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There was aScottish National Party leadership election to choose the new National Convener of theScottish National Party (SNP) in 2000. The election followed the announcement by SNP LeaderAlex 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.[1] Elections were also held for the position of Depute Leader.[2]
The election sawJohn Swinney become National Convener, andRoseanna Cunningham become Depute Leader.[2]
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.[2]
Whilst both candidates supported the position of the SNP on thecentre-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 theright.[2]
In someways the fight was seen as being between the SNP'sFundamentalists 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[2]
Each SNP branch sent delegates to the election, with larger branches sending more members. Some 700 delegates had the right to vote.[2]
The result of the election was announced at the party conference on 23 September.John Swinney won the election by 547 votes to 268.[4]
| Candidate | Delegate votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
John Swinney Y | 547 | 67.1% | ||
| Alex Neil | 268 | 32.9% | ||
| Candidate | Votes[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| Roseanna Cunningham | 391 | 48.2% | ||
| Kenny MacAskill | 312 | 38.5% | ||
Peter Kearney N | 108 | 13.3% | ||
| Candidate | Votes[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| Roseanna CunninghamY | 457 | 58.6% | ||
| Kenny MacAskill | 323 | 41.4% | ||
| Candidate | Delegate votes[5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| Jim MatherY | 632 | 78.9% | ||
| Ian Blackford | 143 | 17.9% | ||
| Jim Wright | 26 | 3.2% | ||
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