John Swinney pledges to ‘give everything I have’ to new job as First Minister

PA Media: Video

Updated 7 May 2024 at 11:23 am

Credit: Scottish Parliament TV John Swinney said it was an “extraordinary privilege” to become Scotland’s new first minister as he pledged to “give everything I have” to the role. He spoke out after winning a vote at Holyrood that will see him become the seventh person to be first minister since the Scottish Parliament was established. He is now expected to be formally sworn into the position on Wednesday. Mr Swinney became the new leader of the SNP unopposed on Monday – with this happening a week after his predecessor Humza Yousaf announced he was stepping down after his decision to rip up the powersharing deal the party had with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood, leaving him facing a motion of no confidence in his leadership.

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