John Swinney has defended the £1bn cost of the new jail to replace Barlinnie and accused the Conservative leader, Russell Findlay, who criticised the cost, of “abhorrent rhetoric”. The pair clashed at ...

FIRST Minister John Swinney will pledge to “stand united with Scotland’s farmers” in the wake of tax changes proposed by the UK Government. Swinney will use a speech to the National Farmers Union ...

John Swinney has accused Anas Sarwar of “opening the door” for Nigel Farage in a “desperate” bid to become First Minister. The Scottish Labour leader has ruled out “coalitions or agreements” with ...

SNP First Minister John Swinney has been accused of “lining up with the Tories in defence of an ugly inequality” after he voiced his opposition to inheritance tax changes. Changes due to take effect ...

John Swinney has said his Government will not allow a legal release of lynx or other large carnivores in Scotland, as he also urged caution on the reintroduction of beavers. The First Minister was ...

John Swinney has ruled out the reintroduction of lynx or other large carnivores in Scotland. The First Minister was quizzed on his rewilding policies as he spoke to members of the National Farmers ...

A rattled John Swinney yesterday tried to defend spending £1billion on a ‘five-star prison’ as he was accused of building a ‘luxury resort’ for rapists and murderers. Amid angry scenes at ...

Yesterday marked a triple whammy of failure for John Swinney and the SNP. Record numbers of children are stuck in temporary accommodation, the number of Scots dying from alcohol abuse is at a 15-year ...

After she signed a petition against Tory plans to close children’s centres in Oxfordshire, a Labour MP bellowed at David Cameron at PMQs ... With the proceeds, John Mount bought the Berkshire ...

John Swinney admitted at a summit of health chiefs that he had an “electoral problem” with the state of Scotland’s NHS, it has been alleged. The First Minister invited leaders from a range ...