John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs

John Swinney (centre) shares a laugh with the former first ministers Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon after the vote on Tuesday. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

The new Scottish National party leader John Swinney will become Scotland’s seventh first minister after winning the backing of MSPs.

As is traditional, opposition leaders stood against Swinney in the vote, which he won just eight days after Humza Yousaf dramatically announced his departure, with the backing of 64 SNP MSPs, while the seven Scottish Greens abstained.