John Swinney acceptance speech
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
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:07 I am happy to confirm today that at the close of nominations at midday, I received one valid nomination.
00:18 And I'm delighted to confirm that our new party leader is John Swinney.
00:23 [Applause]
00:27 Friends, first of all, can I thank Lorna and the party staff for the professional way this leadership process has been run at such short notice,
00:37 enabling the Scottish National Party to get back on the front foot so quickly.
00:43 A year ago, well, even a week ago, I didn't think that my future would involve standing here, accepting the leadership of the Scottish National Party.
00:53 Things have turned out differently, and before I say any more about my leadership, I want to pay tribute to Hamza Yousaf.
01:02 He's conducted himself throughout the last year with grace and with dignity in some acutely difficult circumstances.
01:11 In particular, his moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in these dark times.
01:19 Our party must continue, and will continue, to be a light.
01:24 We must continue to illuminate hope, fight for international justice, and be willing to stand up for what we believe to be correct.
01:34 That is what Hamza Yousaf did.
01:37 I know that Hamza will continue to make a substantial contribution to the public life of Scotland,
01:43 and I want to thank him for all that he has done as our party leader and as our First Minister.
01:50 [Applause]
01:59 Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our party's history.
02:04 A chapter that will be about coming together, uniting, and dedicating ourselves to the service of Scotland.
02:14 I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the many party members, the many elected members at Westminster and at Holyrood,
02:21 and in our council chambers around the country for their encouragement for me to stand for the party leadership.
02:27 My decision to stand for the leadership is not born out of long-held ambition,
02:34 but rather a profound sense of duty to my party and to my country.
02:41 Now I know there's some controversy that I'm the only candidate to stand for the leadership.
02:46 Perhaps not surprisingly, I take a very different view to that.
02:51 For me, the fact that I am the only candidate demonstrates that the Scottish National Party is coming back together again now.
03:02 [Applause]
03:11 I promised that I would create an inclusive and unified team, and I will do that.
03:17 I promised I would enable open and respectful dialogue in the SNP, and I will do that.
03:24 I promised to make sure that the SNP looks outward to the people of our country, and not inward amongst ourselves, and I will do that.
03:35 I've had the privilege of contributing a significant amount to the SNP's story.
03:41 In that time, I've seen the lows and the highs of our modern political history as a party.
03:48 And over those highs and lows, one thing has been clear to me time after time.
03:54 Scotland wins when the SNP wins.
03:58 Yes, we faced a rough time recently as a party, but remember what's been happening during that rough time.
04:05 The Scottish Child Payment is lifting 100,000 children out of poverty.
04:11 Free university tuition opens a better future to record numbers of young people from poorer backgrounds.
04:18 And the massive expansion of childcare is giving children from every background a better start in life.
04:27 So, however tough it has recently been for the SNP, never ever forget that at the same time,
04:35 SNP policies and actions are transforming lives here and now in our country.
04:42 [Applause]
04:50 As I begin my leadership of the party I love, I want to speak not just to everyone here at this SNP gathering.
04:58 I want to speak to each and every person in this country.
05:02 To those who know me, and those who don't.
05:05 To those who support the SNP, and those who never have.
05:09 And to those who support independence, and those that we are yet to convince.
05:15 I want to set out the vision I have of our nation's future.
05:19 I said when I launched my candidacy for leadership that I wanted to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland.
05:27 Today, I'm standing in a building that speaks of that future.
05:32 It's the Advanced Research Centre of the University of Glasgow.
05:36 Here in the heart of one of our oldest universities in Europe, research into the newest leading edge technologies
05:44 push back the boundaries of what is possible.
05:47 Experience and innovation combined.
05:50 History and modernity together forging a new future.
05:53 That is the perfect vision for Scotland.
05:56 A country with a depth of history can blend the old and the new and forge it together into the best future for herself.
06:05 A country where people have good jobs, the climate is protected, the vulnerable are lifted up,
06:11 and opportunity is available for all.
06:14 That is the chapter, the new chapter that I offer.
06:18 One built on experience.
06:21 On skills honed over decades.
06:24 Every moment of my journey devoted to building the new Scotland I believe is possible.
06:31 Later this week, Scotland will choose a new First Minister.
06:35 In putting my name forward, it's important that I set out what kind of First Minister I will be.
06:41 I spoke last week about unifying our party and about what we can do for Scotland together.
06:47 I believe the same is true of our Parliament.
06:51 In 2021, the share of the vote commanded by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all fell.
06:58 The SNP recorded our best ever share of the constituency vote.
07:02 In fact, we won more votes and a higher share of the votes in the constituency ballot than any party in the 25 year history of devolution.
07:11 That is our mandate, but it does not give us a monopoly on good ideas.
07:17 It means that we have the right, in fact we have the duty, to form the government.
07:22 But it does not mean that we can stop listening to people and voices outside our party.
07:28 The polarisation of politics does not serve our country well.
07:33 Too often, too many people are too busy fighting to win battles when we should be seeking solutions to problems.
07:41 That is what I pledge I will seek to do.
07:45 I will reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well.
07:52 That does not mean that debate will end, far from it, but it does mean that should I be elected,
07:58 I will first seek common ground to join together in coalitions of the willing and solve the problems that our country faces.
08:07 We need to stop shouting at each other and talk to each other.
08:12 More than that, actually, we need to listen.
08:15 And as First Minister, I will do exactly that.
08:19 Friends, I believe recent events show that this approach works.
08:23 Last week, I met with Kate Forbes.
08:26 We came together and discussed the shared ambitions we have for our country and how best we can go forward.
08:33 I welcome Kate's support for my leadership.
08:36 And over the weekend, I reached out to my party colleague, Graeme McCormick.
08:41 He wanted to stand for elections so he could be heard.
08:45 So I listened and assured him that the views of party members up and down the country will be properly listened to.
08:52 The simple lesson is that dialogue can bring us to points of agreement and strength.
08:58 And that is my message today to every party in the Scottish Parliament.
09:02 Focus on solutions to problems and you will find no one more willing to listen than me.
09:08 Together, we can make a real difference to the lives of people in Scotland.
09:13 That's the job we have all been sent to Parliament to do.
09:17 Of course, I believe this country could do more if we had the powers of a normal, independent nation.
09:23 The powers of independence.
09:25 The cost of living crisis and the damaging impact of Brexit are two examples of Westminster decisions that are bad for Scotland.
09:34 They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have independence to make our own decisions and create our best future.
09:43 I will always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for independence.
09:49 All I ask of those who oppose that vision is that they also act with the same courtesy and respect.
09:57 That means independence is not a reason for them to refuse to work with us to build the economy, to support jobs and to improve the health service.
10:08 If elected as First Minister, my focus will be the economy, jobs and the cost of living.
10:15 It will be the National Health Service, our schools and our public services.
10:19 It will be addressing the climate crisis.
10:22 So to everyone in every party, to every MSP, to every MP, in fact to everyone in our great country, I say this.
10:30 Join me.
10:32 Don't let our disagreements dominate.
10:35 Join me as we open a new chapter.
10:37 As we create a vibrant economy in every part of our country.
10:41 As we tackle the challenges faced by the NHS.
10:45 As we build on the strengths in our schools.
10:48 As we build more homes, take climate action, improve public transport and create jobs.
10:54 That's my job.
10:56 That's our job.
10:57 And I plan to get the job done.
10:59 Thank you very much.
11:01 [Applause]
11:13 [Music plays]
11:19 [MUSIC]