AN SNP minister has responded to reports that a group of 25 senior party figures held a secret meeting where the removal of John Swinney as leader was discussed.
Mairi McAllan, who returned from maternity leave today to be swiftly appointed to the new role of Housing Secretary as part of a Scottish Cabinet reshuffle, told The National that “people can have whatever meetings they like”.
“I expect people in a political party to exchange views, but I have the utmost confidence in John Swinney's leadership," she said.
The MSP – who has been tipped to be a future SNP leader herself – then added that she backs Swinney to lead the party into next year’s Holyrood elections “100%”, adding: “And beyond.”
The Herald first reported on the now not-so-secret meeting, in which attendees reportedly said that Swinney has two weeks in which to come up with a new strategy on independence or face a “bloodbath” at the SNP conference.
It comes after the SNP lost to Scottish Labour in the recent Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
A source told that paper: “It feels like Groundhog Day. The last time John was in charge he dropped independence, surrounded himself only by people who agreed with him, and pushed out the likes of Margo [McDonald] and anyone who challenged his devolutionist strategy.
“For those with short memories, that ended in a bruising defeat. If he stays, we will be heading for a repeat. What is left of the membership will not tolerate it.”
It comes after SNP insiders made a similar argument to The National, warning that it felt like the party was being headed up by a small, private leadership group and “heading back into the same old internal splits”.
But McAllan fired back at those claims, instead describing her party as “united” and “mobilised” despite the recent shock by-election loss.
“I’m back from maternity leave today and I feel like I am coming back to a government that feels confident, strong, united, ready and able to take on the priorities of the people of Scotland,” she said.
“And I attribute that to the leadership and direction of John Swinney as First Minister. In a government space, I see that. In a party space, I was spending a lot of time in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. It’s the constituency that neighbours mine. And we didn't win it, we fell short, we were pipped at the post by 600 votes, and we need to do more.”
McAllan added: “But we were a party that was strong, we were a party that was united, we were a party that was mobilized, and again, I attribute that to John Swinney."
McAllan, who had previously been net zero and energy secretary before taking maternity leave last year, has taken on the housing portfolio from MSP Paul McLennan, who has left the Government at his own request.
With the housing brief now promoted to the Cabinet, she will be tasked with tackling Scotland’s housing emergency as well as taking forward changes to ensure homes are more energy efficient.
It’s the latest in a long line of senior Scottish Government roles, with many suggesting the 32-year-old could be a future SNP leader.
Asked about that possibility, McAllan said: “Well, look. I have worked closely with leaders of our party and leaders of our government. I have seen up close how grueling and demanding the job is, and it's not something that should ever be taken on lightly.
She added: “And I do not spend my days thinking about becoming leader of the SNP. However, the SNP means the world to me, pursuit of Scottish independence means the world to me.
“So, right now, my job is to support the man that I back 100% to be leader, but it's flattering to have those things said nonetheless.”
A full interview with Mairi McAllan and how she will approach her new role as Cabinet Secretary for Housing will be published online tomorrow and in Friday's print newspaper.
