Former Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he is running to succeed Humza Yousaf as both SNP leader and First Minister.
Swinney, 60, who deputised for Nicola Sturgeon and separately led the SNP between 2000 and 2004, confirmed his candidacy at a launch event in Edinburgh.
He said: “I want to build on the work of the SNP Government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland that will ensure opportunity for all of her citizens.
“I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence.”
Former Deputy First Minister John Swinney arrives at the UK Covid inquiry at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre
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Swinney added: “Only the SNP stand where the majority of people want their government to be, in the moderate centre-left of Scottish politics.
“That is where I stand and if elected by my party and buy parliament, my goals as First Minister will come straight from that centre-left tradition.
“The pursuit of economic growth and social justice.”
Former Finance Minister Kate Forbes, who finished runner-up in the race to succeed Sturgeon at Bute House, is expected to make a statement later today.
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Former First Minister Humza Yousaf
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The pair differ on a number of policy areas, with Forbes holding more traditional social values but Swinney voting for a number of pro-trans measures.
Swinney received a pre-launch boost after an Ipsos poll found 58 per cent of SNP voters believe the former Deputy First Minister would do a good job succeeding Yousaf.
Less than half of SNP voters (46 per cent) suggested Forbes would perform well as First Minister.
However, the pair remain neck-and-neck with the wider electorate.
SNP MSP Kate Forbes on the way to First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament
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Swinney and Forbes came out as the top two performing Scottish politicians in the survey, with Labour leader Anas Sarwar in third.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross languished behind as seventh most popular but with a net rating of -36 per cent.
Yousaf resigned as First Minister ahead of a no confidence motion in Holyrood.
He vowed to stay at Bute House until a replacement First Minister was chosen.
