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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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

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

John is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

John is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

John has 1 parliamentary and government role

First Minister

Scottish Government

Party Roles

John has 1 party role

Party Leader

Scottish National Party

Previous roles

John has had 23 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

29 June 2023 - 07 May 2024

Criminal Justice Committee

Member

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.

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: 18 December 2025

Grooming Gangs Inquiry

The First Minister (John Swinney): "The events of the past few weeks and months demonstrate that Angela Constance has set out to the Parliament the position of the Government. Where there has been a necessity for further information to be provided, she has done exactly that…

Chamber meeting date: 18 December 2025

Postal Services

The First Minister: "I will take that issue forward. I know that it will be an urgent priority for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that patients are able to be properly notified of appointments…

Chamber meeting date: 18 December 2025

Adult Disability Payment

The First Minister: "Obviously, every individual application has to be considered on its merits, and the approach to that has been set out by ministers. The approach of Social Security Scotland is to operate with dignity, compassion and respect…

Chamber meeting date: 18 December 2025

Fish Processing Sector (Economic Stability)

The First Minister: "The Scottish Government values our fish processing sector and is committed to a sustainable and prosperous seafood industry. Due to the exceptional fish quota cuts for mackerel, the Scottish Government will act…

Chamber meeting date: 18 December 2025

Cumbernauld Theatre

The First Minister (John Swinney): "I am delighted to do so. I know that Cumbernauld theatre has been a very important artistic venue in Cumbernauld for many years…

Votes

How John Swinney has voted in Parliament

Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-20135

Motion of No Confidence

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 57 for, 67 against, 1 abstained, 4 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 50 Amendment 11

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 1 for, 95 against, 18 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20167

Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Maurice Golden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Friday, December 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 119 for, 2 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20138

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 120 for, 0 against, 1 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20099

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025

Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

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.

Question reference: S6W-26901

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and in what roles."

Question reference: S6W-26900

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 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."

Question reference: S6W-26902

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 April 2024

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 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."

Question reference: S6W-26392

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 April 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."

Question reference: S6W-26306

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to measures to increase the wild salmon population through stocking initiatives."

Question reference: S6W-26307

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of recent flooding events for wild salmon populations."

Question reference: S6W-26304

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 20 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy."

Question reference: S6W-26390

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed."

Question reference: S6W-26391

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 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."

Question reference: S6W-26389

Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 21 March 2024

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 April 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."

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