🟡 What are the key challenges facing John Swinney as First Minister and SNP leader?

scotsman.com/news/politics/…

Had the exact same Reaction.

I am deeply honoured to have been elected as Leader of The SNP. I will give all that I have to serve my Party and my Country.

Lots of coverage in the papers marking 25 years of devolution.

Has there been a better speech in modern Scottish politics than Donald Dewar’s at the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on July 1, 1999?

🎉 Exclusive: Taxpayers have been left facing a huge bill for a year-long programme of events to mark Edinburgh’s 900th “birthday” after a rejected lottery funding bid.
The council has failed to attract any other backers for the planned celebrations. 🎉
scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-…

🌿 Our Rural Affairs Correspondent Katharine Hay 🌱 is making many friends on her epic walk around Scotland!

Make sure you keep up to date with Hay's Way by subscribing - for free - to her weekly newsletter here - scotsman.com/newsletter

🟡 What might John Swinney’s top team look like?

He’s already said he wants Kate Forbes to play a “significant part”.

Some expect he will reduce the overall number of ministers, to make the Government “smaller and more focused”:

scotsman.com/news/politics/…

🔴 John Swinney has been told he still has “serious questions to answer” about the findings of the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, which questioned his integrity:

scotsman.com/news/politics/…

🟡 What might John Swinney’s Cabinet look like, and where will Kate Forbes fit in?

scotsman.com/news/politics/…

Got to admit, I laughed at this.

🚨 Yes, the rumours are true — a new episode of The Steamie has landed.

🎧 Join Rachel Amery, David Bol and I as we discuss an extraordinary week in Scottish politics, and what might happen next.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/13CPCU…

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

Today’s The Scotsman front page

I'm glad The Scotsman was able to beat off absurd complaints from Donald Trump's golf resort company after we reported - accurately - on food hygiene standards at one of its venues.

✍️ “If John Swinney’s leadership launch felt a bit like history repeating itself, the SNP will hope it turns out to be neither tragedy nor farce. God knows, the party has had quite enough of both.”

Some analysis / colour after another eventful day:

scotsman.com/news/politics/…

Kate Forbes confirms she will not run for SNP leadership

scotsman.com/news/uk-news/p…

✍️ Back to the future as John Swinney insists he is the man to unite the SNP

Some analysis / colour from this morning:

scotsman.com/news/politics/…