to come at Holyrood.

Assuming he wins the vote, Mr Swinney will then become the Scottish Parliament's nominated candidate to be the country's seventh first minister.

After that he would be formally appointed via a royal warrant, a legal document that is authorised by the King.

Following that he would officially be sworn into the post in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by the Lord President, Scotland's most senior judge.

That could happen on Thursday morning with Mr Swinney then potentially going on to take First Minister's Questions for the first time in the new role at noon the same day.

He will also have to appoint his his ministerial team of cabinet secretaries and junior ministers, with much attention on what position will go to Kate Forbes.

The former Holyrood finance secretary had been tipped as a possible challenger to Mr Swinney for the SNP leadership, but announced on Thursday she would not stand and would instead back the former deputy first minister in his bid for the top job.

Mr Swinney, in announcing his candidacy sought to praise Ms Forbes, who last year ran Mr Yousaf a close second in the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon, and giving her a top post in his cabinet team would be seen as a move towards restoring unity within the different factions of the SNP.

Ms Forbes has been out of the Scottish cabinet since then, but could return to a senior post under Mr Swinney.

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