2000 Scottish National Party leadership election

Scottish National Party (SNP) leadership election May 2017 May 2017 2000 Scottish National Party leadership election presidential no 1990 Scottish National Party leadership election 1990 2003 Scottish National Party leadership election 2003 23 September 2000 160x160px John Swinney 547 67.1% 160x160px Alex Neil 268 32.9% Leader Alex Salmond John Swinney There was a Scottish National Party leadership election to choose the new National Convener of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2000. The election followed the announcement by SNP Leader Alex Salmond, that he would be stepping down as SNP leader in 2000. Salmond's announcement came in the face of internal criticism after a series of high-profile fall-outs with party members.Scramble to lead SNP as Salmond quits The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1349165/Scramble-to-lead-SNP-as-Salmond-quits.html 18 July 2000 3 February 2012 Elections were also held for the position of Depute Leader. The election saw John Swinney become National Convener, and Roseanna Cunningham become Depute Leader. National Convener election Candidates Two candidates presented themselves for election; SNP Depute Leader and spokesman on enterprise and lifelong learning, John Swinney; and the SNP vice-convener for policy and social security spokesman, Alex Neil. Swinney was simultaneously serving as both an MP and MSP, and Neil was a serving MSP. Issues Whilst both candidates supported the position of the SNP on the centre-left, Neil was seen as the more left-wing of the two, and individuals associated with the Neil campaign argued that a Swinney administration would drag the SNP to the right. In someways the fight was seen as being between the SNP's Fundamentalists and gradualists. Swinney was seen as representing the SNP gradualist wing, advocating devolution as a stepping stone towards Scottish independence. Neil however was far more critical and suspicious of devolution, viewing it as a means of undermining the case for independence, and was more forceful in pushing for a party emphasis on Scottish independence. Swinney, as a gradualist, argued that independence could only follow a successful vote in a referendum, whilst Neil believed that an SNP victory would be enough to secure negotiations for independence.Taylor Brian 21 September 2000 Filling the room at the top http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/snp/932819.stm BBC News Both candidates opposed trident, and were largely pro-European Union. Swinney however advocated joining the Euro at the earliest opportunity, whilst Neil believed pre-emptive joining of the Euro could undermine Scottish jobs. Swinney also favoured greater European integration on issues such as defence, whilst Neil favoured a weaker EU, and opposed the pooling of defence forces. Results Voting system Each SNP branch sent delegates to the election, with larger branches sending more members. Some 700 delegates had the right to vote.Taylor Brian 21 September 2000 Tussle for the top http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/snp/865888.stm BBC News Results Leadership The result of the election was announced at the party conference on 23 September. John Swinney won the election by 547 votes to 268.23 September 2000 Emphatic SNP win for Swinney http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/conferences/snp/938727.stm BBC News Candidate Delegate votes Votes % John Swinney 547 67.1 FFFF00 67.1% Alex Neil 268 32.9 FFFF00 32.9% Depute + First round Candidate Votesp.44-45 Votes % Roseanna Cunningham 391 48.2 FFFF00 48.2% Kenny MacAskill 312 38.5 FFFF00 38.5% Peter Kearney 108 13.3 FFFF00 13.3% + Second round Candidate Votes Votes % Roseanna Cunningham 457 58.6 FFFF00 58.6% Kenny MacAskill 323 41.4 FFFF00 41.4% Treasurer Candidate Delegate votes Votes % Jim Mather 632 78.9 FFFF00 78.9% Ian Blackford 143 17.9 FFFF00 17.9% Jim Wright 26 3.2 FFFF00 3.2% Endorsements John Swinney Mike Russell Roseanna Cunningham Kenny MacAskill Alex Neil Federation of Student Nationalists Adam Ingram Peter Kearney References 2000 Category:2000 in British politics Category:2000 in Scotland Category:2000s elections in Scotland Category:John Swinney Category:2000 political party leadership elections in the United Kingdom