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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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John Swinney

Scottish National Party

MSP for Perthshire North (Constituency)


John Swinney is the First Minister and is the leader of the Scottish National Party

About John Swinney

Contact details

Contact online

Website: johnswinney.scot

X (previously known as Twitter): @johnswinney

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5717
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

17-19 Leslie Street
Blairgowrie
PH10 6AH

Phone: 01250 876576
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish National Party
MSP for Perthshire North (Constituency)
05 May 2011 to present

Scottish National Party
Former MSP for North Tayside (Constituency)
06 May 1999 to 22 Mar 2011

Committees

John Swinney is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

John Swinney is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

John Swinney has 1 parliamentary and government role

First Minister

Scottish Government

Party Roles

John Swinney has 1 party role

Party Leader

Scottish National Party

Previous roles

John Swinney has had the following roles in Parliament

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

07 May 2024 to 19 May 2026

First Minister

Scottish Government

06 May 2024 to 08 April 2026

Party Leader

Scottish National Party

29 June 2023 to 07 May 2024

Criminal Justice Committee

Member

19 May 2021 to 28 March 2023

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery

Scottish Government

18 May 2016 to 18 May 2021

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Scottish Government

21 November 2014 to 18 May 2016

Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy

Scottish Government

21 November 2014 to 18 May 2016

Deputy First Minister

Scottish Government

25 May 2011 to 21 November 2014

Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth

Scottish Government

17 May 2007 to 25 May 2011

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth

Scottish Government

05 September 2005 to 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on Finance

Scottish National Party

05 September 2005 to 02 April 2007

Party Spokesperson on Public Services

Scottish National Party

30 October 2004 to 02 April 2007

Audit Committee

Substitute Member

20 September 2005 to 02 April 2007

Finance Committee

Deputy Convener

15 September 2005 to 20 September 2005

Finance Committee

Member

28 September 2004 to 14 September 2005

European and External Relations Committee

Convener

28 September 2004 to 14 September 2005

Conveners Group

Member

15 September 2004 to 28 September 2004

European and External Relations Committee

Member

01 May 2003 to 03 September 2004

Party Leader

Scottish National Party

26 September 2000 to 31 March 2003

Party Leader

Scottish National Party

17 June 1999 to 01 November 2000

Finance Committee

Member

06 May 1999 to 26 September 2000

Deputy Party Leader

Scottish National Party

25 May 1999 to 26 September 2000

Party Spokesperson on Enterprise

Scottish National Party

25 May 1999 to 26 September 2000

Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning

Scottish National Party

17 June 1999 to 26 September 2000

Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee

Convener

24 August 1999 to 26 September 2000

Conveners Liaison Group

Member

Register of interests

John Swinney's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What John Swinney has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Legal Aid (Asylum Seekers and Refugees)

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

The First Minister (John Swinney): "Decisions on legal aid are taken independently by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, in line with the highest standards of scrutiny and cognisant of the responsibilities that we carry, which are underpinned in the Scotland Act 1998, to be compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998 and with the provisions of the European convention on human rights.…

Learning Estate Investment Programme

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

The First Minister (John Swinney): "I am familiar with the issues that Jenni Minto raises. During the election campaign, I discussed them with campaigners when I visited her constituency in Oban. I understand the issues that are at stake here…

Danielle MacDonald

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

The First Minister (John Swinney): "I would be very happy to meet Danielle MacDonald and hear the points that she wishes to raise with me…

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Waiting Times)

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

The First Minister (John Swinney): "On the question of CAMHS waiting times, the national performance against the 18-week CAMHS standard has been sustained, with 91 per cent of children and young people starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral…

University of Edinburgh (Striking Staff)

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

The First Minister (John Swinney): "In such circumstances, it is really important that there is good dialogue and engagement between the leadership of organisations and their workforce…

Votes

How John Swinney has voted in Parliament

Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.

Scottish Rate Resolution

Motion reference: S6M-20844

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026

Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion reference: S6M-20826.1

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Approval of SSI

Motion reference: S6M-20827

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

A Just Transition Fund for Mossmorran

Motion reference: S6M-20820.2

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Ending US Military Use of Scottish Airports

Motion reference: S6M-20819.3

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motions

Motions made by John Swinney in Parliament

Find out what motions John Swinney has submitted recently.

test

Motion reference: S7M-00094

test

Motion reference: S7M-00095

Appointment of Law Officers

Motion reference: S7M-00380

Ambitious for Scotland

Motion reference: S7M-00105

Questions

Questions John Swinney has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6O-03870

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 August 2024

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2028

"To ask the Scottish Government test."

Question reference: S6W-26902

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously employed by (a) Police Scotland, (b) any other police service and (c) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."

Question reference: S6W-26901

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and in what roles."

Question reference: S6W-26900

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously serving police officers."

Question reference: S6W-26392

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the treatment Olaparib has been prescribed in each NHS board area since it was approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in 2021."

Question reference: S6W-26306

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to measures to increase the wild salmon population through stocking initiatives."

Question reference: S6W-26307

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of recent flooding events for wild salmon populations."

Question reference: S6W-26304

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy."

Question reference: S6W-26390

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed."

Question reference: S6W-26391

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration is being given, as part of the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, to risk factors such as family history and ethnicity in improving the early detection of prostate cancer."