SNP Leadership History
From Alex Salmond’s independence referendum to Nicola Sturgeon’s nine-year dominance, Humza Yousaf’s brief 13-month premiership, and John Swinney’s stabilisation. The full polling story of who has led Scotland’s governing party.
SNP Leaders Summary
| Leader | Period | Years | Key achievement / outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Salmond (1st term) | 1990–2000 | 10 | Built SNP into credible electoral force; resigned over Kosovo War handling |
| John Swinney (1st term) | 2000–2004 | 4 | Steady stewardship; limited progress; stood aside for Salmond return |
| Alex Salmond (2nd term) | 2004–2014 | 10 | 2007 minority government; 2011 majority; 2014 indyref (45% Yes) |
| Nicola Sturgeon | 2014–2023 | 9 | Peak SNP; four Holyrood wins; 48 Westminster seats; indyref2 pursuit |
| Humza Yousaf | 2023–2024 | 1 | Shortest FM; resigned after Bute House Agreement collapse |
| John Swinney (2nd term) | 2024–pres. | 2+ | Stabilisation; Holyrood 2026 minority government; -4% net approval |
Alex Salmond: The Referendum Builder
Alex Salmond transformed the SNP from a minority party of protest into the dominant force in Scottish politics. In two separate leadership terms (1990–2000 and 2004–2014), he took the SNP from roughly 20% in Scottish polls to a position where it could win outright Holyrood majorities. His defining achievement was winning the 2014 independence referendum, which — despite the 55%–45% No vote — established independence as a mainstream political question rather than a fringe cause.
After losing the referendum, Salmond resigned. He later led Alba Party, a splinter pro-independence force, but failed to win seats at Westminster or Holyrood. His legacy within the SNP was complicated by his bitter public feud with Nicola Sturgeon, which culminated in a criminal trial (acquitted), a Holyrood inquiry, and lasting damage to both their reputations.
Nicola Sturgeon: Nine Years of Dominance
Nicola Sturgeon’s nine-year leadership (2014–2023) was the defining era of modern Scottish politics. She took the SNP to historic dominance: 56 of 59 Westminster seats in 2015, four consecutive Holyrood victories, and a sustained period when independence polling regularly reached 50%. Her handling of COVID-19 was more popular in Scotland than Boris Johnson’s, reinforcing the narrative of distinctly better governance under devolution.
Her resignation in February 2023 shocked Scottish politics. The subsequent police investigation into SNP party finances — which led to the arrest of her husband and former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell — cast a long shadow. Sturgeon has not been charged. The handling of the crisis severely damaged the SNP’s credibility on governance and directly contributed to the catastrophic 2024 Westminster election result.
Humza Yousaf: The Shortest Premiership
Humza Yousaf was elected SNP leader and became Scotland’s First Minister in March 2023 — the first Muslim FM in Scotland’s history. His tenure lasted just 13 months and is the shortest of any Scottish First Minister. His approval ratings were consistently weak: a net approval of around −18% in Scotland, with only around 22% of Scottish voters saying he was doing a good job.
The Bute House Agreement collapse
Yousaf terminated the SNP’s power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens in April 2024, over a disagreement about green policy commitments. The move left him governing without a majority and without reliable cross-party support. When the Scottish Greens joined the opposition in a confidence motion, Yousaf resigned rather than face defeat — ending 13 months of turbulent leadership.
John Swinney: Stabilisation Mode
John Swinney took over the SNP leadership and First Ministership for a second time in May 2024, called back from semi-retirement to steady a party in crisis. As the SNP’s most experienced figure — he has held almost every senior party and government role since the early 2000s — he was the consensus choice for party stabilisation rather than renewal.
Swinney consistently outpolls his party. The SNP at 31% in Scotland polls higher than Swinney’s personal approval might predict — the reverse of the pattern under Yousaf where the leader was a drag on the party. He leads an SNP minority government at Holyrood, requiring case-by-case support from other parties.
Leader Approval Ratings in Scotland — Comparison
| Leader | Net approval in Scotland | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon (2019 peak) | +62% | Peak pandemic popularity; universally praised pandemic messaging |
| John Swinney (2026) | −4% | Stabilisation leader; outpolls his party; minority FM |
| Humza Yousaf (2024 at resignation) | −18% | Lowest approval of any Scottish FM at resignation |
| Alex Salmond (2012 peak) | +38% | After 2011 majority win; pre-referendum peak |
| Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour (2026) | −11% | Labour resurgence but still net negative in Scotland |
| Keir Starmer in Scotland (2026) | −28% | Labour governing in Westminster; deeply unpopular in Scotland |
Sources: Survation, Ipsos, YouGov Scottish polls. Net approval = % approve minus % disapprove.
Explore More
SNP Polling Tracker
Current SNP polling at 3% GB-wide (31% in Scotland) — the full 2026 picture including Swinney’s approval ratings.
Who Votes SNP?
Full demographic breakdown — age, gender, education and the independence voter profile.
SNP History
From fringe nationalist party to Scotland’s dominant political force — the full historical trajectory.
Independence Tracker
Yes/No polling from 2014 to 2026 — the full history of Scottish independence opinion.
SNP Scotland Polls
Scottish-specific Westminster and Holyrood polling — the recovery after 2024’s catastrophic collapse.
Scotland Polling Hub
All Scottish political data — parties, independence, Holyrood 2026 and beyond.
Who leads the SNP in 2026?
John Swinney has led the SNP and served as First Minister since May 2024. He took over following Humza Yousaf’s resignation after the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens collapsed. Swinney, the party’s most experienced figure, was appointed to provide stability ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election. He holds a net approval of −4% in Scotland — significantly better than Keir Starmer at −28% in Scotland. SNP polling tracker →
What was Nicola Sturgeon’s legacy as SNP leader?
Nicola Sturgeon served as SNP leader from 2014 to 2023 — the longest-serving Scottish leader since devolution. She led the SNP to four consecutive Holyrood victories, built a near-total dominance of Scottish Westminster seats (48 in 2019), and kept independence polling above 50% at its peak. Her resignation in February 2023 and the subsequent SNP finances police inquiry fundamentally destabilised the party. The 2024 collapse from 48 to 9 Westminster seats was partly a consequence of this instability.
Why did Humza Yousaf resign as SNP leader?
Humza Yousaf resigned in April 2024 after just 13 months as SNP leader and First Minister. He terminated the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens, removing their support from the Scottish Government, then faced a no-confidence motion he was unlikely to survive. He resigned before the vote rather than face defeat in parliament — making him the shortest-serving Scottish First Minister in history.
What did Alex Salmond achieve as SNP leader?
Alex Salmond served as SNP leader 1990–2000 and 2004–2014. He led the SNP to its first majority Holyrood government in 2011 (69 seats) and secured the 2014 independence referendum, in which 45% voted Yes. The Yes vote — far above historic independence support — transformed independence from a fringe position to a mainstream political cause. After losing the referendum, he resigned. He later feuded publicly with Nicola Sturgeon and launched the Alba Party, which failed to win seats. Independence polling history →
What is Scottish independence polling showing in 2026?
Scottish independence polling in 2026 shows approximately 47% Yes and 53% No when undecided voters are excluded. Support has fallen slightly from the peak of 52% Yes during the Nicola Sturgeon era in 2020–2021. The SNP finance scandal, Humza Yousaf’s troubled 13-month leadership, and the 2024 Westminster collapse from 48 to 9 seats have all contributed to modest falls. Independence consistently ranks as the second most important issue for Scottish voters after NHS — the debate is live but no referendum is imminent. See the full independence polling tracker.
What is the SNP’s position on a second independence referendum?
John Swinney and the SNP maintain that a second independence referendum should be held when Scottish people clearly support it. The UK Labour Government has rejected any Section 30 order authorising a referendum. The SNP 2024 Westminster campaign explicitly framed the election as seeking a mandate for independence negotiations, but winning only 9 seats severely weakened this argument. With Holyrood as its primary base, the party is focused on governing Scotland well as the most credible path to rebuilding the case for independence. No referendum date is set in 2026.