Summary
John Swinney expressed his ambition to become Scotland‘s first minister, emphasizing a better future for the country. He won majority support in the final vote.
Swinney highlighted his belief in Scottish self-government and paid tribute to his predecessor, Humza Yousaf. His family watched the parliamentary process as he secured the majority needed to become first minister.
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John Swinney becomes Scotland’s seventh First Minister
Mr Swinney told MSPs that it was with a “burning ambition for a better future for this country that I am seeking to become first minister”.
He added: “I hope we can all recognise that despite our political differences, we’re all here because we want the best for Scotland, whatever our specific role happens to be.
“For me, it is with all my experience – but with much more than that – with my burning ambition for a better future for this country, that I am seeking to become first minister.”
In the final vote, Mr Swinney won the support of 64 MSPs, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross won 31, while Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar took 22 and Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton won the backing of four.
The seven Scottish Greens abstained
Mr Swinney only needed a simple majority and in his pitch to parliament, he said his “core belief” is that “Scottish self-government is the right way forward for Scotland”.
Mr Swinney also paid tribute to his predecessor, Humza Yousaf, who formally tendered his resignation to the King on Tuesday morning.
Diversity in Scottish politics
“I’m proud that it was an SNP government that was led by the first woman first minister and then by the first Muslim first minister,” he said.
“I want to pay tribute to Humza Yousaf – a man of unfailing courtesy who served my party but also this parliament and country with distinction.”
Mr Swinney’s family, including his wife Elizabeth Quiqley, were in the public gallery to watch the parliamentary process at Holyrood.