Leader of the Scottish National Party
The leader of the Scottish National Party is the highest position within Scotland's Scottish National Party (SNP). The incumbent is John Swinney, who was elected unopposed in the 2024 leadership election on 6 May 2024, succeeding Humza Yousaf as party leader.
Leader of the Scottish National Party
Image: Mcewan
Image: Douglas Young, circa 1945
Image: Arthur Donaldson, circa 1945
John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician who has served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since May 2024. He previously served as the leader of the SNP from 2000 to 2004 as Leader of the Opposition, and held various roles within the Scottish Cabinet from 2007 to 2023 under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Swinney was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North Tayside from 1999 to 2011 and, following boundary changes, has been MSP for Perthshire North since 2011. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Tayside North from 1997 to 2001.
Swinney in May 2024
Swinney speaking in a Scottish Parliament debate, June 2000
Swinney's official portrait as Cabinet Secretary for Sustainable Growth
Swinney with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after his appointment as Deputy First Minister, November 2014