Swinney: Party 'knows the outcome' of leadership contest

John Swinney has told Trevor Phillips it would be better for the SNP if the party did not go through a leadership contest.
He said any contest, which would last three weeks, would delay "the ability for the SNP to start its rebuilding".
The SNP was put into turmoil after Humza Yousaf was forced to resign following his decision to end a power-sharing agreement with the Greens.
Live updates: news.sky.com/story/vote-2024-...
#localelections #politics #snp #politicshub
SUBSCRIBE to our KZbin channel for more videos: / skynews
Follow us on Twitter: / skynews
Like us on Facebook: / skynews
Follow us on Instagram: / skynews
Follow us on TikTok: / skynews
For more content go to news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-n... Android play.google.com/store/apps/de...
Sky News Daily podcast is available for free here: podfollow.com/skynewsdaily/
Sky News videos are now available in Spanish here/Los video de Sky News están disponibles en español aquí: / @skynewsespanol
To enquire about licensing Sky News content, you can find more information here: news.sky.com/info/library-sales

[@tpmbe]

Oh Dear, not exactly new blood is it.... same old same old same old the same old record playing again.... we are all tired of this SNP and the same old story in Scotland. Swinney is only good at blowing his own trumpet..that is all. People are fed up with this joke SNP party. what about unifying the people here and not dividing us? SNP will always be a party of division and dis-harmony. Disgusting same old pathetic one track party .

[@Lea-ce2vf]

Awful and disasterous government. Was he looking in the mirror when he said those words?

[@jamesoleary5856]

This is the guy who was leader 20 years ago and lead them to a defeat in the Scottish elections does he really think he can do better this time

[@tatata1543]

I think they are resigned to losing seats in the GE after all the recent party issues and the fact people are desperate to get rid of the Tories. The interesting thing is what happens in two years time at the next Holyrood elections. By then Starmer will have been in power for a while and be almost half way through his premiership. I suspect by that point both he and his government will be deeply unpopular as they will be blamed for all the problems left to them by the Tories. Tactically and strategically putting Sweeney in place temporarily makes good sense.

[@iaingreig9685]

The polling showed Kate Forbes was more popular with the public. I don't see how asking her to step aside was good for the party.

[@ianscott6547]

Another unelected waste of space.

[@stewartjking4351]

Swinney bullying already and he’s not even in the job, please run against him otherwise we are no better than London.

[@babycharliebrown]

He has a track record of failure. Just massaging his own ego to think he’s wanted.

[@ianking8315]

thought he had resigned as deputy when the scandal broke, now the dust has settled he is making a comeback, must be great to be a politician even failed ones.

[@julianshepherd2038]

He wasn't even questioned

[@jackdubz4247]

Nope. Stop reading the unionist press.

[@ianking8315]

@@jackdubz4247 show me the money.

[@johntaylor587]

If democracy is to be shown then put it to the people !!

[@paddymeboy]

Right. Nobody should be able to become PM or FM without an election.

[@jackdubz4247]

Still waiting for Sunak to do the honourable thing. But he refuses to call a General Election.

[@jackdubz4247]

@@paddymeboy The Tories have weaponised that convention. That is why they should never be in office ever again.

[@youngsandy47]

I’m sorry but that clown is embroiled in the missing money too. As he’s one of the parties top players he must’ve known that there was jiggery pokery and that should exclude him and if he didn’t know then that’s worse and shows he is an complete incompetent. More than this he is boring he’s the SNP’s John Major. He’s the new grey man.

[@edwardgellan1661]

They are too busy lineing there own pockets,another big pension for him

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Do we live in a democracy or not? If so welcome a challenge instead of running away.

[@woolyimage]

They criticised the Tories for doing the same thing, holding a coronation rather than an election....

[@sarahbutler363]

its in the law, look it up

[@Celtic23]

@@sarahbutler363 no one questioned if it’s a law or not. Woolyimage was highlighting the hypocrisy.

[@jackdubz4247]

@@Celtic23 It's not hypocrisy. In England, Tory party members can continually foist un-elected PM on the country without any parliamentary scrutiny. In Scotland, all of the parties in parliament can put forward their own alternative choice for First Minister. That's a major difference.

[@DylanSargesson]

​@@jackdubz4247 If a majority in the House of Commons wanted the Prime Minister out, they could vote them out with a Vote of No Confidence. I think it would be better if there had to be a confirmatory vote on their appointment too, but it's not really that different in principle. If Swinney becomes Leader of the SNP without an Internal election, and then he wins the Parliament vote with just SNP MSPs (other parties abstaining to let him in to office) that is just as bad as when Sunak became Prime Minister. In fact it's worse since at least the Conservatives have a majority by themselves in the Commons, the SNP do not.

[@blairmccormick4351]

How many unelected torie leaders now? 3 ?

[@Paul-wc7lv]

Well thats Scotland Fu*ked then, if Swinney gets it.

[@colinneilson2630]

What's the point in him? Utterly boring HR manager.

[@brianlopez8855]

And he's WH"TE ! As Humvee would point out.

[@user-od8so1ho1l]

Another SNP clown 🤡

[@Lea-ce2vf]

I suspect Kate was “told” her place.

[@edwardgellan1661]

Get the day job fixed first

[@aok1550]

What a lot of cr*p. All EU countries are experiencing cost of living challenges, as too are other countries throughout the world. If the SNP really want to help the people of Scotland why is it their taxes are the highest in the UK? Why are our roads in a disgraceful position? I remember meeting John Swinney, he assured me as well as he did to the rest of our professional association that he would put things right and come back to our association meeting in 3-4 months time and provide feedback regarding his intended actions. Guess what - we never saw the man again. Surprise! Surprise! In my opinion the man is a phony! As are of course the rest of the SNP. They have demonstrated during their time in office that they really care nothing for the Scottish people.

[@stewartjking4351]

Well said at this point I would wager all politicians are corrupt.

[@Lea-ce2vf]

They are all phoney.

[@jackdubz4247]

We Scots need the SNP to get their heads back in the game. For a decade and a half they have mitigated the worst effects of the policies emanating from England's parliament in London. We need the SNP to stop fighting amongst themselves and fight Scotland's corner once again. I know that Brexit has made it more difficult, as the English take back more and more of Scotland's devolved powers and interfere more and more in Scotland's affairs, but the SNP have my full support.

[@brianlopez8855]

They all want a piece of the Scottish Government pension pot, give them a break.

[@Lea-ce2vf]

Husain was a slippery fish. This one is worse.

[@helenfay8179]

I will never support SNP. They have divided Scotland . Will never forgive them

[@ianmoir5423]

Uncle Fester is like all SNP politicians useless.

[@tatata1543]

He should make some “pledges”, according to Keir he won’t have to keep them.

[@gavinbissell8847]

The best choice is no choice!

[@20quid]

Of course he wants a job without having to work for it.

[@TheZanshen]

Westminster please revoke devolution

[@johnfisher7587]

I don’t know where they get the information about Scotland not voting for Brexit as it was the British people that voted which includes Scotland

[@julianshepherd2038]

Yeah, we are so happy about that that we won't vote SNP again

[@jackdubz4247]

Scotland didn't vote for Brexit. But Brexiters refuse to see Scotland as anything other than a vassal state of England. Oh, the utter hypocrisy of the Brexiters. Something is only "sovereign" when they say so. To hell with anyone else.

[@TheZanshen]

Exactly Scotland is part of the union. Job done

[@platterbuss2328]

Wonder what would happen if SNP succeeded separating Scotland from UK and became the sole ruling party of the country. Also would Scotland lose access to NHS completely? Im sure SNP will be fine left to handle it all as they continue to restrict free speech and hate there own public whom they are supposed to serve

[@countryside_guy]

Rival dropped out.

[@snapsnappist4529]

Jesus wept. 30-odd years in politics, and he still couldn't recognise a loaded question if it bit him on the arse. Expect to hear his "a Labour government would be preferable" soundbite replayed endlessly during the upcoming GE campaign later this year.

[@MARINA4163]

GRA, Freeport's, and funny Tata deals!

[@edwardgellan1661]

Look what they have done so far,nothing

[@chrisfitzsimmons6428]

Why is the guy from breaking bad trying to run for first minister?

[@julianshepherd2038]

If he has stood last time, he would have won, easily.

[@jintsfan]

Let’s turn to Scotland where there’s been a WEAK ….never a truer word, Trevor.

[@MrDamodee]

Our country is finished....anyone else not concerned???

[@overkoppsbaiter0714]

over-reacting like a big jessie, grow up 😂😂

[@199019852007]

King John wants his coronation ceremony and fast Scotland behold your King lol

[@MarcusLweison]

Mr slimey

[@Mitjitsu]

selected not elected.

[@Durka-Durka01]

Put in place ny the WEF.

[@brianlopez8855]

I am not convince that even the WEF give a F6ck about Scotia.

[@mattgillies6160]

Hey Blakey get back on the buses

[@bj4520]

Tory chatbots out in force today 😂. Good luck Mr. Swinney

[@TheZanshen]

SNP out and be done.

[@robinburn4974]

Freedom 😂😂😂

[@countryside_guy]

Dictator comes to mind.

[@awalk5177]

The reality is that Scotland gets more money from Westminster, per head of population, than does England , Wales or Northern Ireland, but the standards of services, education, health in Scotland and the condition of roads in Edinburgh and Glasgow is going downwards. So where exactly is the money allocated to Scotland actually going ? Can the SNP actually show audited accounts ?

[@robertyoung8785]

Well said Mr Swinney.

[@allisonbrown4569]

Nonsense!! Scotland in dire straits!!!

[@blairmccormick4351]

At least an adult is back in the room. Sack this gender bill bullshit and get to improving scottish infastructure and services.

[@Ian-xg8bp]

Come on John Swinney, COME ON THE SNP, Come on Bonnie SCOTLAND 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@charlesfalconer6231]

Yet another dud ! sturgeons puppet no2 who will do as he,s telt by his old boss krankie ! who is STILL pulling the strings

[@alexanderferguson2199]

Change the record, same old pathetic rhetoric.

[@charlesfalconer6231]

@@alexanderferguson2199 Same old pathetic SNP !!

[@sarahbutler363]

why scots vote to be ruled over by another country beats me,

[@Celtic23]

They didn’t, read your history.

[@UltraPerception]

SNP and Sinn Fein are too close minded for me. I do like Fein particualrly for its females. But they never claim any territory on the british main-land. and its all about seperating the small territories they have. They are not aggressive or invasive like Conservative and Labour who can just install candidates by moving pawns. Sinn and the SNP again are not offensive political parties going for territorial expansion. So i always felt well if i can't be a Sinn Fein here, just outside london. Then the party is totally limited. And not relevant

[@TheGladiator125]

Scotland in territorial waters and land is as big as England.

[@jsd8981]

I would trust John Sweeny,, he has allways been there as solid and honest as they come and he has worked hard all these years, i hope he is successful, he knows the ropes and very exsperenced...

[@calderwood-qg7vh]

He is not honest , he is known to other SNP politicans as being sleazy

[@babycharliebrown]

Yeah he’s got a track record of failure both as leader and education minister. Officiated over a major decline in Scottish education.

[@mmcc5846]

JDS who is John sweeney

[@user-od8so1ho1l]

Sell the camper van

[@cooperization]

Another snat' failure back on the scene.