The SNP leader, whose plans to step back from frontline politics were postponed after Humza Yousaf’s sudden departure from Bute House in May, had to somehow raise the morale of party activists with much to feel gloomy about. July’s General Election saw just nine SNP MPs elected, compared with 48 in 2019, and party membership has nearly halved in recent years. In contrast with so many gatherings under the leaderships of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, the atmosphere at the party’s 90th Annual National Conference was notably subdued.
It was a time for licking wounds rather than celebrating success - a novelty perhaps for many of their younger members. But any activist hoping that Mr Swinney might unveil some fresh new ideas that could turn their party’s fortunes around will have left the conference hall disappointed. Instead, the First Minister recited the familiar refrain about how all that is regretable about Scotland can be laid at the door of the UK government.
The Tories may be out of office but the new Labour administration, Mr Swinney suggested, was little different. In reality, however, the SNP benefited from 14 years of a Tory UK government that was unpopular in Scotland. The invitation Labour extended to the elecorate in July to “send a government to Westminster, not a message” resonated strongly with voters in Scotland.
And – on the evidence of the weekend’s party conference – the SNP has yet to find a compelling response. When voters next go to t.