JOHN Swinney yesterday insisted he will not quit despite Nats’ Holyrood by-election disaster.
The First Minister shrugged off calls from SNP grandees to resign after losing the formerly safe seat of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse to Labour.
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The First MInister did hint that a long-rumoured cabinet reshuffle is imminentCredit: PA
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused Mr Swinney of pushing voters to Reform UK.Credit: Getty
Former deputy leader Jim Sillars and ex-Cabinet minister Alex Neil urged him to end his year-long reign.
But Mr Swinney claimed Nats are making “real progress” on key policies.
He said: “Twelve months ago, the party turned to me at a moment of real jeopardy.
“It asked me to use all my skills and experience to bring people together.
“We will win again.”
But he did signal a long-rumoured cabinet reshuffle is imminent, saying: “I’ll have to look at the team.”
And he failed to rule out a fresh coalition with Greens if the SNP fall well short of a majority at next year’s Holyrood election, as polls suggest.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused Mr Swinney of pushing voters to Reform UK.
His deputy Jackie Baillie said: “Far from steadying the ship, John Swinney has sailed the SNP into another iceberg.”
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