John Swinney has defended his performance and the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) recent election campaign following criticism from former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon, in a new foreword to her memoir, described the campaign as lacking vision and disconnected from the key issues facing Scotland. She also accused the campaign of failing to present "big picture thinking."

Swinney, who led the campaign as the SNP’s then-Deputy First Minister, responded on Wednesday during a visit to Broughty Ferry. He highlighted the party's success in the election, noting that the SNP secured the largest margin over the nearest opposition party since devolution. “On objective data, it demonstrates the SNP ran a strong, commanding election campaign, we got a big win from the people of Scotland and I’m pleased to have led that campaign,” Swinney said.

When asked about Sturgeon’s public critique, Swinney declined to disclose whether he had spoken to her about the remarks. He expressed gratitude for the time he worked under Sturgeon but emphasized his own mandate to lead. “I’m absolutely over the moon to have my own mandate that allows me to improve the lives of the people in Scotland and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” he added.

The former First Minister’s comments drew swift rebuttals from senior members of the SNP. Education Secretary Mairi McAllan dismissed the claims as “nonsense,” while Health Secretary Angela Constance described them as “incorrect.” Constance also made an apparent endorsement of Swinney’s leadership, calling him “the best First Minister the country has had.”

Sturgeon’s foreword has sparked a rare public airing of internal party disagreements, highlighting tensions as the SNP navigates its leadership transition. Despite the former leader’s sharp critique, Swinney’s allies remain publicly supportive of his approach and the party’s direction following the recent election victory.