John Swinney’s party will go into the Holyrood Election with a new Chief Executive and new head of communications
stephen Flynn’s chief adviser is moving to head up the SNP’s Holyrood media operation ahead of the May Election.
by Bill Heaney
The SNP’s chief spin doctor has quit – and will be replaced by a Stephen Flynn loyalist. John Swinney is gearing up for a pivotal election as a failure to win a majority of MSPs would mean the end of his independence dream for at least five years, according to right wing sources.
They have leaked that the SNP has made a swathe of major backroom changes since it was thrashed at the General Election – and lost £1m of Short money due to this. It axed 10 members of staff at SNP HQ, and have recycled through three Chief Executives, with Murray Foote going after leading them to defeat, being replaced by Carol Potter, who then stepped down so that former MP Callum McCaig could take charge.
And now there is a change at the top of the SNP’s media operation as long-serving press officer Fraser MacDonald is vacating the post he has held since 2023. He took over from former Daily Record editor Murray Foote, left, who suddenly quit after being caught out lying to journalists about plummeting membership figures, although he blamed Peter Murrell for giving him false information.
Mr MacDonald will be replaced as Head of Communications and Research for the SNP in Holyrood by Ruairidh MacKenzie who has worked as Mr Flynn’s chief adviser since 2022, when he usurped Ian Blackford to take over as leader of the Westminster group. His influence has waned at the House of Commons after his cohort was reduced from 48 to just nine at the General Election, losing his position as leader of the third biggest party.
Mr Flynn is hoping to move up from London to Edinburgh and will be standing in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine in May. Now, his key ally will be running his party’s media operations up to this election, with Mr MacDonald stepping down from the role at the end of the week.
The SNP’s Westminster leader has long harboured hopes of eventually leading the SNP, and has positioned himself as a potential replacement for Mr Swinney when he steps down. He has denied wanting the top job if elected to Holyrood in May, but did the same when there was murmurings that he wanted to oust Mr Blackford.
South Scotland SNP MSP Emma HarperEmma Harper MSP, Convener of the SNP Group in Holyrood, said: “I am delighted to confirm Ruairidh MacKenzie’s appointment as Head of Communications and Research for the SNP in Holyrood, who will play a key role in the upcoming Holyrood election.
“The SNP is in a formidable position to continue its work to deliver for Scotland – investing in new GP walk-in clinics and delivering record hip and knee operations, with NHS waiting times falling for the sixth consecutive month under John Swinney’s leadership. I’d like to thank Fraser MacDonald for his service to the SNP in Holyrood and at Westminster and wish him all the best for the future.”
Mr MacKenzie said: “I’m excited to lead the SNP Central Office at Holyrood into the 2026 election at a crucial time for Scotland. A vote for the SNP is a vote for a fresh start with independence – and I look forward to working with colleagues to returning a SNP Government to Holyrood in 2026.”
Mr MacDonald added: “It’s been an immense privilege to serve as Head of Communications of the SNP for the last two and a half years. At the end of this week, I will pass that baton on to pursue a better work-life balance outside of politics. Under the leadership of John Swinney, and with the appointment of Ruairidh MacKenzie, the SNP is in a formidable position to win the 2026 election – to continue its valuable work of delivering for Scotland in Government and, crucially, to deliver independence for Scotland.”