# Leader of the Scottish National Party

The leader of the Scottish National Party is the highest position within Scotland's Scottish National Party (SNP). The incumbent is John Swinney, who was elected unopposed in the 2024 leadership election on 6 May 2024, succeeding Humza Yousaf as party leader.
Scotland has had a devolved government since 1999. When the SNP is Scotland's major governing party, as it currently is, its leader has also been the First Minister of Scotland.

## History

The post was officially created on 7 April 1934 with the foundation of the SNP. The role was titled Chairman of the Scottish National Party from 1934 until 1969, with the first chairman, Alexander MacEwen, appointed to the office in 1934. In 1969 the title of chairman was replaced with that of National Convener, with William Wolfe the first person elected as National Convener. The post gained its current title of Leader at the SNP spring conference on 24 April 2004.
While Gordon Wilson had the longest uninterrupted spell as leader, lasting just over eleven years from 1979 to 1990, Alex Salmond has been the party's longest-serving leader overall, serving twenty years and two months across two spells as leader.

## Other party leadership

Keith Brown is the depute leader of the party; however, he is not the Deputy First Minister of Scotland.
Stephen Flynn is the Leader of the party's House of Commons delegation, with Mhairi Black as deputy leader.

## Leaders of the Scottish National Party (1934–present)

| Leader (Birth–Death) | Political office | Took office | Left office |
| Sir Alexander MacEwen (1875–1941) | Provost of Inverness (1925–1931) Councillor for Benbecula (1931–1941) | 7 April 1934 | 1936 |
| Prof Andrew Dewar Gibb KC (1888–1974) | Candidate for Combined Scottish Universities (1936, 1938) | 1936 | 1940 |
| William Power (1873–1951) | Candidate for Argyllshire (1940) | 1940 | 30 May 1942 |
| Douglas Young (1913–1973) | Candidate for Kirkcaldy Burghs (1944) | 30 May 1942 | 9 June 1945 |
| Prof Bruce Watson (1910–1988) | | 9 June 1945 | May 1947 |
| Dr Robert McIntyre (1913–1998) | MP for Motherwell (1945) Provost of Stirling (1967–1975) Councillor for Stirling (1956–1975) | May 1947 | June 1956 |
| James Halliday (1927–2013) | Candidate for Stirling and Falkirk (1959) | June 1956 | 5 June 1960 |
| Arthur Donaldson (1901–1993) | Councillor for Angus (1946–1955) Councillor for Forfar (1945–1968) | 5 June 1960 | 1 June 1969 |
| William Wolfe (1924–2010) | Candidate for West Lothian (1970–79) | 1 June 1969 | 15 September 1979 |
| Gordon Wilson (1938–2017) | MP for Dundee East (1974–1987) | 15 September 1979 | 22 September 1990 |
| Alex Salmond (1954–2024) (1st Term) | MP for Banff and Buchan (1987–2010) MSP for Banff and Buchan (1999–2001) | 22 September 1990 | 26 September 2000 |
| John Swinney (born 1964) (1st Term) | MSP for North Tayside (1999–2011) MP for North Tayside (1997–2001) | 26 September 2000 | 3 September 2004 |
| The Right Hon. Alex Salmond (1954–2024) (2nd Term) | First Minister (2007–2014) MSP for Aberdeenshire East (2011–2016) MSP for Gordon (2007–2011) MP for Gordon (2015–2017) | 3 September 2004 | 14 November 2014 |
| The Right Hon. Nicola Sturgeon (born 1970) | First Minister (2014–2023) MSP for Glasgow Southside (since 2011) MSP for Glasgow Govan (2007–2011) MSP for Glasgow (1999–2007) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 |
| The Right Hon. Humza Yousaf (born 1985) | First Minister (2023–2024) MSP for Glasgow Pollok (since 2016) MSP for Glasgow (2011–2016) | 27 March 2023 | 6 May 2024 |
| The Right Hon. John Swinney (born 1964) (2nd Term) | First Minister (2024–present) MSP for Perthshire North (since 2011) MSP for North Tayside (1999–2011) MP for North Tayside (1997–2001) | 6 May 2024 | Incumbent |