Swinney responds to SNP rebels in plot against leadership
Mr Swinney was mocked over the story at First Minister's Questions (FMQs) by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who said SNP figures were "openly rebelling" against his "weak leadership".
The First Minister hit back, telling journalists a leadership contest "would not be a good idea".
The Herald revealed 25 attendees were at the meeting, with one stating the First Minister had two weeks to come up with a new strategy on independence - or risk facing a leadership contest at SNP conference in October.
It is understood the meeting was about forcing the party to move faster on Scottish independence, however there was a unanimous view that the First Minister had "no intention of putting independence anywhere near the party's narrative".
Following FMQs, The Herald asked Mr Swinney if he was concerned about the briefings against him.
"Not in the slightest," he bluntly replied.
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The First Minister also told journalists he had "absolutely no idea" if members were planning to stand against him at conference.
But he said: 'I don't think that would be a good idea. I came into office to help the SNP to recover from a very, very difficult situation in the spring of 2024 and I am very focused on making sure we make that recovery to be ready for the 2026 elections and that is the focus of my thinking and my planning.
I've obviously taken a number of steps over the course of the last 12 months to get the SNP into a better position and without going through all of the outcomes of the by-election last week, although I'm just about to do so.
'We got ourselves into contention in the context that we face just now, whereas a year ago I don't think The Herald would have been anywhere near contention in the by-election.
'We've got a journey of recovery and improvement to undertake and we're doing that and that's the focus of my leadership.'
A fiery exchange at FMQs resulted in a clash between Mr Sarwar and Mr Swinney.
Mr Sarwar: 'Weak, failing leadership from John Swinney. Even his own MSPs are openly rebelling against him, with senior figures saying he has two weeks to come up with a new idea to save his job.
'If he hasn't come up with a new idea to improve Scotland in 18 years, what chance has he got now?'
John Swinney has responded to @heraldscotland's story this week that senior SNP figures held a secret meeting to discuss removing him as leader.
Is he worried? Not in the slightest he told me. pic.twitter.com/gZhynk2PlM — Rebecca McCurdy (@_RebeccaMcCurdy) June 12, 2025
He added: 'John Swinney and the SNP are out of steam, out of ideas and out of time. Failing to support Scottish manufacturing jobs is just one example.
'After 18 years in charge, falling education standards, rising violent crimes a deepening NHS crisis, more lives lost to drug deaths and billions of pounds of wasted money.
'Scots pay this price for SNP incompetence and expected to be thankful for it so it's no wonder that as shown in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scots are seeing through the spin and voting for a new direction.
'And it's not just the public, Presiding Officer. One SNP MSP said about John Swinney: 'there is no energy, no fire, no boldness, no long term vision. They're right, aren't they?'
Mr Swinney initially ignored the remarks, but then said: 'Mr Sarwar can conjure up all the stuff he wants. He can go through his press cuttings and practice in the mirror in the morning and see how it sounds.
'I'm going to be focussed on delivering answers and solutions for workers who face difficulty in the country, and while Mr Sarwar postures, I am going to deliver for the workers of Scotland.'
The SNP placed second in last week's by-election, with Labour taking the seat by 602 votes, with Reform UK in third place, narrowly behind the SNP.
The rebel source told The Herald they doubted an MSP or MP would challenge Mr Swinney on his leadership directly, but said it did not matter if the competition came from an activist, as any contest would be "hugely damning and damaging, and make the party look utterly ridiculous".
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