Douglas Ross: John Swinney offers ‘more division’ as SNP leader

Douglas Ross has accused John Swinney of being “fixated on independence, not on the things that really matter”.

Speaking at FMQs following the launch of Swinney’s campaign to be the next leader of the SNP, the Scottish Tory leader said the only thing being offered was “more division”.

Ross said Swinney had “masterminded the deal with the extremist Greens” and that his “fingerprints are all over the most toxic policies”.

Labour’s Anas Sarwar said Swinney has been “at the heart of this incompetent government for 17 years”.

And he accused the SNP of putting “their own problems before the people of Scotland” and “desperately trying to cling on to power”.

But First Minister Humza Yousaf defended the former deputy first minister, saying he was in government for the setting up of Social Security Scotland which lifted 100,000 children out of poverty and that as education secretary Swinney had overseen greater numbers of young people going on to positive destinations.

Accusing Ross of focusing on “personalities rather than policies”, Yousaf highlighted recent polling with found both Swinney and Kate Forbes were more popular than the Scottish Tory leader.

He said the UK Government was refusing to hold a second independence referendum because they “fear” the outcome and he had “no doubt” the Scottish people would “continue to put their trust in the SNP” going forward.

Swinney launched his leadership campaign on Thursday morning on a platform of “uniting for independence”, after Yousaf announced his resignation on Monday.

At present he is the only contender for the leadership, meaning he could be in place at First Minister by next week.

Forbes is expected to make a statement later.