Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) -Scottish National Party (SNP) veteran John Swinney was confirmed the party's new leader on Monday and is set to succeed Humza Yousaf as the country's first minister after he emerged as the sole contender in the leadership race for a new premier. Yousaf, who had become the first Muslim to lead a democratic western European nation in March 2023, resigned last week after his decision to end a coalition with the Green Party backfired, triggering a contest to pick his replacement. Shortly after midday on Monday, the deadline for other contenders to join the race, the SNP confirmed Swinney as the new leader, ending uncertainty around a possible weeks-long process that would have ensued if there were more candidates.