John Swinney will become Scotland's next First Minister after he emerged as the only candidate to be the SNP's new leader.
The veteran politician, who served as Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy, said he was "deeply honoured" to take on the role. He replaces Humza Yousaf, who spectacularly brought down his own leadership after ditching his Government’s power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
Mr Swinney is now expected to go on to become Scotland's seventh First Minister, though before he does he will need to win the backing of MSPs in a vote at Holyrood. He previously led the SNP in opposition from 2000 to 2004.
Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Swinney called for an end to the "polarisation" in politics and said he would "always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for independence". He vowed the SNP would "get our act together" and win back disillusioned voters.
He resisted calls for an election - after becoming the third First Minister since the last Scottish Parliament election in 2021. He denied that there was a "democratic imperative" - as his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon had said when Liz Truss was elected as Conservative leader.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said "John Swinney's coronation is entirely about managing the SNP rather than running our country and delivering for Scotland. At a time when Scotland is crying out for change, the SNP is offering more of the same. John Swinney has been at the heart of this incompetent government for 17 years and at the heart of the SNP for 40 years."
Mr Swinney is expected to be confirmed as First Minister later this week. It comes after veteran SNP activist Graeme McCormick last night ruled himself out of the race. Mr McCormick, who once branded the Scottish Government's independence strategy "flatulence in a trance", said he had met the nominations threshold but decided not to stand after speaking to Mr Swinney.
In a statement, he said: "John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our Government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider Independence Movement in the following weeks and months," he said.
"This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I'm sure that John's determination to deliver Independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming general election. I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for party leader but instead support John Swinney's nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland."
It comes only a week after Mr Yousaf announced he was stepping down as both SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, after he plunged the Scottish Government into chaos by tearing up the coalition agreement with the Greens. In the face of votes of no-confidence in himself and his Government, Mr Yousaf threw in the towel.
He only took up the role last year after Nicola Sturgeon resigned, following a bitter leadership contest. Some in the SNP had been keen to avoid another damaging race as the party battles to get back onto the front foot.