John Swinney has been selected as the new leader of the SNP, without a contest.
Read Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross’ statement on John Swinney’s coronation 👇
Statement from Scottish Conservative Leader, Douglas Ross:
“I congratulate John Swinney on becoming SNP leader for a second time.
“We urge him to govern for all of Scotland by abandoning his relentless push for independence – but, judging by his leadership launch slogan, that looks a forlorn hope.
“As the main opposition party, we will hold John Swinney to account when he lets the Scottish people down – just as we’ve done with Humza Yousaf.
“It’s difficult to see how he can be the fresh start Scotland needs, when he’s the ultimate continuity candidate. John Swinney was joined at the hip with the disgraced Nicola Sturgeon and his fingerprints are all over her numerous policy failures and cover-ups.
“The stitch-up the SNP have engineered to ensure John Swinney’s coronation highlights the mess they’re in. Is a failed former leader from two decades ago – who, as education secretary, sent Scotland plummeting down international league tables – really the best they have to offer?
“With John Swinney at the helm, the SNP will double down on their independence obsession – the one issue they agree on – and ignore the real priorities of the Scottish people, such as fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy.
“Voters know that in key seats across Scotland, only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP and get the focus back on to the issues that really matter.”
The early signs are not good – the SNP have coronated a new leader whose campaign slogan was ‘uniting for independence’.
My party will hold John Swinney to account, just as we did to Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon.
— Douglas Ross MP MSP (@Douglas4Moray) May 6, 2024
