Shona Robison (Finance) Neil Gray (Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy)
In office 17 May 2007 – 18 May 2016
First Minister
Alex Salmond Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by
Tom McCabe
Succeeded by
Derek Mackay
Keith Brown
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
In office 20 May 2021 – 28 March 2023
First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by
Office established
Succeeded by
Office abolished
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
In office 18 May 2016 – 20 May 2021
First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by
Angela Constance
Roseanna Cunningham
Succeeded by
Shirley-Anne Somerville
Party political offices
Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office 25 August 1998 – 26 September 2000
Leader
Alex Salmond
Preceded by
Allan Macartney
Succeeded by
Roseanna Cunningham
Parliamentary offices
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire North North Tayside (1999–2011)
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 1999
Preceded by
Constituency established
Majority
3,336 (9.8%)
Member of Parliament for Tayside North
In office 1 May 1997 – 14 May 2001
Preceded by
Bill Walker
Succeeded by
Pete Wishart
Personal details
Born
John Ramsay Swinney
(1964-04-13) 13 April 1964 (age 60) Edinburgh, Scotland
Political party
Scottish National Party
Spouses
Lorna King
(m. 1991; div. 1998)
(ann. 2003)
Elizabeth Quigley
(m. 2003)
Children
3
Relatives
Tom Hunter (uncle)
Alma mater
University of Edinburgh
Website
www.johnswinneymsp.com
This article is part of a series about
John Swinney
Leader of the Scottish National Party
Incumbent
Political positions
Electoral history
MSP for Perthshire North
Cabinet positions (2007–2023)
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
Finance Secretary
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
First Minister of Scotland (2024–present)
Premiership
Cabinet
2024 SNP leadership election
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John Ramsay Swinney (born 13 April 1964) is a Scottish politician who has served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since May 2024. He previously served as the leader of the SNP from 2000 to 2004 as Leader of the Opposition, and held various roles within the Scottish Cabinet from 2007 to 2023 under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Swinney was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North Tayside from 1999 to 2011 and, following boundary changes, has been MSP for Perthshire North since 2011. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001.
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 by serving as the National Secretary from 1986 to 1992 and as Deputy Leader from 1998 to 2000. He served in the House of Commons as MP for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001. He was elected to the inaugural Scottish Parliament at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election. After Salmond resigned the party leadership in 2000, Swinney was elected at the 2000 leadership election. He became Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP lost one MP at the 2001 general election and eight MSPs at the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, despite the Officegate scandal unseating the previous Scottish Labour 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 challenge to his leadership in 2003, and the party's unfavourable results at the 2004 European Parliament election, Swinney resigned. Salmond returned to the role at the subsequent 2004 leadership election.
From 2004 to 2007, Swinney was a backbencher. At the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP won the highest number of seats, and Salmond was subsequently appointed first minister. Swinney served under Salmond as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth from 2007 to 2014. After Sturgeon succeeded Salmond, she appointed Swinney as Deputy First Minister 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 and Economy Secretary in addition to his position of Covid Recovery Secretary from July 2022 to March 2023. In March 2023, he announced his resignation from his senior positions in response to Sturgeon's resignation as first minister.
Swinney spent the duration of Humza Yousaf's premiership on the backbenches and served as a member of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee. Following Yousaf's announcement of his resignation in April 2024, Swinney ran to succeed him at the 2024 SNP leadership election and was elected unopposed.
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John Ramsay Swinney (born 13 April 1964) is a Scottish politician who has served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party...
JohnSwinney's term as First Minister of Scotland began on 8 May 2024, when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session, upon Humza Yousaf's...
JohnSwinney formed the Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. On 29 April...
April 2024, amid a government crisis. Nominations closed on 6 May, with JohnSwinney emerging as the only candidate and was subsequently elected unopposed...
psycholinguist Harry Swinney (born 1939), American physicist noted for his contributions to the field of nonlinear dynamics JohnSwinney (born 1964), Scottish...
following week due to the resulting fallout of the decision. The incumbent JohnSwinney was elected leader in May 2024. The SNP is the largest political party...
year 2024 in Scotland. First Minister Humza Yousaf (until 7 May 2024 ) JohnSwinney (starting 8 May 2024) Secretary of State – Alister Jack 1 January – Police...
election but she ultimately chose not to stand and endorsed JohnSwinney. After Swinney became First Minister in May 2024, he appointed Forbes as Deputy...
being officially appointed by the monarch. The current first minister is JohnSwinney, who leads the Government of the 6th Scottish Parliament, as did his...
William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney (/ˈdæboʊ ˈswiːniː/; born November 20, 1969) is an American football coach, currently serving as the head football coach...
it emerged that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister JohnSwinney and Yousaf were all on holiday. Yousaf said he had promised to take his...
office is currently held by JohnSwinney, the MSP for Perthshire North and the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). Swinney was elected first minister...
sixth parliament: Scottish National Party (SNP) led by First Minister JohnSwinney, the Scottish Conservatives led by Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour led...
currently held by Kate Forbes since 8 May 2024, following her appointment by JohnSwinney alongside her portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic....
May 2024). "JohnSwinney wins SNP leadership unopposed". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2024. Cochrane, Angus (7 May 2024). "JohnSwinney wins nomination...
government. After Yousaf's resignation and the subsequent appointment of JohnSwinney as First Minister in 2024, Robison resigned as Deputy First Minister...
Scottish Parliament election, expected to be held in 2026. On 2 March, JohnSwinney, the Deputy First Minister, and only person other than Sturgeon to be...
position within Scotland's Scottish National Party (SNP). The incumbent is JohnSwinney, who was elected unopposed in the 2024 leadership election on 6 May 2024...
announced his intention to resign as First Minister and leader of the SNP. JohnSwinney succeeded Yousaf on 7 May 2024 following a leadership election. On 25...
Salmond was elected, on a joint ticket with Sturgeon as depute, to succeed JohnSwinney after he resigned following poor SNP electoral performances. Salmond...
fall-outs with party members, and was replaced by his preferred successor JohnSwinney, who defeated Alex Neil for the post. He resigned from the Scottish Parliament...
who was appointed by Humza Yousaf in March 2023. It was abolished by JohnSwinney following the formation of his government. The specific responsibilities...
election. 8 May JohnSwinney is sworn in as Scotland's seventh first minister at a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Swinney appoints Kate...
First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal, a role currently held by JohnSwinney since 8 May 2024. Under the terms of a royal warrant of 1818, the Keeper...
National Party leadership election was held following the resignation of JohnSwinney as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). Nominations opened on...
American keynote speaker and author John Sweeny, settler for whom the town of Sweeny, Texas, U.S., was named JohnSwinney (born 1964), Scottish politician...
2003 following a challenge to JohnSwinney's position as National Convener of the Scottish National Party (SNP). Swinney defeated his challenger, although...
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