Scottish First Minister John Swinney says he and Nicola Sturgeon are still friends, despite her public criticisms of the SNP’s election campaign. Multiple outlets report that Swinney responds to Sturgeon’s comments while maintaining a cordial personal relationship, even as the party faces scrutiny over how it ran the campaign.
Outlets also place the remarks in the context of the SNP’s upcoming conference. Swinney is reported to say his most recent communication with Sturgeon was “over the summer,” and that he continues to engage with her despite disagreements about campaign approach. One outlet further notes Swinney is asked about efforts to recover money embezzled from the SNP by Peter Murrell. Overall, coverage focuses on the balance between personal continuity and political tensions within the party.
