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: 27 March 2024
Wellbeing Economy (United Kingdom Government Policies)
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "In making the judgment that she has just talked about, does the cabinet secretary believe that it is important that, in the tax debate, people are mindful of the significant benefits that arise to people in Scotland as a consequence of living here, such as access to elements of the social contract, including the much more significant early learning…
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
John Swinney: "On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I heard your remarks to the cabinet secretary…
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Decision Time
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect to the app, but I would have voted no."
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Michael “Mick” McGahey Memorial
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP): "On the topic of permanent memorials, one of my constituents, who actually approached me 27 years ago in one of my first constituency cases, was affected by the contaminated blood scandal, and he is keen to establish some form of memorial in the Parliament to recognise those who lost their lives in that scandal. As the United Kingdom inquiry is…
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…
Votes
How John Swinney has voted in Parliament
Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Result 89 for, 0 against, 31 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Natalie Don, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 18, 2024
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 14 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: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed."
Answer expected on 19 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."
Answer expected on 19 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."
Answer expected on 19 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."
Answer expected on 19 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."
Answer expected on 18 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."
Answer expected on 18 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."
Answer expected on 18 April 2024
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