John Swinney confirmed as new SNP leader and likely First Minister of Scotland

Katrine Bussey & Fahad Tariq

6 May 2024 at 7:41 am·1-min read

The former first minister is back in power. — The former deputy First Minister is back in power. -Credit:ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images

John Swinney has been confirmed as the SNP's new leader and likely Scotland's next First Minister after he emerged as the only candidate to stand to replace Humza Yousaf.

After nominations for the post closed, the former Scottish deputy First Minister was confirmed as the only person to put themselves forward to succeed Yousaf.

Mr Swinney, 60, 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.

He will accept the position of SNP leader at a speech in Glasgow on Monday afternoon.

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