John Swinney launches SNP leadership bid

Back to Scotland, where the SNP remains in a state of disarray. After hapless Humza Yousaf rather badly mishandled the ditching of the Greens from government, he was forced to announce his resignation when he realised he would lose a confidence vote in his leadership. And now, after a period of 72 hours in which almost all of Yousaf’s cabinet ruled themselves out of the running, one candidate has finally put themselves up for the top job: John Swinney.

Deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon and onetime SNP leader himself while the party was in opposition, Swinney is quite the veteran Nat. A close confidant of Sturgeon, the current backbencher is the establishment choice. The leadership contender is backed by the majority of Yousaf’s cabinet — including health and education secretaries Neil Gray and Jenny Gilruth, both of whom were thought to be potential runners themselves. Swinney also has the support of SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, and Flynn’s successor Ian Blackford.