John Swinney coming out with fairly wild claim on GMS that Indy would have prevented cost of living crisis. No Covid? No post-pandemic inflation surge? No Putin invasion of Ukraine and energy/price shock?

Cost of living crisis might well be different under Indy but absent?

Which is not quite the same as saying a transgender woman is a woman

We are thrilled to welcome Eddie Barnes @eddiebarnes23 as our new Director!

We are looking forward to working with you 🙌

johnsmithcentre.com/news/eddie-bar…

Delighted to be appointed to the Poverty and Inequality Commission Poverty & Inequality Commission, following formal approval by Scottish Parliament. Looking forward to joining other commissioners in providing independent advice to Scottish Ministers on poverty and inequality progress.

John Swinney clearly enjoying himself at FMQs, saying new leadership has arrived. Also predicts the SNP will win the 2026 Holyrood election. Mmm to both.

Meanwhile, Patrick Harvie has a right go at his decision to make 'regressive' Kate Forbes DFM

By making her deputy FM - and knowing her leadership ambitions - John Swinney looks like he has just anointed Kate Forbes as his successor.

Keith Brown tells #BBCGMS there's been an 'immediate lift' for the SNP on the doorstep following John Swinney's leadership bid.

SNP activist quits leadership race after 'lengthy and fruitful' chat with Swinney heraldscotland.com/news/24300630.…

Some suggestion that as Graeme McCormick's not an MSP that John Swinney could still become FM this week. Worth pointing out that under the SNP's constitution if the party leader is not an MSP but the depute is, then the depute becomes the leader of the Holyrood group.

Allies of Graeme McCormick say he has the signatures required to stand for the SNP leadership. The question is whether he can withstand the pressure from on high and go through with it

Spoke to veteran SNP activist Graeme McCormick yesterday and he's very confident he'll have enough nominations to enter the leadership contest heraldscotland.com/news/24298666.…

🗣️“Bluntly, I’d just like to get on with that.”

🟡John Swinney on Sky News signals frustration at speculation a grassroots SNP member could challenge him for the leadership and therefore trigger a three week contest.

Johntinuity it is

Kate Forbes rules herself out of SNP leadership contest heraldscotland.com/news/24294762.…

Me to Humza: “Would Kate make a good leader?”

FM: “Thank you so much.”

John Swinney offers Kate Forbes 'significant' role as he announces SNP leadership bid heraldscotland.com/news/24293844.…

It's looking like #Johntinuity

John Swinney expected to announce SNP leadership bid heraldscotland.com/news/24293318.…

Echoes of Salmond and Sturgeon in 2004, although that was done to outfox two other contenders.

heraldscotland.com/news/12499563.…

Swinney and Forbes hold 'secret talks' as First Minister pleads for unity heraldscotland.com/news/24292792.…