United Kingdom

He's served as SNP leader before, in 2000-2004 - very different times for the party - and as well as holding various Cabinet roles was Deputy First Minister to Nicola Sturgeon during 2014-2023.

Having announced last year he was retiring from Holyrood, he emphasized in his announcement that he didn't intend being a caretaker First Minister, but was in it for the long haul. He and Kate Forbes have had discussions over the last few days, and he spent time during is speech lavishing praise on her and emphasizing that he intended her to play a prominent role in his government if he's elected.

We'll have to wait and see whether that means Forbes won't stand against him. She only entered politics in 2016 and had a fairly meteoric rise, so I think some more time in government might help her mature and quit making some of the crass missteps she's proven prone to.

Swinney would have got my enthusiastic first vote in the previous election if he'd stood. We'll see who else may decide to stand, but that will probably be the case this time round. I doubt Forbes will get my second vote, as she did last time to ensure Ash Regan didn't win, as I think it gave her an over-flattering impression of the level of support for her and her policies within the party.