Cole-Hamilton comments as Swinney elected SNP leader unopposed

Responding to the news that John Swinney has been elected SNP leader unopposed, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"It's hardly a good look for senior SNP parliamentarians to have to beg a party activist to step aside and allow a coronation because of the expense of a leadership election. John Swinney will now take the top role without any discussion of his preferred policies at all aside from breaking up the UK.

"As his party's leader and a former wingman to both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney is now answerable for the SNP’s appalling neglect of public services over the past 17 years.

"He should immediately announce a plan for cutting NHS waiting lists and stopping sewage flowing into our rivers and if he can't do that he should announce an election."