IAN Blackford has slated reporting of this backing for John Swinney as “cautious”, insisting the First Minister has his “full support”.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Blackford was asked if Swinney would be able to turn the party’s fortunes around after they retained just nine seats at Westminster to which he said: “Time will tell but there isn’t really anybody else, so he’s the man for it.”
Following this, some other outlets chose to run the interview and described Blackford’s comments in the headline as “cautious”.
The Sunday Mail similarly described Blackford’s support for Swinney as “lacklustre” based on his remarks.
But the former Westminster leader said on Twitter/X that he didn’t agree with this description.
He tweeted: “I am aware of a media report that I am only giving a cautious backing to @JohnSwinney leadership of @theSNP. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“John has my full support and indeed I encouraged him to stand as party leader.”
Blackford added in the interview the electorate had sent a “very clear message” to the SNP that “primarily they’re p***** off”.
He added: “It’s not long until 2026, you’ve got some time and it can be turned around but you need to demonstrate that you can be trusted.”
On BBC Radio Scotland on Monday, Blackford defended his and Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership of the party after two former MPs suggested they were to blame for the result.
Angus MacNeil – a former Western Isles SNP MP – blamed the “personality cult” of Sturgeon for the party’s downfall at Westminster and called for Swinney to quit his post as leader.
Former Edinburgh South SNP MP Joanna Cherry demanded Sturgeon apologise for the loss the party suffered as she claimed there was a “lack of debate” in the party under her leadership.
After calling Cherry “bitter” following her defeat, Blackford added: “I take responsibility for everything that Nicola and others and myself included achieved over the period we were in the leadership.
“Nicola fought eight elections when she became leader of the SNP, won them all, and in large part was responsible for that group of 56 being elected in 2015.
“John has to be given time to show that he can lead the party and lead the government.”
