Kate Forbes has confirmed she is not running to be the next leader of the SNP
The former finance secretary confirms she will not challenge John Swinney to be Scotland's next first minister
Forbes says the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join forces with Swinney
Swinney launched his campaign by saying change is needed in "these difficult times"
The former deputy FM is the first candidate to officially enter the race
Swinney says he wants to "unite the SNP and Scotland for independence"
He says he wants Kate Forbes to be part of his new government team
That's all from the live page team today.
The editors were Paul McLaren and Catherine Lyst.
The writers were Craig Hutchison, Ashleigh Kennan-Bryce and Jonathan Geddes.
Thanks for joining us, have a lovely evening.
It's been another dramatic day in Scottish politics where John Swinney looks set to become Scotland's next first minister after Kate Forbes confirmed she would not challenge him for the SNP leadership.
Here are the headlines:
John Swinney to stand as leader of SNP
Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent live at Holyrood
Image source, Getty ImagesThe term men in grey kilts was dubbed during Swinney's last term as party leader
John Swinney’s retro SNP leadership posters at his launch today reminded me of his last term as party boss.
He’d faced a tough time in the 2003 Holyrood election, losing eight seats.
Bill Wilson from Glasgow was one member who was frustrated at the course the party was taking and challenged Mr Swinney at the SNP’s National Conference.
The leadership duel was meant to be fought out in front of party members only.
But in the vast Eden Court theatre in Inverness, a few of us journalists accidentally found ourselves in the auditorium when the speeches started.
Image source, PA MediaJohn Swinney and his supporters at his leadership launch - 2024 style
It was there Mr Swinney had a fiery performance in the hustings and, controversially, said in reference to independence: “tell the Brits to get off”.
Members loved it and the leader easily saw off Mr Wilson – but a bad set of European elections results the next year finished him off.
The phrase “men in grey kilts” was conceived as the party hierarchy coming to tell Mr Swinney that his time was up.
Twenty years on, it looks like the “men in grey kilts” will be very grateful for his return to save the party from turmoil.
Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce
BBC Scotland News
Image source, PA MediaIt's been quite a day for John Swinney.
From rumours of candidacy, to announcing a leadership bid, to apparently being given a free run at the top job.
At 10:30 this morning, he stood in front of colleagues and supporters at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh and announced his intention to stand for leader of the Scottish National Party.
In his speech, Swinney said he wants to build on the work of the Scottish government to "unite the SNP and Scotland for independence".
He added: "Ministers that act on my behalf will be working ferociously to deliver improvement in the lives of people in Scotland."
He extended an olive branch to Kate Forbes, saying she would play a "significant" role in his cabinet, if elected.
"I am no caretaker. I am no interim leader." said Swinney.
"I am offering to to take the party through the Westminster election and beyond the 2026 elections - two contests I intend to win for the SNP and for Scotland."
He confidently referred to his "formidable electoral track record".
"I'm the longest-serving parliamentarian in Scotland. I've won every single election I have contested with my name on the ballot paper since 1997.
"There's nobody else in Scotland that has done that."
Within a few hours, his biggest leadership rival Kate Forbes had dropped out of the race and given Swinney her backing to be Scotland's next first minister.
Quite the day indeed.
Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reminded journalists yesterday that she had appointed Kate Forbes as finance secretary in 2020.
She was being asked about who she might support.
Kate Forbes has now almost been defined by her role in the leadership contest last year – battling it out against Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan.
But now she’ll be back round the cabinet table at Bute House with John Swinney at the helm.
Her supporters believe she’s been promised a big job.
The first minister has the final say on who is appointed to which post.
But her support will have come at a price – a significant post for her and possibly promotions for her key supporters in parliament.
The SNP MSP Jim Fairlie was her only backer from last year who made it into government – and it was a belated promotion in February of this year.
Ms Forbes is likely to suggest where she wants her key backers placed.
I asked one if they were now looking forward to government – “I’m looking forward to a rest”, was the reply.
Image source, ReutersSince becoming an MSP in the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary election, 34-year-old Kate Forbes has packed more into a short political career than many manage in decades.
She played a key role in Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet, becoming Scotland’s first female finance secretary in 2020 and was narrowly defeated by Humza Yousaf in last year’s SNP leadership contest.
While she declared her “full support and confidence” in the new first minister, she declined the rural affairs portfolio in Yousaf’s cabinet which would be seen as a major demotion.
In recent days, Forbes' future has been speculated by many as one of the rumoured candidates for first minister following Humza Yousaf’s resignation.
Now, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch says she has “weighed the decision” as to whether or not to once again enter the leadership race and on reflection, decided to give her “full support and endorsement” to John Swinney.
John Swinney to stand as leader of SNP
Now if you're just joining us John Swinney looks set to become Scotland's next first minister after Kate Forbes confirmed she would not challenge him for the SNP leadership. Here's the headlines so far:
Image source, PASNP MSP Kate Forbes was in Holyrood for FMQs
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
This leadership contest seems to have lasted less than four hours.
John Swinney's barnstorming launch gave him that all-important factor in politics - momentum.
His tactics were shrewd too.
By praising Kate Forbes, and offering her a plum job in government, she suddenly had every reason NOT to stand.
Now she's poised for a return to the front benches, with an enhanced role.
No doubt many in the SNP will be breathing a sigh of relief.
They've avoided a bruising, drawn-out leadership contest.
But will Kate Forbes help or hinder John Swinney?
The Scottish Greens see her as right-wing, reactionary and socially conservative.
They don't like her views on social issues and net zero.
And if they see her exerting too much influence in government, they'll get angry.
Humza Yousaf's fate is a reminder of what that can lead to.
Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent
One political adviser here at Holyrood said things would take their time and then it would all happen very quickly.
That’s pretty much what happened.
John Swinney set out his intentions and then three hours later the other potential big hitter in any prospective leadership race swung in behind him.
Kate Forbes is now guaranteed a big cabinet job.
So, it’s almost over – but not quite.
Officially, nominations close at noon at Monday.
No serious candidate could stand now but the SNP constitution states a valid nominee must have the backing of at least 100 members drawn from at least 20 different branches.
Could a member desperate for an open debate about the party’s future seek that level of support and force John Swinney to travel round a series of hustings?
Highly unlikely. The opinion here at Holyrood is it would be difficult to achieve that.
Unsurprisingly the Scottish Tories are not impressed by today's developments, calling it a "shady backroom deal".
The party's leader Douglas Ross has claimed that Kate Forbes "caved into SNP demands for a stitch-up" which would avoid "the bloodbath of another leadership contest".
He says the agreement is only applying a "sticking plaster to a gaping wound" regarding infighting within the SNP and that John Swinney's "fingerprints are all over 17 years of SNP failure and secrecy".
Some of Kate Forbes allies have taken to social media to express their support for her decision.
Michelle Thomson, the SNP MSP, stated it was "a class statement from a class act" and that she was pleased to see Forbes and Swinney "agreeing a way forward."
She added that the SNP had "always been at its best when it is mainstream and delivering for the people of Scotland. We have much to do."
Ivan McKee, the Glasgow Provan MSP, wrote on X that it was "an excellent statement." He added that Forbes shared Swinney's aim to "govern from the mainstream, focusing on the interests of the people of Scotland."
Image source, PA MediaFollowing the news that Kate Forbes has decided not to run for leader of the SNP, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says the SNP has "put the interests of their party before the country, yet again".
Sarwar says: “The people of Scotland are crying out for change – but all the SNP is offering them is yesterday’s man in John Swinney.
“Scotland’s public services are in crisis with almost one in six Scots on NHS waiting lists, the economy stagnating and homelessness on the rise.
“Rather than facing up to the challenges that we face, the SNP has put the interests of their party before the country yet again. It’s time for change."
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
To stand or not to stand - that was a tough question for Kate Forbes.
Just last year, she came within a whisker of beating Humza Yousaf in the leadership contest.
This time, she hoped to go one better.
So why did she decide not to take on John Swinney?
She must see him as a more formidable opponent than Mr Yousaf.
Opinion polling seems to back that up.
A recent IPSOS survey suggests she's more popular than John Swinney among the wider public.
But among SNP voters, it seems Mr Swinney's the favourite.
And this morning he offered her a hefty consolation prize - a major role in his leadership team. And what she thinks will be a shared agenda – a return to what she calls “governing from the mainstream”.
So rather than fight and lose a drawn-out contest, the 34-year-old is looking to bank her gains.
Kate Forbes also says John Swinney will "return the SNP to governing from the mainstream", which will please those in the SNP who felt the ideas of the Scottish Greens had too much influence in recent years.
She adds that "a just transition to ‘net zero’ must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses" and that this mainstream vision is "evidently demanded by the Scottish public."
Image source, PAKate Forbes and John Swinney were quite close during FMQs
If you're just joining us, Kate Forbes has announced she won't be standing for the SNP leadership - and will back John Swinney instead.
In a statement released in the last few minutes, she said the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needed was to join with Swinney and advocate for reform within the Scottish government.
Earlier, John Swinney said he wanted to see Kate Forbes return to a senior role if he was elected as first minister.
The SNP MSP goes on to say: "John will therefore have my support and endorsement in any campaign to follow.
Forbes adds: "You can be certain that delivering on the priorities for which we have, together, advocated in recent years has been at the heart of today’s decision.
"It is now clear from this morning’s statement that in John Swinney we have someone who not only understands that need for reform, but has now committed to delivering it.
"I look forward to playing my role in making that happen."
Kate Forbes goes on to say: "I have therefore weighed the decision whether or not to seek the leadership of the party with great care.
Ultimately, I have concluded that the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish government.
"I can therefore today announce that I will not be seeking nomination as the next SNP leader."
Image source, PA MediaKate Forbes says she was greatly heartened by John Swinney's drive to restore a sense of courtesy and dignity to the "way we conduct ourselves as a party and as a Parliament".
She adds: "I have also had the opportunity to speak directly with him to discuss the future of our party and our country.
"Those discussions on the future of the SNP and our vision for Scotland were both frank and constructive."
"What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country."
Former Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes has announced she is not running for the SNP leadership.
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
It seems highly likely that Kate Forbes is going to sit this contest out.
We’ve spoken to sources who have been told she’s not standing.
Some of her backers have been praising John Swinney's call for unity.