John Swinney vows to serve full five years as First Minister if SNP win 2026 Holyrood elections

John Swinney has said he will serve a full five years as First Minister if the SNP win the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

The First Minister also revealed he took up running after a health scare led to a night in hospital in 2009.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Swinney reflected on the “abrupt decision” he took in the wake of Humza Yousaf’s resignation last year – when he returned from the backbenches to become SNP leader and First Minister.

Recent polling has suggested the SNP would emerge as the largest party at Holyrood, while a pro-independence majority in the chamber would secure the veteran politician’s position as First Minister.

Asked whether he wanted to remain in office for a further six years, Swinney said: “That would be my plan.

“That’s what I’m intending to do dependent obviously on the judgment of voters.”

In 2023 the Perthshire North MSP stood down from his role as deputy first minister after a government career which spanned 16 years.

Discussing his break from frontline politics, he said: “I never really understood the benefit of a sabbatical before that but I emerged feeling strong and with a new perspective on the job.

“I think people probably look at me today and see a different character in the way I am handling things.”

Swinney also discussed a health incident he experienced in the back of a government car in 2009, where he started to feel “a bit of discomfort with pain across my chest”.

He said: “Everything came back fine and I was allowed to go home the next morning but as I was leaving the consultant asked me how much weight I had gained since becoming an MSP and I realised it was four stones.”

He said he has been running ever since and recently took part in the Doddie Aid 2025 challenge.