Swinney to lead SNP after activist pulls out
JOHN SWINNEY is to become SNP leader today after persuading an activist who threatened to derail his coronation to abandon his leadership bid.
Graeme Mccormick, a long-standing SNP member, had threatened to plunge the SNP into a costly and divisive leadership contest after he claimed he had secured enough support to force a leadership election. However, he revealed last night he had held “lengthy and fruitful talks” with Mr Swinney and had decided to support his candidacy.
It means Mr Swinney is expected to be the only candidate for SNP leader when nominations close at midday today, and is set to become the new first minister tomorrow. While Mr Swinney would have been certain to win, a contest would have prolonged Humza Yousaf ’s disastrous tenure and cost the cash-strapped SNP tens of thousands of pounds during an election year.
Mr Mccormick, who was seen collecting nominations at an independence march in Glasgow on Saturday, said he had met the threshold to stand.
Under SNP rules, only 100 nominations are needed from 20 separate branches.
In a statement, Mr Mccormick said: “John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our Government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues.”
He added: “This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I’m sure that John’s determination to deliver independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming general election.
“I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination but instead support John Swinney’s nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland,” he added.