John Swinney, one of the Scottish National party’s most experienced and longest-serving politicians, is on the verge of becoming the first minster of Scotland after he was chosen as the party’s new leader.
Nominations for the role, vacated by Humza Yousaf last Monday, closed at midday on Monday. With no other contenders for the role, the SNP’s national secretary, Lorna Finn, confirmed just after midday that Swinney was the new leader.
