Leader sings praises of his predecessor but confirms no return to Bute House deal

The SNP’s new leader John Swinney made his first speech in the role after taking on the top job unopposed, ahead of his expected appointment as first minister today.

His acceptance speech at Glasgow University praised his predecessor Humza Yousaf and he pledged to become a unifying figure, before taking questions from journalists.

Mr Swinney invited the audience to “join me as we open a new chapter” and pledged to use “respect and courtesy” to make the case for independence.

He said: “The polarisation of politics does not serve our country well. We should be seeking solutions to problems.

“I will reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well. We need to stop shouting at each other and talk.

“More than that, actually, we need to listen. As first minister, I will do exactly that.”

Mr Swinney praised the “grace and dignity” of his predecessor and said “moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in very dark times”.

He thanked Mr Yousaf for his contribution to the SNP and for his work as first minister and said he expected him to play a part in Scottish politics.

He said: “We must continue to illuminate hope, fight for international justice and be willing to stand up for what we believe to be right. That is what Humza Yousaf did.

“I know that Humza will continue to make a substantial contribution to the public life of Scotland and I thank him for all that he has done as our party leader and first minister.”

Mr Swinney addressed relations with other factions within the SNP and said he had met exfinance secretary Kate Forbes to discuss her views.

He thanked her for backing his leadership and said during a meeting that the former opponents “came together and discussed the shared ambitions we have for our country and how best to go forward”.

Mr Swinney added: “The simple lesson is that dialogue can bring us to points of agreement and strength.”

Responding to questions following his speech, Mr Swinney said he will not resurrect the defunct power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, known as the Bute House Agreement.

He said he would not implement that type of agreement, preferring to take issues on a case-bycase basis.

Mr Swinney said: “I don’t intend to return to the Bute House Agreement.”

Mr Swinney said the party would “get our act together” and win back disaffected voters.

He said the “country could do more if we had the powers of a normal independent nation” and cited Brexit and the cost-ofliving crisis as examples of Westminster decisions “that are bad for Scotland”.

Mr Swinney said: “They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have independence to make our own decisions and create our best future.”

To rapturous applause, he said: “If someone is an independence supporter in Scotland and they want

Scotland to be independent there’s only one political party that will ever deliver and that’s the Scottish National Party.”

Mr Swinney described the Cass Review on NHS gender identity services as “evidence-based” and pledged to listen to clinicians.

He added: “The government will take a rational evidence-based approach to the consideration of the Cass Review.”

Humza Yousaf’s ‘grace and dignity’ has been praised.