John Swinney's first year as FM was defined by opponents' mistakes - now he's on his own

John Swinney’s successful first year has been, partly, down to his opponents being in disarray.

Exactly one year ago today, John Swinney was sworn in as the seventh First Minister of Scotland.

Mr Swinney has battled through a disastrous general election and put his party on an election footing that would see the SNP retain power, if the polls remain stable for the next 12 months.

First Minister John Swinney speaks to the media during a visit to officially open Phoenix Future's Rae House residential rehabilitation centre in Alford, Aberdeenshire, on Wednesday | PA

But it’s not been all plain sailing for Mr Swinney.

That general election, held just 58 days after he became leader of the country, piled pressure on the First Minister to resuscitate the SNP’s hopes of keeping hold of power at Holyrood in 2026. At the time, there was talk about whether he was the right man to lead the party.

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With Rishi Sunak calling the general election in July of last year rather than the autumn, it gave Mr Swinney a chance to wash his hands of the disaster. He had barely taken off his coat before SNP voters flocked to Labour.

That humbling defeat gave the SNP and Mr Swinney a low starting point to, as Mr Swinney has put it, “rebuild trust” from the Scottish public.

Sir Keir Starmer with Anas Sarwar (left) after delivering his keynote speech at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Glasgow. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire | Jane Barlow/PA Wire

But that defeat, as brutal as it was, has ironically handed Mr Swinney his biggest asset in reviving the SNP’s chances - Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

Mr Swinney has been a steady hand to guide the SNP through a period of peril and chaos. But his calm and often timid attitude and not wanting to rock the boat has only allowed his party to retain control of the narrative because his opponents have imploded.

John Swinney first year highlights

It is fair to say he has restored a good, or at least better, relationship with the business community. A focus on economic growth and keeping the Scottish Greens at arms length have helped that perception.

The SNP has turned a corner on key issues that have plagued the party in government for years - most notably on the NHS and child poverty.

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Mr Swinney cannot claim to have fixed the NHS or eradicated child poverty. But the First Minister can legitimately claim Scotland is the only part of the UK going in the right direction on child poverty. Similarly, the SNP government finally being able to meet a key waiting time for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is certainly a step in the right direction, despite much more work still to do.

John Swinney’s policy lowlights

There have been policy lowlights too - most obviously rolling back Scotland’s legal climate targets, watering down bold plans to end Scotland’s reliance on gas boilers to heat homes and scrapping a key aim of cutting car journeys.

LGBTQ+ rights have also been an awkward policy area during the first year of Mr Swinney’s tenure. For progressive potential SNP voters, being bold, as Nicola Sturgeon was, could be crucial.

Nicola Sturgeon joins people taking part in Pride Glasgow (Picture: David Cheskin/PA)

Amid a culture war that has vilified trans people, appointing someone who opposes equal marriage as his deputy and kicking a proper ban on conversion therapy into the sidelines will place Mr Swinney’s willingness to shout as loudly about LGBTQ+ rights as Ms Sturgeon in the spotlight for many young voters who will have supported the SNP in the past.

READ MORE: Why John Swinney's big gamble on NHS record could define whether SNP keep hold of power

Mr Swinney’s successful first year as First Minister, and it is unreasonable to brand it anything else, has hinged on keeping calm and waiting for those around him to wobble. If Mr Swinney’s second year at the helm is to be a success, and the election that will bookend that, the First Minister is right to target delivery on promises. This time, his performance will all be on him.