SNP Faces Dramatic Losses in General Election as Leadership Seeks to Rebuild

First Minister John Swinney reflects on the party's drop from 48 to 9 Westminster seats and outlines plans to regain public trust.

The SNP's representation at Westminster plummeted from 48 seats to just 9 in the July general election, marking a significant setback for the party.
First Minister John Swinney expressed concerns that the party could have faced a complete electoral wipeout under the challenging conditions he inherited.
The party's struggles followed a turbulent 18 months that included three leadership changes, the end of its coalition with the Scottish Greens, and a police investigation into its finances, which led to charges against former chief executive Peter Murrell.
Swinney emphasized the need to rebuild the party's relationship with the public and has spent the past seven months focusing on recovery efforts.
The SNP is now working to secure support for its upcoming budget vote in February, with plans to address issues like mitigating the two-child benefit cap in Scotland.