John Swinney’s erstwhile SNP leadership rival Kate Forbes is expected to be brought back into the cabinet
John Swinney with his wife Elizabeth Quigley on Tuesday on the steps the official residence of the Scotland 's first minister, Bute House in Edinburgh. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA WireJohn Swinney will be sworn in as Scotland ’s new first minister on Wednesday after his nomination passed a vote on Tuesday of the members of the devolved parliament in Holyrood.
The leaders in Scotland of the three unionist parties in Holyrood, the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats, all put themselves forward to be first minister in a vote in parliament. Although the SNP is two seats short of a majority, Mr Swinney emerged with the most votes, clearing the way for his formal appointment at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning.
Mr Swinney, a party veteran who was previously SNP leader two decades ago, has promised to unite the party after a fractious 14 months since the resignation of former leader Nicola Sturgeon, who has since become embroiled in a financial scandal. After 17 years in power, the SNP’s support has also slipped in the polls with Labour resurgent north of the Scottish border with England.
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