John Swinney

Well done, Scotland!!

Outstanding performance. So proud of you all. #AsOne 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Two months until Scotland decides.

Stay stuck in broken Brexit Britain, or choose the fresh start of independence.

That wealthier, fairer future for Scotland is possible. On May 7, vote SNP to make it a reality.

Labour’s tax on the North Sea is hammering Scottish jobs, and it must be urgently scrapped.

We are rolling out the £2 bus fare cap across the Highlands and Islands, delivering real savings. Just two examples:

📍 Wick-Inverness, £31 down to £2.
📍 Elgin-Inverness, £15.60 ➡️ £2.

And we are protecting free bus travel for under-22s, over-60s and disabled people.

Especially at a time of global instability, people in Scotland need certainty - not more risk to jobs or rising bills.

The Chancellor should use her meeting with industry to announce an immediate end to the Energy Profits Levy, which is hammering jobs in the North East.

We rescued Ferguson Marine to save jobs, and we are determined to see it succeed.

Today we have set out proposals to award four new vessel contracts to Ferguson Marine – to secure a pipeline of work, protect jobs and strengthen the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde.

Despite winter pressures, Scotland's NHS is turning a corner, and we will keep building on it.

🩺 6.1% increase in operations in the last 12 months
⏳ Long waits falling for 8 consecutive months

Thank you to our fantastic NHS staff for all your hard work. 👏

My statement on the deeply concerning escalation of the conflict following the United States and Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Tribute from Jeane Freeman's 'soulmate' at memorial service A thanksgiving service followed the private cremation of the 72-year-old who died on 7 February, just 25 days after being diagnosed with cancer.

A beautiful Service of Thanksgiving today for the life of the remarkable woman, Jeane Freeman.

Jeane has left a powerful legacy in our laws that we should treat people with dignity, fairness and respect - and that’s what I will always do. Rest in peace, Jeane.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The international community should now work together, at pace, on a solution which focuses on de-escalation, ensures no more lives are lost, and provides a diplomatic route to ending the nuclear ambitions of the Iranian regime. (2/2)

The Iranian regime is undemocratic, repressive and we need a diplomatic solution to ensure it does not become a nuclear power.

All nations must uphold the rules-based international system – and the US and Israel must demonstrate how their actions align with that. (1/2)

Breakfast clubs, GP walk-in centres and rail fares frozen.

We are focusing on your priorities and delivering progress.

Our Budget passed this week - here’s a short summary of what it means for you. 👇

We’re investing an extra £2.5 million to put more than a thousand additional defibrillators into communities across Scotland.

We will also expand CPR training in schools, increase use of the GoodSAM app and prioritise areas with the poorest health outcomes.

If there was ever an example of the redundant nature of this so-called ‘Union of equals’, it is Scotland's energy sector.

It’s Scotland’s energy. Let’s make it work for Scotland as an independent nation.

Part of my tribute to my dear colleague, our former Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman. A woman of principle, of courage, of values.

In this Budget, we’re doing all we can with the limited powers under devolution.

With independence, we could go further and fully realise Scotland's enormous potential - starting with using our energy wealth to lower bills for people and businesses.

We offer the best cost of living support package in the UK, while 55% of Scots pay less income tax than if they lived in England.

And we’re protecting measures only available in Scotland:

✅ Free prescriptions and eye tests
✅ Free university tuition
✅ Free bus travel for under-22s

We’re also delivering record funding for our NHS and seeing sustained progress.

Long waits are falling, GP numbers are rising and this Budget will fund new GP walk-in centres to help end the 8am rush - available seven days a week.

To help families, we’re increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 for babies under one, and rolling out free breakfast clubs and free swimming lessons for all primary pupils.

And we’re making your commute cheaper: freezing rail fares, and peak fares scrapped for good.

The Scottish Budget has just passed in the Scottish Parliament.

We are delivering on what matters most to you - putting more money in your pocket, improving our NHS and tackling child poverty.

Read this for a short summary. 🧵👇

While Labour and Tories attempt to defend the indefensibly high student debt in England, Scottish students get free tuition thanks to the SNP.

For as long as we’re in government, Scottish undergraduate students will pay no fees.

Vote SNP to protect free university tuition.

St Andrew’s House lit up in blue and yellow this evening, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Today and always, Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦

There’s nowhere quite like Shetland - the landscapes, the history, the culture and of course the language.

Hannah Mary Goodlad, our brilliant SNP candidate, quizzed me on some Shetland words. 👇

We will open 16 GP walk-in centres across Scotland, available seven days a week, 12-8pm.

The first one, in Wester Hailes, is already open - helping more people get seen with no appointment needed.

That’s what you get with an SNP government. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Today marks four years since Putin launched his illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, bringing unimaginable destruction.

Scotland stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine and we will do all we can to support a peaceful, sovereign future for Ukraine. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦

Some highlights from a great day in Shetland. Speaking to people, I get the sense that the SNP have real momentum here.

We offer Shetland a more hopeful future - scrapping peak ferry fares, funding work around tunnels and bridges, and with Hannah Mary Goodlad at Holyrood, we can do even more.

At Sullom Voe Oil Terminal today, I heard directly how the UK Labour government’s energy profits levy is hampering future investment and costing jobs.

It is holding Scotland back and it must be urgently scrapped. I made that very clear to the Prime Minister last week.

I know frustrating the 8am rush for a GP appointment can be.

That’s why we’re opening 16 new GP walk-in clinics across Scotland, open 7 days a week, 12-8pm - and investing to recruit more doctors.

I will leave no stone unturned to make sure the NHS always works for you.

A brilliant day in Orkney meeting local businesses and hearing directly from people about the opportunities and challenges facing our island communities.

The SNP will always deliver for Scotland’s islands, and stand up for Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Delighted to see MV Isle of Islay arrive in Scotland - a welcome addition to the CalMac fleet.

My warmest thanks to the crew for handling a challenging journey with great skill and to everyone who has played a part in making this happen.

Photo courtesy of C Brindle.