John Swinney to face FMQs after two more veteran SNP MSPs announce departure

John Swinney will face questions from the opposition after two senior SNP ministers announced their intention to stand down at the next election.

So far, at least 16 SNP MSPs have announced that they will not run again when Scots go to the polls in May of next year.

Former deputy first minister and finance secretary Shona Robison announced she will quit being an MSP, and Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s transport secretary, announced she will retire at the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election.

It comes after former first minister Humza Yousaf, former drugs and alcohol minister Elena Whitham, business minister Richard Lochhead and former minister Joe FitzPatrick all confirmed they also will not run again.

Nicola Sturgeon said Scots will “have to wait” and see whether she runs again.

Speaking to the Ponsonby and Massie Podcast on Wednesday, the First Minister said he has “every intention of winning” in 2026 and running once again in 2031.

Last year’s general election saw the SNP fall to just nine Westminster seats, ending a period where they dominated Scotland’s electoral landscape.

Asked about next year’s vote, Swinney told the podcast: “I look upon it with optimism, I think I can win the 2026 election.

“I think we took an absolutely punishing defeat in July of last year.”