Swinney: Calm and elegance of Holyrood in contrast to chaos of Westminster

First Minister John Swinney, left, has contrasted the calm of Holyrood with the ‘chaos’ at Westminster (Jane Barlow/PA) - (PA Wire)

Scotland’s First Minister has compared the “calm and elegance” of the Scottish Parliament to the “utter chaos” of Westminster.

John Swinney said he felt “enormous pride” to be the first MSP to be sworn in as the leader of the largest party at Holyrood.

He compared the system in Edinburgh to the one in London as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer battles for his premiership.

More than 80 Labour MPs have called for him to resign, and four ministers have quit, while reports suggest Health Secretary Wes Streeting could mount a leadership challenge against him.

Reports suggest Wes Streeting, right, could make a move against Sir Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)

“I’m not altogether sure what is happening in Westminster just now,” the SNP leader told reporters at Parliament.

“But I think the contrast could not be greater between the calm and the elegance of the Scottish Parliament, with a government with a clear and commanding lead, able to take forward its steps to establish itself, and the utter chaos in the Labour Government in London.”

Mr Swinney said he was “delighted” to be the first person to take their oath at Holyrood.

“It felt at times like a bit of a surprise during my political life, so I’m delighted to have done that,” he said.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was focused on Holyrood (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)

“I’m feeling enormous pride at the huge scale of achievement in becoming the largest party again by such a commanding margin, seeing so many wonderful new colleagues in my own party and many new members across the spectrum coming in, but delighted to be leading the largest party and taking the oath as the leader of the largest party.

“I’m delighted to have got to this point where I’ve led the SNP to a fifth successive victory and to have a commanding position in Parliament, and I look forward to forming a government next week, which will be a very exciting prospect.”

Asked whether former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner should run to become Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said he focused on Holyrood, saying: “I’ve not even been following what has been happening at Westminster.”

Mr Sarwar said it was a “very good thing” that Ms Rayner had been cleared by HMRC of any wrongdoing over her stamp duty.