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The 2024 Scottish National Party leadership election took place to choose the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) following the resignation of Humza Yousaf on 29 April 2024, amid a government crisis. Nominations closed on 6 May, with John Swinney emerging as the only candidate and was subsequently elected unopposed as the party's new leader.
In the previous election, held the year prior following Nicola Sturgeon's resignation, Yousaf successfully defeated Kate Forbes and Ash Regan in a leadership election that caused turmoil for the party with disagreements over the party's independence strategy and the controversial[1][2] gender reform bill. Yousaf was subsequently appointed First Minister of Scotland. On 25 April 2024, Yousaf announced the end of his co-operation agreement with the Scottish Greens following changes to his government's climate policy. The Scottish Conservatives later called for a vote of no confidence in Yousaf, with all the main opposition parties, including the Greens, supporting the motion. Regan, who had become the Alba Party's sole MSP after resigning from the SNP in the aftermath of her leadership election loss, had indicated a willingness to consider voting to support Yousaf (which would have caused the no confidence motion to tie on votes and, as per tradition, been defeated via the presiding officer's deciding vote) in exchange for the government adopting Alba policies, but Yousaf rejected the deal and announced his intention to resign on 29 April.
Forbes, who placed as runner up in the previous election, was considered as a front runner to replace Yousaf, however, following Swinney's campaign launch on 2 May, she announced she would not run for leader and instead endorsed Swinney. This left him as the only candidate, with many prominent SNP members endorsing his campaign. On 5 May, party activist, Graeme McCormick, disclosed to media he had gathered the required nominations to run for leader, however, after holding talks with Swinney, he withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Swinney. This left him as the only candidate and he was elected unopposed as leader of the SNP on 6 May.[3]
Further information: 2024 Scottish government crisis |
Following Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as leader of the SNP and as first minister, Humza Yousaf won the 2023 SNP leadership election, defeating Kate Forbes with 52% to her 48% in the final stage. Yousaf was appointed first minister on 29 March 2023, becoming the youngest person, the first Scottish Asian, and the first Muslim to serve in office. He was sworn into the Privy Council in May 2023.
In April 2024, Yousaf faced a confidence challenge following his termination of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and their co-operation partners the Scottish Greens. This was following changes to landmark climate policy by Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan, after which a planned Greens vote on the continuation of the agreement was announced. Following the end of the agreement Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, co-leaders of the Greens announced they would support a no confidence motion in Yousaf alongside the other opposition parties, meaning this would likely pass. Yousaf announced his resignation on 29 April 2024 before the vote could take place, triggering a leadership election.
On 30 April, Forbes and Swinney held meetings to discuss the leadership.[4] Swinney announced Forbes would receive a significant role in his government if elected, and Forbes soon after announced she would not be standing.[5] Following Swinney's election, this was later enacted with Forbes appointed as his Deputy First Minister and the new Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.[6]
Veteran activist Graeme McCormick announced to the press that he believed he had the 100 nominations necessary on 5 May.[7] Later that day, after having a conversation with Swinney, he withdrew from the race and endorsed Swinney.[8]
Candidate | Political office | Date declared | Campaign | Campaign progression | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() John Swinney |
Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023) Leader of the Scottish National Party (2000–2004) MSP for Perthshire North (2011–present) MSP for North Tayside (1999–2011) MP for North Tayside (1997–2001) |
2 May 2024 | ![]() |
The following individuals initially explored a candidacy but later withdrew:
The following figures were speculated to be candidates by the media but declined to run:
Dates conducted |
Pollster | Client | Sample size |
Kate Forbes |
John Swinney |
Other | Don't know/ NOTA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29–30 Apr | Ipsos[a] | N/A | 1,127 | 26% | 20% | 30%
Stephen Flynn on 7% Angus Robertson on 4% Shona Robinson on 2% Màiri McAllan on 2% Humza Yousaf on 2% Jenny Gilruth on 1% Neil Gray on <1% Other on 1% |
34% |