John Swinney gets Kate Forbes' backing to be next first minister
The term grey men in kilts was dubbed during Swinney's last term as party leader Image caption: The term grey men in kilts was dubbed during Swinney's last term as party leader
John Swinney’s retro SNP leadership posters at his launch today reminded me of his last term as party boss.
He’d faced a tough time in the 2003 Holyrood election, losing eight seats.
Bill Wilson from Glasgow was one member who was frustrated at the course the party was taking and challenged Mr Swinney at the SNP’s National Conference.
The leadership duel was meant to be fought out in front of party members only.
But in the vast Eden Court theatre in Inverness, a few of us journalists accidentally found ourselves in the auditorium when the speeches started.
It was there Mr Swinney had a fiery performance in the hustings and, controversially, said in reference to independence: “tell the Brits to get off”.
Members loved it and the leader easily saw off Mr Wilson – but a bad set of European elections results the next year finished him off.
The phrase “men in grey kilts” was conceived as the party hierarchy coming to tell Mr Swinney that his time was up.
Twenty years on, it looks like the “men in grey kilts” will be very grateful for his return to save the party from turmoil.
