In his pitch for the leadership, John
Swinney wants to be seen as a man of contrasts.
An insider and outsider, all at the same
time.
A backbench MSP, with 15 years in high
office.
Older than his rivals – but emphatic that
he’s no caretaker, and no interim leader.
Committed to tackling climate change – but
determined, he says, to take society and business along on that journey.
Blunt about the SNP’s internal problems – its
disunity, lack of cohesion and weak party democracy.
But certain that if they get their act together,
the opposition parties in Scotland “had better watch out”.
That’s surely the intention.
John Swinney wants to be seen as the unifier
in the SNP and Scotland.
And he thinks that will win him the keys to
Bute House.
