He was deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon, but has been on the backbenches since Humza Yousaf replaced her.
Former deputy first minister John Swinney has become the first candidate to declare he is running to succeed Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister.
If successful it will be the second time Mr Swinney, who was deputy first minister for more than eight years under Nicola Sturgeon, has led his party, having held the post between 2000 and 2004.
His leadership bid has already been backed by a number of prominent SNP figures, including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray and Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.
Former Holyrood finance secretary Kate Forbes – who has also been touted as a successor to Mr Yousaf following his resignation on Monday – is expected to announce later on Thursday whether she will run for the post.
She and Mr Swinney held private talks on Tuesday, but it is not known whether any agreement was reached.
Mr Swinney has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament’s inception in 1999, serving North Tayside, and previously represented the same constituency at Westminster in 1997.
