John Swinney - the next leader of Scotland? | The New Statesman podcast

One week ago, Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, terminated the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. There had been mounting pressure on both Yousaf’s leadership and ending the coalition, but the eventual timing of the termination caused the now former leader to appear panicked and triggered a Scottish government crisis.
On Monday, just after 13 months in office, Yousaf resigned, ahead of two no confidence votes. This morning John Swinney announced his leadership to be Scotland’s next first minister, meanwhile this afternoon Kate Forbes has announced that she will not be entering the leadership race.
But the SNP was deeply fractured when Yousaf inherited it, would a successor be able to unite it?
Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Chris Deerin, Scotland editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent.
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[@jmitch5161]

How is it right that a leader is not voted for by the people?

[@AzderielBane]

There was only 1 person who stepped forward. You want a vote with only 1 candidate? lol.

[@blipboop5594]

Chris was great here, hope to see him on the podcast more often

[@andrewsmith-cm9qw]

A Clown promoted to Ringmaster it was all going to end in tears and it did.

[@nicks4934]

Swinny looked relaxed. Yeah good luck to him.

[@SkyEcho7]

Do you not know the constitutional & financial frameworks or do you deliberately ignore them 🤔

[@jamesmason8944]

Look how he has to read it from the speech paper hastily prepared by someone else.

[@Wobstiger]

Some politically divided comments, I love it, so glad we all have places to present all your arguments

[@andybrice2711]

2:00 It's strange how we generally tend to put "woke" in quote-marks. Like we all agree it's a stupid word in that context, but we don't have a better one to describe a set of ideas which has become so influential, but somehow still has no name.

[@dunkelbier]

To my mind it's no different to 'progressive'. People just choose to use 'woke' because it sounds less agreeable and is easier to hurl as an insult

[@andybrice2711]

@@dunkelbier I don't think so. I could be described as progressive. I want a society which actively seeks to move towards greater egalitarianism. But I reject a lot of the recent trends in progressive politics, such as: - Placing "lived experience" above empirical evidence. - Focussing more on vague notions of "identity" than material conditions. - Treating people as avatars of their identity groups more than individuals. - Considering linguistic minutiae to be of paramount importance to social progress. - Attempting to dominate discourse through censorship and demonization of dissenters.

[@maikotter9945]

The term WOKE was invented by black US ciitzens! Now its mostly used, with a different meaning, in the sense of progressive, unorthodox etc.!

[@MickGreen-js4pr]

Thank god he's not a foreigner

[@pancho1993]

Old unhonest John

[@crhu319]

It was so fun having an India-Pakistan dynamic between London and Edinburgh. Hoping it was leading to a divorce. 😂

[@fightthepowerman]

Bro Freddie looks hench in this. Also kinda like a year 8 using his phone under the table like that...

[@maikotter9945]

Who are the ancestors of John Swinney?

[@Mike_5]

Swinney will look good in the 'No Questions asked' motorhome promised in the Job Advert

[@barbaralucas2375]

Let’s hope he can find the £660,000.

[@gerrymcfarlane6813]

No,,, Not Mr Swinney. This is a Backwards step. He is not a popular enough figure.

[@Glasgow_kiss]

please tell us more unionists.

[@Reprogrammed_By_SEGA]

It is amazing watching how the UK media has jumped on this and covered it. They are so desperate to get Scotland to prop up Labour again. Sorry been there before not doing it again. Where was the UK media when you in part consented a crazy right wing government to take over just for ratings.

[@user-iz9co4qf6z]

Nats have ruined our country. The devastation to North Sea Oil is unforgivable

[@guff9567]

Wokeland

[@meatychunkz8875]

What a strange video. The whole narrative that the SNP can’t govern is strange given that Scotland is far better run than anywhere else in the UK, even in the face of constant cuts from Westminster. Definitely far from perfect, but the idea that the Tories, Labour or any other party could do better is based on no evidence whatsoever.

[@SkyEcho7]

100% Do they not know the constitutional & financial frameworks or do they deliberately ignore them 🤔

[@user-kb5cw6wb9n]

Scotland has declined terribly under the SNP.They need to learn how to improve the lot of the Scottish people before they're trusted with Independence.Currently Independence will impoverish ALBA further.Smarter to utilise the Westminster purse and strengthen from within.Scottish Parliament doesn't have the statesmen like people capable enough....just like Westminster.

[@rangersnut]

SNP supplying the problem and solution. Very convenient. It's almost as if by design. Kick the SNP out of power.

[@alexandermethven]

well said pal, im also,a glasgow rangers fan.the snp.do not believe in the other faith of the ,kirk.neither does john swinney.well said pal.👍

[@nicks4934]

Oot?

[@rangersnut]

@@alexandermethven cheers mate.

[@smunro1983]

RIP NHS Scotland…

[@fraserct533]

After 17y of the SNP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 has had a reasonable taste of what independence would be like - failing public sevices: NHS, education, ferries, etc - loony gender ID laws: men can be women, etc; - STASI like hate crime laws; - poor infrastrucure: can't build 2 just ferries; - & the list goes on & on & on John Swinney seems a decent enough man - especially compared to his race grifting predecessor. But doubt 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 will have them back 🤞🤞🤞 - the dammage has been done.

[@Glasgow_kiss]

wrong, an independent scotland would control its trade, budget and borders. it would also have borrowing powers and be able to issue bonds. not to mention almost guarenteed membership of a much larger economy and control of its natural resources and its profits. currently it has control of none of these and the "scottish" parliament is just a branch office of westminster, much like a local council, only able to allocate westminster pocket money.

[@fraserct533]

@@Glasgow_kiss yes, these are some of the things the government of an independent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 would have to do. But, the SNP's 17yr track record shows it actually can't compitently manage the devolved powers & services it has already - see above & more. Shows how authoritarian they actually are - the so called Hate Crime Bill; Named Person Bill; so called Gender Recognition Bill; etc. Shows they let their government get hijacked by the Scottish Greens & thier authoritarian ideas - classic tail wagging the dog - which just made them worse. And, that's without mentioning Humza's bungling & nasty neo-racism; the money embezelment shenanegans; etc 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 is a pretty conservitive (small 'c') place - it wants proven compitent government 1st & it won't tollerate extreme authoritarian laws like these. On their track record 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 will almost definiely vote the SNP out in the comming elections - the've shown what they are. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 won't want any more & certainly won't trust them with independence.

[@leannan070]

@@Glasgow_kiss 👋👋

[@davidyersz8668]

A new CRIMINAL WEF leader of Scotland God fkin help us

[@nicks4934]

😂

[@maikotter9945]

There can NEVER be >= 1 "God"!