Editing Scottish National Party (section)

=== Swinney era (May 2024 onwards) ===
[[File:John Swinney - First Minister (53720492021).jpg|thumb|right|Swinney became party leader on 6 May 2024 and subsequently became [[First Minister of Scotland]] on 8 May]]

On 6 May 2024, [[John Swinney]] was confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish National Party in the [[2024 Scottish National Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=John Swinney wins SNP leadership unopposed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c72pk2qpqevo |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was unopposed in the race as on 2 May his main speculated challenger, [[Kate Forbes]], announced she would not stand in the race and endorsed Swinney<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=John Swinney looks set to be first minister as Kate Forbes backs him |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c88zvgl9y9go |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> and on 5 May, Graeme McCormick claimed that he secured enough member votes for a nomination but then dropped out the same evening following a conversation with Swinney, ultimately endorsing him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-05 |title=John Swinney to become SNP leader after challenger drops out |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0lgnm3037o |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

During the campaign for the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the SNP was investigated by Holyrood authorities for allegedly misusing MSPs' expenses to fund their campaigning. An anonymous complaint was sent to [[Alison Johnstone]] in which an individual claimed that stamps bought with expenses were given to Westminster election candidates for mailing leaflets. The complaint included a WhatsApp screenshot showing MSP staff discussing the traceability of the stamps. Parliamentary rules state that stationery and postage provided by the [[Scottish Parliament Corporate Body]] "must be used only for parliamentary duties and must not be used for any other purpose, including party political purposes". It was reported that John Swinney's office manager had told an SNP staff WhatsApp group chat that "stamp fairy is very useful when it comes to campaigns". An SNP spokesperson confirmed the investigation and emphasized compliance with the rules, while John Swinney stated that he had been "assured that no parliamentary stamps that have been provided by Parliament have been used to support election purposes", adding that he was "confident" that there had been no use of any public money to support the SNP general election campaign. This investigation occurred amid SNP's financial struggles, falling membership, and the police investigation into alleged embezzlement. Despite a £128,000 bequest boosting their campaign, SNP spending was minimal compared to other parties.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brooks |first=Libby |title=SNP investigated over claim funds misused to support general election candidates |date=21 June 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/21/snp-investigated-misuse-funds-stamps-post-election-leaflets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622105829/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/21/snp-investigated-misuse-funds-stamps-post-election-leaflets |archive-date=22 June 2024 |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Swinney: Parliament stamps not used for campaign |last=Williams |first=Craig |date=23 June 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck55kg2882go |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en |archive-date=24 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624171000/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck55kg2882go |url-status=live }}</ref>

The SNP ultimately won nine seats in the 2024 election, a loss of 39 seats on its 2019 result, reducing it to the second-largest party in Scotland, behind [[Scottish Labour]], and the fourth-largest party in Westminster. Swinney took full responsibility but said that he would not resign as leader. He said of the results, "There will have to be a lot of soul searching as a party as a consequence of these results that have come in tonight", and that the SNP has to be "better at governing on behalf of the people of Scotland", admitting the party was not "winning the argument" on Scottish independence.<ref>{{cite news |title=SNP leader says 'soul searching' needed as Labour win big in Scotland |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |date=5 July 2024 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/snp-leader-says-soul-searching-needed-as-labour-win-big-in-scotland-13170414 |access-date= 5 July 2024 |website= Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2024, the SNP announced a plan to reduce permanent paid staff at its headquarters from twenty-six to sixteen, a reduction of more than a third, in order to "protect the long-term finances of the party" before the next Scottish Parliament election. The pressure on the SNP's finances was attributed to a reduction in [[Short Money]] they receive following the 2024 general election, along with an increased reliance on membership fees over substantial donations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 November 2024 |title=SNP plans to cut staff at party headquarters |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2ngw81vrlo |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref>