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
First Minister's Question will go ahead as usual today, with Humza Yousaf still in the hot seat as first minister.
We'll bring you all the action, with analysis and reports from noon.
Remember you can watch FMQs here with us, just click on the play icon at the top of the page.
Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent
John Swinney has just delivered a masterclass in how to apply for a job.
He’s been frank about the challenges, but argued confidently about how he’ll deal with them.
He’s tackled head-on the concerns that he’d be just an interim leader, insisting he’s no caretaker and pointing to his personal success as Scotland’s longest-serving elected parliamentarian (supporters point out he’s younger than Keir Starmer).
And with the tagline "Uniting For Independence" underneath his podium, he’s set out his intention of making his party more cohesive.
It was a performance that could be difficult for Kate Forbes to ignore.
Following his leadership announcement, John Swinney spoke to BBC political correspondent, David Wallace Lockhart.
Swinney said he feels Kate Forbes has a significant contribution to make to the national life of Scotland.
He said: “I want to have a team that represents all of the talents and the strengths of the Scottish National Party and when we get those strengths assembled, we will be a formidable political force and that’s what my leadership will be about.
Quote MessageI will be very happy to work with Kate Forbes. There is a place for Kate in the team that I want to take forward.”
John Swinney, SNP leadership hopeful
Lynsey Bews
BBC Scotland political correspondent
John Swinney leaned heavily on his political experience in his pitch for the SNP leadership.
And that experience is vast - almost 16 years in senior government roles, including serving as deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon for more than eight years.
He framed his longevity as a strength rather than a weakness - pre-empting criticism from his opponents that the SNP is out of ideas, and lacking fresh talent.
With his bid for the top job now confirmed, Mr Swinney can expect his record in government to come under intense scrutiny.
Now if you're just joining us John Swinney has just launched his campaign to become the next SNP leader and Scotland's first minister. Here's the headlines from his speech:
Image source, PAJohn Swinney launched his campaign in Edinburgh's Grassmarket
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
In his pitch for the leadership, John Swinney wants to be seen as a man of contrasts.
An insider and outsider, all at the same time.
A backbench MSP, with 15 years in high office.
Older than his rivals - but emphatic that he's no caretaker, and no interim leader.
Committed to tackling climate change - but determined, he says, to take society and business along on that journey.
Blunt about the SNP's internal problems - its disunity, lack of cohesion and weak party democracy.
But certain that if they get their act together, the opposition parties in Scotland "had better watch out".
That's surely the intention.
John Swinney wants to be seen as the unifier in the SNP and Scotland.
And he thinks that will win him the keys to Bute House.
Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent
John Swinney made his leadership bid in a venue only about a mile from the Scottish Parliament.
Back here, it was being watched with interest as it was broadcast live by the BBC.
Swinney appealed to his biggest rival, Kate Forbes in a potential leadership contest.
He said he wanted her to “play a big part in his team” - and repeatedly emphasised her skills and attributes.
A Kate Forbes ally here at Holyrood has just told me that it will need to be a “big job” in the cabinet to get her on board.
The supporter said the Swinney/Forbes offices are “just along the corridor from each other and they have been having lots of chats.”
Forbes was said to be listening closely to the Swinney statement and will make an announcement this afternoon near Holyrood.
Some of her previous MSP supporters have switched to back Swinney - and remember she only received 41% of member votes in the first round last year.
So, coronation or contest?
I suspect that Mr Swinney’s praise of his “colleague and friend” (with whom he has had serious disagreements) and potentially a promise of a “big job” will mean that Ms Forbes gets on board.
Image source, PA MediaJohn Swinney finishes the press conference saying: "We have a hostile UK government that's cutting funding to Scotland.
"We can't magic money out of thin air.
"So the answer to that is for Scotland's to be an independent country and not be imprisoned by Westminster decisions.
"And that's the message I will take to the people of Scotland."
Addressing opposition parties, Swinney says: "We're miles ahead of Anas Sarwar and an earth ahead of Douglas Ross.
"Kate Forbes and I have been on the backbenches while Sarwar and Ross have had all the limelight for the last 12 months and they're hugely unpopular - that's quite a good sign for the SNP."
Swinney says: "Ministers that act on my behalf will be working ferociously to deliver improvement in the lives of people in Scotland."
John Swinney tells the press conference: "I've got a pretty 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.
"Allow me to take the view that I kind of know how to win votes."
David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent
There was a clear indication that John Swinney wants to strike some sort of deal with his only potential rival at this point, Kate Forbes.
He says he wants Forbes to play a “significant part” in his team.
We could see a coronation for Swinney, that ultimately sees Kate Forbes with a seat at his top table.
Swinney says he wants to unite his divided party. Him and Forbes in government together would probably help with that. But can they agree on enough to serve together?
Swinney says talk of a Holyrood election is a "red herring" and the government should stick to the full five-year fixed term.
"We should see out the term. We should respect the fact we operate in a fixed-term parliamentary system where there can be a change of personnel within that period," he says.
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
John Swinney is trying to sell himself as a unifier.
The pitch he wants to make to SNP members is that he has the track record to bring a fractured party back together.
He wasn’t subtle in his pitch to Kate Forbes, essentially promising her a top job if she wants it.
The question now is what Ms Forbes does.
Some in the SNP are nervous about the damage another contest could do. Remember last year, when the candidates regularly took lumps out of each other?
Ms Forbes is expected to clarify her position later.
Might Mr Swinney’s pitch win her over? Well see.
Swinney receives a standing ovation and prepares to take questions from the press.
The BBC's Scotland editor James Cook says Swinney said "you can't walk on by" and he asks what specifically is wrong with the SNP.
"The party is not cohesive just now, we are not together we're not operating as one big unified team," Swinney replies.
He adds that he is certain if the SNP gets its act together it will be a "formidable force for good in Scotland".
Swinney says: "I am no caretaker. I am no interim leader.
"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."
Swinney says his message is "crisp and simple".
"I am stepping forward to bring the SNP together.
"I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence. I invite everyone in the SNP and in our country who wants to join me in that journey to do so now."
The SNP MSP tells the press conference: "I will pursue priorities that will make Scotland the best our country can be."
Swinney says he wants the Scottish Parliament to have the full range of powers of an independent country.
"I want to focus my efforts on reaching out in Scotland with respect and courtesy to address the obstacles in the way of winning the case for independence."
John Swinney says he wants fellow leadership frontrunner Kate Forbes to be part of his new government team and describes her as an intelligent creative person who has much to contribute.
Swinney says he will stand in the "moderate centre-left" of Scottish politics, "where a majority of people want their government to stand".
He says that if elected, his goals as first minister will come straight from the straight of centre-left tradition.
"The pursuit of economic growth, and social justice. Economic growth, not for its own sake, but to support the services and the society we all want to see," he says.