Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland, resigned amid concerns over his political judgment and handling of contentious policies, such as a second independence referendum and gender recognition reform. His unilateral council tax freeze and an attempt to engage in a photo opportunity with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also contributed to his diminished public trust. Following Yousaf’s resignation, the focus has shifted to potential successors within the Scottish National Party (SNP), including Kate Forbes, who has been noted for her mainstream policy agenda.

John Swinney has quickly emerged as the frontrunner to lead the SNP, with a focus on revising policy commitments and distancing from previous controversies, especially in regards to gender recognition reform and hate crime laws. Swinney, a long-serving member of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and a pivotal figure in Nicola Sturgeon’s administration, has launched his leadership campaign in Edinburgh, promoting a centre-left stance aimed at guiding the SNP back towards its independence goals.

The SNP avoids immediate leadership contention, but faces the challenge of maintaining its position against a resurging Scottish Labour party in the upcoming general election. Swinney’s approach will likely include seeking collaboration with opposition parties, notably the Scottish Liberal Democrats, due to the SNP’s minority government status. He also faces the task of managing budget constraints while supporting key sectors such as health and education. His political acumen and experience are seen as crucial in reuniting the party and maintaining its leadership role in Scottish politics as it heads towards the parliamentary elections in 2026.