Swinney: priority will be 'economy, jobs, the cost of living'
Ther word referendum didn’t appear in the speech by Swinney, who said his focus – if elected as First Minister – will be “the economy, jobs, the cost of living.”
“It will be the NHS, our schools and our public services. It will be addressing the climate crisis,” he added.
Swinney made clear he would “always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for Independence,” although to some listeners this will be a speech that was conspicuously light on pro-independence rhetoric.
That said, Swinney made clear:
Of course, I believe that this country could do more if we had the powers of a normal independent nation – the powers of independence. The cost of living crisis and the damaging impact of Brexit are two examples of Westminster decisions that are bad for Scotland. They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have Independence to make our own decisions and create our best future.
I will always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for Independence.
Swinney’s predecessor quelled a rebellion last year by Scottish National party MPs by agreeing to a compromise with his critics over his independence strategy.
The party’s annual conference in Aberdeen decided that if the SNP wins a majority of Scotland’s Westminster seats at the general election, it will have the mandate to negotiate independence with the UK government.
John Swinney, one of the Scottish National party’s most experienced and longest-serving politicians, is on the verge of becoming the first minster of Scotland after he was chosen as the party’s new leader. The veteran SNP figure said in press conference on Monday that he would reach out to other parties, ruling out the return to an agreement with the pro-independence Scottish Green Party. He said that eradicating child poverty would be his primary focus if he were to become First Minister
The Scottish National party’s depute leader has denied that a party activist was “leaned on” to pull out of the leadership race against John Swinney. The party’s deputy leader, Keith Brown, said Graeme McCormick’s last-minute decision on Sunday night not to stand against Swinney was proof the party was united and focused on delivering independence. Nominations for the role, vacated by Humza Yousaf last Monday, closed at midday on Monday.
Rishi Sunak has insisted the result of the next general election “isn’t a foregone conclusion” and that he is “absolutely determined to fight” on. The Prime Minister made a renewed appeal for Conservative Party unity, emphasising that it was shared values which unified Tories, and insisting that his focus would be on demonstrating to voters that progress was being made on issues such as tax cuts and immigration.
An Israeli offensive in Rafah “must not go ahead”, Sir Keir Starmer has warned, after the Israeli military told Palestinians to leave parts of the southern Gazan city. The announcement signals that a long-threatened Israeli ground invasion could be imminent, and came as ceasefire talks appeared to have stalled.
Rishi Sunak said he was “very concerned, deeply concerned” about the possibility of an Israeli military incursion into Rafah given the number of civilians sheltering there.
He had repeatedly made those points to the Israeli prime minister, but he added:
The priority now should be on all parties, but particularly Hamas, to agree to a deal to release hostages, to allow more aid to go in as part of a pause which would allow us to build a sustainable ceasefire.
Rishi Sunak has insisted the result of the next general election “isn’t a foregone conclusion” and that he is “absolutely determined to fight” on after shattering election losses last week.
Challenged over his prediction of a hung Parliament during a visit to a community centre in Islington on Monday, the Prime Minister told broadcasters:
The independent analysis shows that whilst of course this was a disappointing weekend for us, that the result of the next general election isn’t a foregone conclusion and indeed actually is closer than, or the situation is closer than, many people are saying or indeed some of the opinion polls are predicting.
And that’s why I’m absolutely determined to fight incredibly hard for what I believe and for the future country that I want to build, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Fight for this country, fight for the things I believe and deliver for everyone on the things that matter to them.”
Asked if he would make changes after the heavy electoral defeats – including the Blackpool South by-election, council and mayoral elections – Sunak said that “for my part, reflecting on it,” he was determined to show that “progress is being made”
This included taxation being cut, a strengthening of national defence and the Rwanda programme being implemented, he said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets volunteers preparing food packages during a visit to OmNom, a restaurant and community centre in north London Photograph: Henry Nicholls/PA
The Cass Review has to be taken “extremely seriously” and the government will take a “rational evidence based approach” drawing on the positions of clinicians, John Swinney says.
Dr Hilary Cass, the paediatrician commissioned to conduct a review of the services provided by the NHS to children and young people questioning their gender identity, found last month that gender medicine is “built on shaky foundations.”
John Swinney moves towards the conclusion of the questions and answer session by emphasising his eagerness to work with other parties, adding:
My core point is that the parliament does not have to be polarised. There is bound to be things that can be done if there is good will.
The underlying problem is the austerity which he says has been imposed by the Tory government in Westminster, he adds, while saying he is not optimistic about that changing under Labour.
Swinney is asked by the Guardian’s Libby Brooks why he thinks the polls have been showing that independence supporters are becoming less likely to support the SNP.
I think the SNP has been having a tough, rough time.
I has lacked cohesion. I think that has come across to members of the public and they are worried about where we are as a party, but interestingly in the great feedback I get from my experienced peers around the country.. in the last couple of days some of my very wise colleagues have been out and about in our communities and one colleague sent me a message the other day saying they were worried about how the SNP was getting on but they were glad to see we were getting our act together.
Swinney says independence supporters in Scotland know only one party can deliver independence, but he wants to earn their votes back.
John Swinney says his principle policy interest is to eradicate child poverty in Scotland.
“Observe what we do in the period going forward,” adds Swinney, who says he will start focusing the governement on what it can do to eradicate child poverty if he is elected as First Minister.
“It is a curse and under my leadership I want to eradicate it in Scotland.”
Swinney was also asked about the view of Kate Forbes that increasing taxation was counter productive because it ultimately lessened public revenue. Would he cut income tax in future budgets?
Swinney says he is not going to craft the budget, but he adds that taxation cannot continually be increased.
Asked about what the threshold should be before a second referendum on independence should go ahead, Swinney says he believes the SNP has to spend a lot more time “talking about the persuasion of people and the arguments for independence rather than the process questions that have absorbed a huge amount of consideration in this discussion.”
Swinney singles out the cost of living crisis, which he links to decisions taken by the Westminster government.
John Swinney is being asked about his relationship in future with the Scottish Greens, the SNP’s partners until the termination of a coalition agreement with them by Humza Yousaf
He says in a Q&A after his speech that he he does not intend to that agreement or to “the type of fixed arrangements” that the SNP had, but he also says: “I am sure there will be a lot of common ground.”
On other issues the SNP will have to find support and agreement with other parties, he says.
Swinney emphasises that he will leader a government from the “moderate centre left,” adding: “That is where I come from, that is where my party’s policy base is.”
Alex Salmond, a former SNP leader who now heads the Alba Party, has suggested that John Swinney’s stated prioritisation of issues like the economy could pave the way for both pro-independence parties to work together.
“He was outstanding as finance secretary. In other roles he found things a bit more difficult in politics, but nonetheless I wish him well,” he told the BBC
“He is hitting some of the right notes in terms of saying hie is going to focus attention of government on jobs, education, housing, the health services, the things that rally matter,” said Salmond, adding that Swinney’s predecessor had become “a prisoner” of the Green Partyw, which he said appeared to be more concerned with “identity politics.”
Salmond quit the Scottish National party in 2018 as he sought to clear his name of sexual misconduct charges. He was acquitted in 2020 of all charges of sexual assault.
Swinney: priority will be 'economy, jobs, the cost of living'
Ther word referendum didn’t appear in the speech by Swinney, who said his focus – if elected as First Minister – will be “the economy, jobs, the cost of living.”
“It will be the NHS, our schools and our public services. It will be addressing the climate crisis,” he added.
Swinney made clear he would “always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for Independence,” although to some listeners this will be a speech that was conspicuously light on pro-independence rhetoric.
That said, Swinney made clear:
Of course, I believe that this country could do more if we had the powers of a normal independent nation – the powers of independence. The cost of living crisis and the damaging impact of Brexit are two examples of Westminster decisions that are bad for Scotland. They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have Independence to make our own decisions and create our best future.
I will always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for Independence.
Swinney’s predecessor quelled a rebellion last year by Scottish National party MPs by agreeing to a compromise with his critics over his independence strategy.
The party’s annual conference in Aberdeen decided that if the SNP wins a majority of Scotland’s Westminster seats at the general election, it will have the mandate to negotiate independence with the UK government.
In a reference as much to divisions within the SNP as among pro-independence parties in the Scottish parliament, John Swinney said he will “reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well.”
That does not mean debate will end – far from it – but it does mean that, should I be elected, I will first seek to find common ground, to join together in coalitions of the willing and solve the problems our country faces,” said Swinney.
We need to stop shouting at each other and talk. More than that, actually, we need to listen. And as First Minister, I will do exactly that.
In a surprise move last month, Yousaf scrapped his party’s landmark coalition with the Greens
Swinney also said he had met last week with Kate Forbes, who had gone up against Yousaf for the party leadership previously but is now expected to take on a senior role under the new leadership. He said:
We came together and discussed the shared ambitions we have for our country and how best to go forward. I welcome Kate’s support for my leadership.
The newly elected leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), John Swinney delivers his acceptance speech at Advanced Research Centre (ARC), Glasgow University, after he was confirmed as the SNP's new leader Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA
The new leader of the SNP, John Swinney, is setting out his vision for the party an Scotland in a speech at the University of Glasgow.
Swinney paid tribute early on to the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, adding: “In particular, his moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in very dark times.”
Swinney went on to address how he came to be the only candidate to take on the party leadership:
I know there is controversy for some that I am the only candidate to stand for the leadership.
Perhaps not surprisingly I take a different view. For me, the fact that I am the only candidate demonstrates the Scottish National Party is now coming back together again.
“With more than a million Palestinian civilians sheltering in Rafah, an Israeli offensive must not go ahead,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
“There must be an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and unimpeded aid into Gaza that can be delivered regularly, quickly and safely.”
With more than a million Palestinian civilians sheltering in Rafah, an Israeli offensive must not go ahead.
There must be an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and unimpeded aid into Gaza that can be delivered regularly, quickly and safely.
Labour would support a motion of no confidence in the government which the Liberal Democrats are planning to table tomorrow when parliament returns (see 12.18pm).
The party is understood to view the Liberal Democrat motion as a stunt, but Labour MPs will back it if time is allowed for a vote.
Asked about the Liberal Democrat motion, a Labour spokesperson said:
The local elections sent a clear message that people across the country are demanding change, and only the Labour Party will deliver that.
Rishi Sunak should stop hiding from voters and allow them an opportunity to cast their verdict on 14 years of Tory failure. It’s time for a general election now.
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