Latest news with #JOHNSwinney
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Moment John Swinney heckled by Reform UK campaigner as FM dodges warring activists ahead of Hamilton by-election
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOHN Swinney today breezed past two sets of warring activists hurling abuse at each other ahead of a hotly contested by-election. The First Minister was met with heckles of 'Swinney the swine' by Reform UK campaigners who were locked in a bitter stand-off, on Hamilton's Quarry Street, with rivals from the Scottish Socialist Party. 3 John Swinney was campaigning in Hamilton with SNP candidate Katy Loudon Credit: Wattie Cheung 3 Reform UK activists shouted abuse at the First Minister in Hamilton, Lanarkshire Credit: Staff An anti-immigration canvasser, puffing on a cigarette, was heard telling voters: 'Take a leaflet and put it in your sky rocket.' He displayed homemade signs reading 'Just stop immigration' and 'Stop the boats'. Across the street, three left-wingers set up shop with posters urging for a workers' wage and 'reject corruption'. However, Mr Swinney - accompanied by two protection officers - ignored the screaming match and stopped outside a nearby Greggs. He quizzed SNP candidate Katy Loudon on her least favourite pastry from the high street bakery to which she replied: 'The Festive Bake.' It comes ahead of a by-election on Thursday 5 June, following the sad death, aged 57, of former Nats MP Christina McKelvie. Meanwhile Labour chiefs fear Reform's surge will hand the SNP victory in the Hamilton by-election. Insiders in Anas Sarwar's camp admitted they now face a struggle in what looked an easily winnable seat. The mood has shifted as angry voters ditch Labour after last July's landslide Westminster victory over Sir Keir Starmer's policies like slashing winter fuel payments. Sources now worry Nigel Farage's Reform are set to split the anti-SNP vote in the June 5 contest and next year's Holyrood election. Russell Findlay quickfire Q&A UK Election fallout & buying Liam Gallagher's mum a drink One Labour insider said: 'To win we'll need to convince every single anti-Nat voter to back us, and for them all to turn out. I just don't think that is going to happen.' Polls show Reform on course to become Holyrood's second party after big gains in council elections down south. It has scuppered Scottish Labour chiefs' bid to bill themselves as 'the best way to stop the SNP' — as Reform also eat into the Tory base. Another Labour source said: 'If we can't win Hamilton, the writing is on the wall for 2026. There is a lot of pessimism at the top of Scottish Labour.'
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
John Swinney's 100 broken promises revealed amid '18 years of failing government'
It comes after more sensational WhatsApp messages from Nicola Sturgeon were revealed JOHN Swinney was last night hit with a list of 100 broken SNP promises as he prepared to deliver his pre-election Programme for Government today. Scottish Labour laid bare what they have branded '18 years of failing government' of which they say the First Minister has been at the 'heart' of. 4 John Swinney has come under fire from critics after broken promises were revealed Credit: PA 4 4 Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar blasted the First Minister's record Credit: PA It comes as Mr Swinney is expected to include pledges linked to his promises to 'eradicate' child poverty, boost economic growth and fix the ailing NHS. But Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar blasted the First Minister's record ahead of a final major policies announcement before the Holyrood elections in a year's time. Find out what's really going on Register now for our free weekly politics newsletter for an insightful and irreverent look at the (sometimes excruciating) world of Scottish Politics. Every Thursday our hotshot politics team goes behind the headlines to bring you a rundown of key events - plus insights and gossip from the corridors of power, including a 'Plonker' and 'Star' of the Week. Sign up now and make sure you don't miss a beat. The politicians would hate that. SIGN UP FOR FREE NOW He said: 'From health to education, to the environment, this SNP government's record is defined by broken promises. Like clockwork, headline-grabbing plans are made and abandoned, ambitious targets set and missed. 'For 18 years, John Swinney has been at the heart of this failing government and he cannot pretend otherwise. If the SNP had the answers to Scotland's problems we would have seen them by now.' Mr Sarwar attacked Mr Swinney on undelivered pledges on scrapping council tax, NHS waiting times, the child attainment gap, police numbers, dualling the killer A9 road, the ferries fiasco, free meals for primary school kids, renewing all playparks, booze and drugs services, and a national care service. Mr Swinney has described his PfG as being 'radical' and 'very focused' on issues affecting the lives of Scots, such as the health service and public services. But political rivals have urged him to clamp down on 'wasteful' government spending and to ditch divisive policies, including gender self-ID. SWIN DOC 'BRASS NECK' JOHN Swinney was last night accused of having a 'brass neck' by pledging to end the '8am lottery' phone call for a GP appointment. It comes after the First Minister said: 'We will act to reduce pressure and increase capacity to make it easier for people to get the care they need, when they need it.' Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie said: 'It takes a brass neck to pretend he is the man to fix this problem when his government created it with cuts to GP numbers and funding.' It comes just months after Labour and the Conservatives proposed introducing a new government department to reduce inefficiencies. Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'The SNP must cut out the nonsense and finally focus on the priorities of ordinary Scots. That means dropping the fringe obsession with gender self-ID once and concentrating on tackling classroom violence and mending our crumbling roads.' Alba's Holyrood leader Ash Regan said: 'I am calling for action on independence, a drive towards governing competently again and focus to be put back onto the people's agenda of health, the economy, jobs and the protection of women and children.' It comes after Humza Yousaf moaned about Nicola Sturgeon taking a 'hatchet' to his 'awful' NHS turnaround plan, newly released WhatsApp texts reveal. BIZ COSTS PLEA TO FM BUSINESS leaders have urged John Swinney to focus on cutting their costs in his policy speech. Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Dr Liz Cameron said: 'People want action and delivery, not meaningless soundbites and promises. "While we need a fix for 2026 the priority is to survive 2025.' The First Minister said: 'I will set out action to support businesses during turbulent times and help make Scotland a more prosperous country.' The then-First Minister told her Health Secretary she was 'furious' about the document — just days before she praised it in public. The plan, meant to spark the service's pandemic recovery, was later described by critics as a 'flimsy pamphlet' while experts hit out over its 'worrying gaps'. Now messages released after a four-year transparency battle reveal the rows at the heart of the SNP Government in the run-up to its launch on August 25, 2021. THE SCOTTISH SUN SAYS.... JOHN Swinney will stand up and announce a plan for turning around Scotland's ailing public services. The very first thing the First Minister should be doing is to admit to his leading role in the stagnation of Scotland — and say sorry to the country. He won't, of course. Because as we've seen in the past year since Mr Swinney finally bagged the top job, he's instead blamed anyone and anything else for Scotland's woes. Brexit, the Tories, Labour, the lack of Scottish independence, and imaginary austerity inflicted upon his government have all proven useful distractions for a party which has overpromised and underdelivered in power. Business chiefs made that point yesterday ahead of today's early programme for government — brought forward so SNP ministers can make political capital a year out from the May 2026 Holyrood election. Industry chiefs urged a focus on cutting business costs rather than 'meaningless soundbites', with a plea to slash red tape which is strangling firms and jobs. Measures to slash business rates, for example, would be welcome. It also seems crazy to place additional burdens on small firms and the public, as Mr Swinney plans with an eco surcharge of at least 25p on any drink served in a disposable cup. Spending But the Scottish Government's coffers are stretched due to them throwing money at benefits and pay rises. Scotland has far more cash available per head to fund public services compared to England. A criticism often levelled at the SNP is that they are good at spending other people's money — your money — but not so good at anything else. However, Mr Swinney and the various incarnations of Nats governments he's served in have not even been particularly good at spending money — if it's results you're after. Look at NHS waiting times, with more money poured in — but without the reform needed to actually drive improvement. Look at education, with the wage bill going through the roof but ministers showing a tin-ear to the obvious flaws in the curriculum and a staffing crisis. Look at the fiasco-hit ferries project, which has been more a costly job creation scheme than anything else. And on the issue of promises, Labour released a list of 100 broken SNP vows last night. The dossier is compelling and hard to take issue with. So, expect more pledges today as the First Minister uses his government platform to fire the starting gun on the Holyrood election race. But remember that the man delivering those promises is the man who has broken his word many, many times before.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
John Swinney to deliver Programme for Government
JOHN Swinney is set to deliver his second Programme for Government since becoming First Minister. Traditionally made in September when MSPs return after the summer recess, the First Minister has brought his statement forward – with this now coming a year ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections. The Scottish Parliament will begin sitting at 2pm on Tuesday, May 6. However, Swinney will likely not make his statement until after Portfolio Questions which are typically first in the parliamentary business schedule. The First Minister's statement will be followed by a debate where MSPs will be able to question him on his plans. John Swinney's first Programme for Government will be available to watch via Scottish Parliament TV – which can be found HERE. Other major broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky News may also choose to broadcast the Swinney to deliver first Programme for Government – how to watch
