John Swinney declares SNP 'back in business' after Nicola Sturgeon cleared by cops

The First Minister is reported to have given SNP members an “assurance” that “our resources will always be used wisely”.

John Swinney has declared the SNP is "back in business" just days after Nicola Sturgeon was cleared by cops.

The First Minister said he was "very, very pleased" with the current state of his party after winning two council by-elections over Labour in Glasgow last week.

The SNP leader also confirmed he had spoken with Sturgeon since it was confirmed by Police Scotland last week she was no longer under investigation in connection with Operation Branchform.

Her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, appeared in court in Edinburgh on the same day charged with embezzlement. He spend more than 20 years as SNP chief executive.

Murrell made no plea or declaration when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday and was committed for further examination and bailed.

At an internal party gathering last weekend, Swinney is reported to have given members an “assurance” that “our resources will always be used wisely”.

Speaking today, the SNP leader said he had promised the “highest standards of governance” when he took on the job last May, adding: “That’s exactly what I’m putting into practice.”

Swinney also stressed the “heavy lifting” needed to get the party ready for next year’s Scottish Parliament elections is taking place.

He added: "We’re back in business. I’m really pleased with the election results that we’re now delivering on the ground. Opinion polls are healthy for us, the party’s in good heart, the party is in great heart, and I’m very optimistic.”

While Labour had been leading in the polls in Scotland following last summer’s general election victory, a fall in support for Keir Starmer’s party has put the SNP on top again.

He continued: "I’m very, very pleased with where the SNP is. Just now we’ve just … we’re leading in the opinion polls.

“I don’t think people would have suspected that when I became First Minister 11 months ago.”

He also noted recent council by-election successes for the SNP, adding: “We’ve just won two seats from Labour on Glasgow City Council, on top of a secret one in Broxburn, another one in Kilmarnock and another one in Bannockburn in the course of the last few weeks. So, we’re back to winning seats again.

“We went for 22 months without winning a local government by-election and we have just won five seats in 2025 already.

“So, I think, electorally, we’re doing better.”

Candidates for the Holyrood constituencies will be in place by May, the leader added, as he said he had “reorganised our party headquarters, and that’s now on a firm footing”.

He stated: “All the things I said to the party we would do, the heavy lifting that’s required to get ready for 2026, is all happening.

“We’re building up and working very hard to win in 2026, which is what I intend to do.”

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