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 has 1 parliamentary and government role
First Minister
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Party Roles
John has 1 party role
Party Leader
Scottish National Party
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: 9 May 2024
Teacher Numbers
The First Minister (John Swinney): "The Government’s commitments in relation to teacher numbers have been given in good faith to strengthen the provision of education in Scotland. I want the Government to work with our local authority partners to deliver on those commitments…
Chamber meeting date: 9 May 2024
Local Government (Teacher Numbers)
The First Minister (John Swinney): "The first point that I want to make is that the events of the past two weeks have been traumatic for my party—I accept that—and they have had everything to do with running the country…
Chamber meeting date: 9 May 2024
Women in Enterprise
The First Minister (John Swinney): "The Scottish Government is committed to implementation of the report “Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship”, which looks at how support for women in entrepreneurship can best be delivered and addresses the barriers that they continue to face. We have allocated £1.5 million this year to support that work, building on the £1.3…
Chamber meeting date: 9 May 2024
Post Office Horizon System
The First Minister (John Swinney): "As the Parliament will be well aware, and as the Lord President reminded me when I took the oath of office yesterday, the Lord Advocate and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are, rightly, independent of the Government in their responsibility for the prosecution of crime. I am advised that it was not until the decisions by the courts…
Chamber meeting date: 9 May 2024
Suicide Rate
The First Minister (John Swinney): "Suicide prevention is a key priority for the Scottish Government, and it will be a priority for me, as First Minister…
Votes
How John Swinney has voted in Parliament
Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 49 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Appointment of Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 57 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 52 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Implementing the Cass Review in Scotland
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 71 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Supporting Scotland’s Colleges
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 60 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
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: 18 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and in what roles."
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously employed by (a) Police Scotland, (b) any other police service and (c) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously serving police officers."
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the treatment Olaparib has been prescribed in each NHS board area since it was approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in 2021."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of recent flooding events for wild salmon populations."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to measures to increase the wild salmon population through stocking initiatives."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed."
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration is being given, as part of the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, to risk factors such as family history and ethnicity in improving the early detection of prostate cancer."
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
Asked by: Swinney, John, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the necessary genetic tests are available in all NHS board areas to enable the prescribing of Olaparib to treat prostate cancer."
Answered by Neil Gray on 2 April 2024