John Swinney
Scottish National Party
MSP for Perthshire North (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for North Tayside (Constituency) 1999 - 2011
About John Swinney
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: johnswinney.scot
X (previously known as Twitter): @johnswinney
Facebook: John's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5717
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
17-19 Leslie Street
Blairgowrie
PH10 6AH
Phone: 01250 876576
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Cross-party groups
John is a member of 1 cross-party group
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Enterprise
Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
John does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
John does not have any party roles
Previous roles
John has had 22 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
19 May 2021 - 28 March 2023
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
Scottish Government
18 May 2016 - 18 May 2021
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Scottish Government
21 November 2014 - 18 May 2016
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy
Scottish Government
21 November 2014 - 18 May 2016
Deputy First Minister
Scottish Government
25 May 2011 - 21 November 2014
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth
Scottish Government
17 May 2007 - 25 May 2011
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
Scottish Government
05 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish National Party
05 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on Public Services
Scottish National Party
30 October 2004 - 02 April 2007
Audit Committee
Substitute Member
20 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Finance Committee
Deputy Convener
15 September 2005 - 20 September 2005
Finance Committee
Member
28 September 2004 - 14 September 2005
European and External Relations Committee
Convener
28 September 2004 - 14 September 2005
conveners group
Member
15 September 2004 - 28 September 2004
European and External Relations Committee
Member
01 May 2003 - 03 September 2004
Party Leader
Scottish National Party
26 September 2000 - 31 March 2003
Party Leader
Scottish National Party
17 June 1999 - 01 November 2000
Finance Committee
Member
06 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Deputy Party Leader
Scottish National Party
25 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Party Spokesperson on Enterprise
Scottish National Party
25 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish National Party
17 June 1999 - 26 September 2000
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee
Convener
24 August 1999 - 26 September 2000
Conveners Liaison Group
Member
Register of interests
John's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for John Swinney. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On Friday 26 May 2017 I attended the "Remarks by the Honourable Barack H Obama" event as a guest of West Coast Capital (a Private Equity Firm). The cost of hospitality for the evening was £500, which was met by West Coast Capital.
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
On 7 December 2023 it was announced I had been appointed an Honorary Professor in the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow. It is a part-time role and there is no remuneration involved. [Registered 13 December 2023]
I am a Director of the Logierait Bridge Company. I do not receive any remuneration in relation to this role.
From 23 November 2023 to 24 November 2023 I attended and spoke at a Conference “Future Politics : Effective Governance” at the University of Ulster, Belfast organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation and Stratagem. Flights, dinner and hotel accommodation were paid for by the organisers at a cost of £150.61, £35 and £117.99 respectively. [Registered 5 December 2023]
Recent Activity
What was said
What John Swinney has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 14 March 2024
Housing
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "Does the minister accept that, in the period since the Government came to office in 2007, more social housing properties have been constructed each year, on average, than was the case for the eight years before the Government came to office…
Chamber meeting date: 14 March 2024
Young Carers Action Day 2024
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "I am grateful to Karen Adam for taking an intervention on this important topic. Last night, in Perth College, I took part in a question time on young carers action week…
Chamber meeting date: 14 March 2024
Addressing Child Poverty Through Parental Employment
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "Will the minister give way?"
Chamber meeting date: 7 March 2024
Bus Partnership Fund
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "Did the minister hear the finance secretary say during the budget process that she had received no alternative proposals from the Conservatives? As a consequence, the proposition that has just been put to the minister is laughable…
Chamber meeting date: 29 February 2024
Brian Low
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "The First Minister will be aware that Police Scotland is investigating the suspected murder of Brian Low in Aberfeldy, in my constituency, on 17 February. I take this opportunity to express my sympathy to Mr Low’s family for that terrible tragedy…
Votes
How John Swinney has voted in Parliament
Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 80 for, 0 against, 32 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 80 for, 0 against, 32 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Growing Scotland’s Economy
Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Richard Lochhead, Gillian Martin, Lorna Slater
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Bringing Down NHS Waiting Lists
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Bringing Down NHS Waiting Lists
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 11, 2024
Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by John Swinney in Parliament
Find out what motions John Swinney has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions John Swinney has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 September 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide guidance on physical restraint in educational settings."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 October 2023
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Scottish Parliament on the Fiscal Framework review."
Answered by Shona Robison on 2 August 2023
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 16 June 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the next paper in the Building a New Scotland series."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 19 June 2023
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance medical education in relation to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in medical schools."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance continuous professional development (CPD) among clinicians, in relation to awareness of the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 June 2023
Asked by: Swinney, John, North Tayside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2007
"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve signage for access to the Cairngorms from the A9."
Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 March 2007
Asked by: Swinney, John, North Tayside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 January 2007
"To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it has incurred to date in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application)."
Answered by Johann Lamont on 16 February 2007
Asked by: Swinney, John, North Tayside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 January 2007
"To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it expects to incur in (a) legal and (b) court costs in pursuing the case of The Scottish Ministers versus The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s application)."
Answered by Johann Lamont on 16 February 2007
Asked by: Swinney, John, North Tayside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25 January 2007
"To ask the Scottish Executive what professional qualifications are held by staff employed by Fisheries Research Services at Freshwater Laboratory Faskally."
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 February 2007
Asked by: Swinney, John, North Tayside, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 January 2007
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much expenditure the Scottish Information Commissioner has incurred from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s central contingency fund to date in (a) legal costs and (b) court costs in defending the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (William Alexander’s…
Answered by John Scott on 6 February 2007