What happens next for John Swinney?
After securing the post of SNP leader, the former deputy first minister has to win a vote in Holyrood before he can succeed Humza Yousaf.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Becoming the new leader of the SNP does not mean John Swinney will automatically become Scotland’s next first minister.
For that to happen the former deputy first minister has to face a vote in the Scottish Parliament, where he will need to win the support of MSPs.
It is likely other party leaders could put themselves forward for the ballot, though it is in reality unlikely that they would be successful in this.
However for Mr Swinney to win the vote in Holyrood, which could take place as early as Wednesday, he will need some MSPs from opposition parties to either back him in the vote, or at least abstain.
That is because without the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens, which was ripped up by Humza Yousaf, the SNP is short of an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament.
The support of Scottish Greens therefore could still be crucial going forward, in this vote and in others to come at Holyrood.
Assuming he wins the vote, Mr Swinney will then become the Scottish Parliament’s nominated candidate to be the country’s seventh first minister.
After that he would be formally appointed via a royal warrant, a legal document that is authorised by the King.
Following that he would officially be sworn into the post in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by the Lord President, Scotland’s most senior judge.
That could happen on Thursday morning with Mr Swinney then potentially going on to take First Minister’s Questions for the first time in the new role at noon the same day.
He will also have to appoint his his ministerial team of cabinet secretaries and junior ministers, with much attention on what position will go to Kate Forbes.
The former Holyrood finance secretary had been tipped as a possible challenger to Mr Swinney for the SNP leadership, but announced on Thursday she would not stand and would instead back the former deputy first minister in his bid for the top job.
Mr Swinney, in announcing his candidacy sought to praise Ms Forbes, who last year ran Mr Yousaf a close second in the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon, and giving her a top post in his cabinet team would be seen as a move towards restoring unity within the different factions of the SNP.
Ms Forbes has been out of the Scottish cabinet since then, but could return to a senior post under Mr Swinney.