John Swinney sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister
He is now expected to appoint his Cabinet ministers.
John Swinney has been sworn in as the new First Minister of Scotland and is expected to appoint his Cabinet later.
The ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning saw Mr Swinney make his statutory declarations and be granted his official title of First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal.
Scotland’s most senior judge, Lord President Lord Carloway, presided over the ceremony.
Mr Swinney raised his right hand and bowed his head as Lord Carloway read the three oaths of office – for the role of First Minister, the Keeper of the Great Seal and and the oath of allegiance to the King.
The Lord President then addressed the court about the independence of the judiciary.
Mr Swinney’s family, including his wife Elizabeth, brother David and 13-year-old son Matthew, accompanied him to court.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Mr Swinney said taking the oaths had been an “overwhelming moment” and he spoke of his pride at being First Minister and his family’s support.
Asked about former finance secretary Kate Forbes – who announced she would not run against him for the SNP leadership after a discussion with him – and whether she would have a role in his Cabinet, Mr Swinney said: “I’m a man of my word.”
The Perthshire North MSP had pledged to devote himself to the job after being voted into the role at Holyrood on Tuesday, and he becomes the seventh person to be First Minister since the Scottish Parliament was established 25 years ago. It came following an unopposed SNP selection process a week after predecessor Humza Yousaf resigned.
Mr Swinney said it is an “extraordinary privilege” to become Scotland’s new First Minister as he pledged to “give everything I have” to the role.
He shook hands with opposition leaders in the chamber at the Scottish Parliament after the vote.
Mr Swinney told the other parties at Holyrood: “If we want to fund our schools and hospitals, if we want to give our businesses a competitive edge, if we want to tackle climate action, if we want to eradicate child poverty, if we want to change people’s lives for the better, we have got to work together to do so.”
He said he will “give all of my energy and my willingness” to achieve this, committing to be “the First Minister for everyone in Scotland”.
He thanked his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, making clear his “profound eternal gratitude” to her for “the sacrifices she is prepared to make” so he can take on the job.
