John Swinney has been elected unopposed as leader of the Scottish National Party and is expected to become the next first minister
In his acceptance speech, Swinney promised to focus on the economy, jobs, public services and the environment
He also promised to "seek common ground" with political opponents and urged those against Scottish independence "to work with us"
Scottish Labour accused the SNP of a "stitch up" after Swinney was unopposed, while the Tories accused him of being "joined at the hip" with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Swinney takes over the party leadership from First Minister Humza Yousaf who announced last week that he would resign
John Swinney takes his place, behind a lectern at Glasgow University's advanced research centre, and his speech gets under way.
You can watch along live by pressing the play Play button at the top of the page.
David Henderson
Scotland correspondent
There's not long to go now before John Swinney gives his acceptance speech and faces the press.
The room is filling up with SNP activists and the media.
There are big smiles from the Swinney team, who must be delighted their man has won so easily.
The venue - a scientific hub - is significant. John Swinney’s talked of the need to grow the economy. This place epitomises that move.
Image source, PAIt's been a busy day for politics on a dreich May Day bank holiday in Scotland - and there's more to come.
As we've been reporting since lunchtime, John Swinney has moved a step closer to becoming Scotland's seventh first minister after being confirmed as the new SNP leader.
He's due to give his acceptance speech in about 10 minutes, at 15:00 BST, and afterwards he'll face questions from reporters.
We'll bring you live text updates - but you can also watch live by tapping the Play button at the top of this page.
James Cook
Scotland editor
John Swinney is safely over the first couple of fences of his second canter around the SNP leadership course.
First, the Perthshire North MSP saw off a challenge from potential rival Kate Forbes, after lavishing the former finance secretary with praise and offering her a job. He then negotiated a second hurdle in persuading veteran party activist Graeme McCormick not to stand either, after a conversation which McCormick described as "lengthy and fruitful".
Next, Swinney must win election as the Scottish Parliament's nominee for first minister. That seems assured, with the Scottish Greens likely to back him, or at least to abstain, in the vote at Holyrood - which could come as soon as Tuesday.
Image source, PA MediaThen, once he has been appointed by the King and sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the going may become tougher.
Public services are struggling, money is tight, and the polls suggest many voters are deserting the SNP in favour of a resurgent Labour Party.
The SNP is also bedevilled by rows about a variety of issues - from gender, to the climate, to housing. And all this with a general election looming this year, and a Holyrood election in 2026.
Swinney has already indicated that to tackle these issues, his first task must be to get a grip of his party’s reins, telling me bluntly: "We’re not operating as a unified team.”
Image source, PA MediaHumza Yousaf, the outgoing SNP leader, has congratulated John Swinney on X.
The post by Yousaf, who is expected to formally resign as first minister on Tuesday, reads:
Quote MessageJohn's central message has been one of unity. As a party, we must heed his call, whatever has happened in the past should remain there. Let's get behind John & his team so they can deliver for Scotland."
In a video message accompanying the post, he says Swinney has been a “fantastic friend” over the years and he can continue to count on Yousaf’s friendship and support from the backbenches.
He adds that now, "more than ever before", is a time to "unite so we can take our message of independence to every single doorstep in Scotland".
Image source, Getty ImagesSwinney served as finance secretary under Alex Salmond
John Swinney joined Alex Salmond's first government as finance secretary in 2007.
He stayed in the job for the next nine years, also taking on the position of deputy first minister when Nicola Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond in 2014.
He took over the education brief in 2016 while remaining Sturgeon's deputy.
His time in office as education secretary was not without its problems. He was particularly criticised for falling standards in science and maths. He survived two votes of no confidence, one in 2020 and the other a year later.
Just two months after the second vote he was appointed to head the Scottish government's response to Covid.
And until Humza Yousaf resigned, that looked like being his final job in government. Just after Ms Sturgeon stood down in February 2023, he announced that he too was going, returning to the backbenches after 16 years as a cabinet secretary.
Image source, PA MediaJohn Swinney was among the 1999 intake of SNP MSPs
John Swinney was elected to Westminster in 1997 and to the first Scottish Parliament two years later. He was a close ally of then-SNP leader Alex Salmond.
When Salmond stepped down in 2000, Swinney was elected as his successor.
His own time as leader, however, was not seen as a success. The early years of devolution were a surprisingly unhappy time for the party.
The Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition seemed to quell the SNP, which lost seats in the 2003 Holyrood election and European elections the following year.
Swinney resigned as SNP leader in 2004, after four years in the job.
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
The party had been defying political gravity - winning elections comfortably despite being in power for 15 years.
Nicola Sturgeon's departure called that into question and polls have tightened considerably. Labour think they have a chance of becoming Scotland's biggest party at the general election.
So what does Swinney do to that dynamic?
Well, as my colleague David and I wrote this weekend, some opposition figures do think he’ll help steady the ship. At least a bit.
Senior opposition figures admit privately that he’s likely to do a better job than Humza Yousaf.
But - and there's a big but - the SNP do have a lot of challenges. A police investigation into party funding, internal divisions, criticism over some public services in Scotland which they control.
There’s little doubt Swinney has a tough job ahead of him.
In about an hour's time, we're due to hear from John Swinney, who's been announced as the new leader of the SNP - and is likely to become the next first minister of Scotland.
Before then, here's what you need to know:
We've more reaction for you now - this from the Scottish Labour Party, which says John Swinney’s “coronation” is about “managing the SNP rather than running our country and delivering for Scotland”.
Its leader, Anas Sarwar, says the new SNP leader “has been at the heart of this incompetent government for 17 years”, and hits out at what he calls Swinney’s record of "failure”.
He goes on:
Quote MessageThis is a stitch up by a chaotic and dysfunctional party that is more interested in protecting its own interests than serving the interests of the people of Scotland.
Quote MessageThe SNP must stop running scared and gives Scots a say in their next first minister by calling an election."
The SNP MP for Stirling, Alyn Smith, has welcomed John Swinney's victory in the leadership race.
He tells Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live that the new leader is "the right person for the right role at the moment".
He adds: "I look forward to him uniting the party.
"My happiness is tempered by the scale of the task that we've got to do.
"We've got a lot of things we need to change about how the party has been operating lately."
To watch Swinney's acceptance speech live with us later, just click on the play button at the top of this page.
Image source, PA MediaNicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf's predecessor, is Scotland's longest-serving first minister
New SNP leader John Swinney is expected to become Scotland's first minister in the coming days.
As head of the Scottish government, the first minister is responsible for the overall development, implementation and presentation of the administration's policies.
He or she is also responsible for promoting and representing Scotland at home and overseas.
Subject to parliament's agreement, the first minister appoints other ministers - including a deputy first minister and cabinet secretaries - from among Holyrood's MSPs.
The first minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet, the main forum for ministers to consider and make key decisions on the strategic priorities and policies of the government to achieve its objectives.
When he resigned from the role last week, current FM Humza Yousaf said he would stay in place until his successor was confirmed.
John Swinney inherits a minority government from predecessor Humza Yousaf - meaning he will need the support of opposition MSPs to pass legislation.
He will have to prioritise cross-party consensus, strike deals with different parties on a case-by-case basis, make concessions, and accept defeat on certain issues.
Minority governments are not uncommon in Scottish politics. Several previous SNP governments, including ones in which Swinney served, have been minority administrations.
In a piece for The National yesterday, Swinney cited his "unique experience of governing as a minority party". He added that he was "the person best-placed... to deliver serious, steady government".
Image source, .There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament. The SNP is the largest party, with 63 MSPs - two short of a majority.
John Swinney must remain committed to progressive policies that tackle the climate crisis to earn the support of the Scottish Greens, says the party’s co-leader.
“The next Scottish government will face an important choice," Patrick Harvie says in a statement.
"Will they offer a progressive vision for Scotland’s future, or will they retreat toward the tepid middle ground, which would force them to rely on the Tories and other pro-union parties?"
Harvie says the Greens remain "utterly committed" to policies on their way to delivery as a result of the scrapped Bute House Agreement - and "will oppose any move away from them or steps to dilute them".
He says the party's seven MSPs will meet shortly to discuss how they will vote in the ballot for first minister.
David Henderson
BBC Scotland Correspondent
The SNP leadership campaign's been a short, sharp affair - and it’s already shown John Swinney's skill in horse trading.
That's something he'll need in spades if he's to run a minority government.
Swinney only launched his bid on Thursday and within four hours he'd sewn up the contest, when Kate Forbes gave him her backing.
He'd dangled a juicy carrot to tempt her - a senior Cabinet role, and an assurance they share the same agenda.
But some SNP activists wanted a contest, not a coronation.
And one, the veteran campaigner Graeme McCormick had rustled up enough supporters to force a leadership contest.
That threatened to delay the party but Swinney soon put an end to that challenge.
After talks between the pair, McCormick declared his backing for Swinney.
So a pattern's emerging - with Swinney doing deals right, left and centre.
Who can he bring round next?
Once he's FM, he'll need the support of the Greens to pass new laws and budgets.
Expect informal discussions with them to begin soon.
And other small parties - the Lib-Dems and Alba - will be eyeing a chance to trade their votes for influence, issue by issue.
Image source, PAScottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross congratulates John Swinney on his election. But he urges the SNP leader to abandon his "relentless push for independence".
“As the main opposition party, we will hold John Swinney to account when he lets the Scottish people down – just as we’ve done with Humza Yousaf," he says.
The Tory leader adds: “It’s difficult to see how he can be the fresh start Scotland needs when he’s the ultimate continuity candidate."
He says Swinney was "joined at the hip" with Nicola Sturgeon and that "his fingerprints are all over her numerous policy failures and cover-ups".
Image source, ReutersJust last Monday, Humza Yousaf announced he was standing down as Scotland's first minister. Today, John Swinney was named as his replacement.
Here's a brief look at how we ended up here:
Image source, PANew SNP leader John Swinney will deliver an acceptance speech in Glasgow at about 15:00 today. He is expected to take questions from the media.
Stick with us and we'll bring you the entire proceedings live, as well as reports and analysis.
Image source, ReutersThe new first minister will be decided by a simple majority in the Scottish Parliament
John Swinney has been declared the new SNP leader. He will now seek parliamentary approval to become first minister when Humza Yousaf tenders his resignation to King Charles.
The vote in the Scottish Parliament requires the support of a simple majority of 65 MSPs.
The SNP has 63 seats - two short of a majority. But the vote is likely to pass because the Greens, with seven MSPs, have indicated they will not block Swinney's appointment.
If Swinney wins the vote, he will be appointed first minister by the King.
A swearing-in ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh could take place as early as Wednesday.
At that point, he will officially become Scottish first minister.
John Swinney has just tweeted for the first time since being confirmed as the new leader of the SNP - and likely to be next Scottish first minister.
He writes:
Quote MessageI am deeply honoured to have been elected as leader of the SNP. I will give all that I have to serve my party and my country.
We're expecting to see a raft of reaction now, so stay with us for that.