What comes around goes around. John Swinney has this afternoon become Scotland’s seventh First Minister after being appointed, unopposed, as SNP leader on Monday. It was a coronation event like no other – where Swinney was threatened by a contest from a rank and file activist within his own party after hapless Humza Yousaf paved the way to his own resignation. Now, the veteran Nat and former SNP leader has swooped into government from the backbenches in a move that some hint was a little more scripted than first thought…
Today, Swinney faced off challenges for the top job from the leaders of the Scottish Labour party, the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Liberal Democrats in a ceremony rather, er, similar to one that took place just over 12 months ago. As Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton tweeted earlier, ‘it’s that time of year again’. All accepted they were not going to win the title; all made clear why they didn’t think Swinney should either.
And the veteran nationalist had his appointment made more than a little awkward for him today. Using his one asset – experience – against him, Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar were quick to dig up quotes from Swinney’s heyday that contained some rather eery foreshadowing…
‘We meet this afternoon to elect a new First Minister – for the third time in this parliament,’ the Scottish Labour leader announced to the Chamber.
The third occasion is the result of a farce: a farce inflicted on Scotland and its parliament by – on this occasion the SNP – and by absolutely nobody else… The party that now, without any democratic process, seeks to foist is unelected leader upon our country; the party that promotes its own by making cronyism a way of life – always lets Scotland down. This afternoon, the farce may be carried to its illogical conclusion.
Not, in fact, Sarwar’s words, but a quote adapted from Swinney himself back in 2001. Golly.
The Scottish Tory leader joined in with the antics, telling the Chamber:
It seems pretty likely that the leader of the largest minority party in parliament, with the help of the fourth largest minority party, will be successful in this afternoon’s election.
Not Ross’s utterances but, you guessed it, Swinney’s. ‘It is interesting to see John Swinney back, seeking the support of this parliament, more than two decades on from his previous attempt,’ the Scottish Conservative MSP mocked the new SNP chief, as Swinney struggled to contain a smirk himself.
‘The old joke about giving a busy man more to do seems relevant at the moment,’ the nationalist leader quipped in return. Quite. But the question of whether that busy man will do things well remains to be seen…
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