John Swinney acceptance speech
- 6 days ago
John Swinney acceptance speech
What are the key challenges facing John Swinney as First Minister and SNP leader?
Mr Swinney was confirmed as the new leader of the SNP on Monday
John Swinney will not have his troubles to seek. The new SNP leader, who will become Scotland’s seventh first minister this week, inherits a number of problems both in his party and in the country at large. He will be all too aware of the difficulties ahead.
His predecessor, Humza Yousaf, never really managed to get on the front foot. Within days of him taking office last year, the police investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances exploded into the headlines. It has haunted the party ever since.
Mr Swinney will seek to heal internal divisions and boost his party’s fortunes in the polls ahead of an expected general election later this year. He has also emphasised the importance of economic growth. So what are the key challenges he faces?
A clear vision
Mr Swinney will want to set out a clear strategic direction for his party. This is something his predecessor arguably struggled to do. Mr Yousaf hiked income tax for higher earners at the same time as freezing council tax, which some saw as sending a muddled message.
“Is this a guy who has demonstrated clear strategic direction?" asked polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice when I spoke to him last month. “Answer – no. Increases one set of taxes and reduces another set of taxes.”
At his leadership campaign launch last week, Mr Swinney said his goals as first minister “will come straight from that moderate centre-left tradition – the pursuit of economic growth and of social justice”.
Policy rows
Mr Swinney referenced the “curse” of child poverty, as well as the need to bring people and businesses “with us” in the pursuit of net zero.
"I want ministers to be focused on the delivery of services on which the public depend – on health, on education, on housing, on transport – so people see their lives are getting better as a result of the actions of their government,” he told supporters last week.
The Scottish Government has been embroiled in a number of policy rows in recent months. Prof Curtice said SNP ministers have had “a wee bit, seemingly, of a reverse Midas touch”, adding: “They cannot stop the mud being stuck on them.”
Will Mr Swinney seek to steer away from controversial issues such as gender reform and conversion therapy to focus resources elsewhere? Polling shows there are real concerns about areas such as health and education in Scotland.
Minority government
Following the end of the power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Greens, Mr Swinney will not have a parliamentary majority. This is not necessarily a huge stumbling block – after all, both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon previously presided over minority administrations.
However, as Mr Swinney acknowledged, it does mean his party’s approach will have to change. The Greens have said they will engage on an “issue-by-issue basis”. Depending
What are the key challenges facing John Swinney as First Minister and SNP leader?
Mr Swinney was confirmed as the new leader of the SNP on Monday
John Swinney will not have his troubles to seek. The new SNP leader, who will become Scotland’s seventh first minister this week, inherits a number of problems both in his party and in the country at large. He will be all too aware of the difficulties ahead.
His predecessor, Humza Yousaf, never really managed to get on the front foot. Within days of him taking office last year, the police investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances exploded into the headlines. It has haunted the party ever since.
Mr Swinney will seek to heal internal divisions and boost his party’s fortunes in the polls ahead of an expected general election later this year. He has also emphasised the importance of economic growth. So what are the key challenges he faces?
A clear vision
Mr Swinney will want to set out a clear strategic direction for his party. This is something his predecessor arguably struggled to do. Mr Yousaf hiked income tax for higher earners at the same time as freezing council tax, which some saw as sending a muddled message.
“Is this a guy who has demonstrated clear strategic direction?" asked polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice when I spoke to him last month. “Answer – no. Increases one set of taxes and reduces another set of taxes.”
At his leadership campaign launch last week, Mr Swinney said his goals as first minister “will come straight from that moderate centre-left tradition – the pursuit of economic growth and of social justice”.
Policy rows
Mr Swinney referenced the “curse” of child poverty, as well as the need to bring people and businesses “with us” in the pursuit of net zero.
"I want ministers to be focused on the delivery of services on which the public depend – on health, on education, on housing, on transport – so people see their lives are getting better as a result of the actions of their government,” he told supporters last week.
The Scottish Government has been embroiled in a number of policy rows in recent months. Prof Curtice said SNP ministers have had “a wee bit, seemingly, of a reverse Midas touch”, adding: “They cannot stop the mud being stuck on them.”
Will Mr Swinney seek to steer away from controversial issues such as gender reform and conversion therapy to focus resources elsewhere? Polling shows there are real concerns about areas such as health and education in Scotland.
Minority government
Following the end of the power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Greens, Mr Swinney will not have a parliamentary majority. This is not necessarily a huge stumbling block – after all, both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon previously presided over minority administrations.
However, as Mr Swinney acknowledged, it does mean his party’s approach will have to change. The Greens have said they will engage on an “issue-by-issue basis”. Depending