SNP leader John Swinney re-elected as Scotland's first minister

John Swinney has been re-elected as Scotland's first minister, vowing to "work every day to repay the trust" the nation's people have placed in him.

The SNP leader won the Scottish parliament nomination following a vote at Holyrood on Tuesday and will be formally sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Mr Swinney was up against all five opposition party leaders - Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar, Reform UK Scotland's Malcolm Offord, the Scottish Conservatives' Russell Findlay, the Scottish Greens' Gillian Mackay, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats' Alex Cole-Hamilton.

The MSP for Perthshire North has been a member of the Scottish parliament since 1999 and has been first minister since 2024.

He was re-elected with a total of 56 votes following three rounds of voting.

In a statement afterwards, Mr Swinney said: "I will be a first minister for all of Scotland.

"A first minister that works to bring people together with a strong sense of national purpose.

"The country I seek to build is a country where everyone feels accepted and able to contribute to our national story.

"I gratefully accept this opportunity to serve as first minister. It is the greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility of my life.

"I promise to work every day to repay the trust that the people of Scotland have placed in me."

The SNP won 58 seats in the recent Scottish parliament election - just seven seats shy of a majority.

The result came as Mr Swinney spent two years trying to stabilise his party following the departures of former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

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During his campaign, Mr Swinney vowed that a new SNP administration would bring forward a vote to approve the development of a Section 30 Order, which would be needed to transfer powers to hold a referendum from Westminster to Holyrood.

As the powers are reserved, the vote would aim to act as a message to express the will of the Scottish parliament in a bid to pressure the UK government to approve a second vote on the union.

However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly made clear his opposition to indyref2.

Mr Swinney outlined his ambitions for the parliamentary term, including action to tackle the cost of living crisis, improve the struggle NHS, and grow the economy to create opportunity across Scotland.

He also made it clear he will continue to push for a second independence referendum.

Mr Swinney said: "I believe I can achieve a majority for every ambition I have for this parliament and I look forward to working with many here to do so.

"That, of course, includes the question of Scotland's constitutional future on which I recognise there are profound differences of opinion.

"Indeed, the people have now elected the largest pro-independence majority in the history of devolution."

Mr Swinney is expected to be formally appointed with a Royal Warrant from King Charles.

When being sworn in, he will take the Official Oath in front of the Lord President of the Court of Session and other senior judges.

After the ceremony, the first minister will go on to appoint a cabinet.

The official appointment of the Scottish and junior ministers will then take place at Holyrood on Thursday - giving Mr Swinney a week to prepare for the inaugural First Minister's Questions of the new parliamentary term.

(c) Sky News 2026: SNP leader John Swinney re-elected as Scotland's first minister