John Swinney expected to announce SNP leadership bid

Former Deputy First Minister John Swinney is expected to announce his bid to become the next SNP leader and therefore first minister later today.

Swinney will make a statement in Edinburgh this morning. There has also been speculation over whether former finance secretary Kate Forbes will enter the race, but she is yet to rule herself in or out. 

Swinney previously served as SNP leader between 2000 and 2004.

He was deputy first minister and finance secretary under Nicola Sturgeon but stood down and went to the backbenches following her resignation.

Swinney has already received the backing of leading figures in the SNP including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, health secretary Neil Gray and education secretary Jenny Gilruth.

Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, said earlier this week that he was giving the idea of running for the leadership “a great deal of thought”.

It comes after the Scottish Government survived a vote of no confidence in parliament yesterday.