Graeme McCormick pulls out of SNP leadership race paving way for John Swinney
Graeme McCormick has pulled out of the race to become SNP leader and instead endorsed rival John Swinney as Scotland’s next first minister.
Mr McCormick’s decision not to pursue a leadership bid leaves Mr Swinney as the only official candidate after Humza Yousaf announced he is stepping down.
Mr Yousaf said he was resigning last week after he decided to end the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party.
In a statement shared with Sky News, Mr McCormick, a party activist, said he had had a “lengthy and fruitful conversation” with Mr Swinney, adding that he had “met the threshold set by the party rules”.
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“John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider independence movement in the following weeks and months,” he said.
“This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I’m sure that John’s determination to deliver Independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming general election.
“I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for party leader but instead support John Swinney’s nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland.”
It means the party will avoid a three-week leadership contest, which would have been triggered had Mr McCormick not stepped aside and received. the required 100 nominations.
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Earlier on Sunday, Mr Swinney warned potential challengers from entering the race, saying it would delay the party from “rebuilding”.
“My bid to become SNP leader has received very, very comprehensive support within the SNP. I have sent out a message which is about unifying the SNP to strengthen our party and win Scottish independence,” he told Sky’s Trevor Phillips.
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Yousaf: ‘I’m sad my time is ending’
“I think that is necessary as the SNP is not as cohesive today as the party needs to be, and my campaign has attracted very wide support.
“So I think the SNP has got a chance to start rebuilding from the difficult period that we’ve had under my leadership and, bluntly, I would just like to get on with that as quickly as I can do because every day that we spend in an internal contest, which I think we all probably know the outcome of, we delay the ability for the SNP to start its rebuilding and I want to get on with that as quickly as I possibly can do.”
The chancellor and foreign secretary are threatening to take Roman Abramovich to court to seize the proceeds of his Chelsea FC sale.
The Russian oligarch, who is sanctioned by the UK government over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin, sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to an American consortium in 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Those funds remain in a frozen UK bank account but are meant to be used for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war.
Abramovich has denied close ties to Vladimir Putin. File pic: Reuters
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have now said they are “deeply frustrated” an agreement cannot be reached with the oligarch and will take him to court if it cannot be dealt with soon.
In a joint statement, they said: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.
“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”
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Rachel Reeves said she was ‘deeply frustrated’ an agreement had not been reached by Roman Abramovich
Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea – which he bought for a reported £140m – after 19 years of ownership, after being sanctioned by the government over his alleged close ties to the Russian president – something he denies.
The sale was made under the supervision of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, under the proviso the proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
They cannot be moved or used without a licence from the office.
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Ukraine targets Russian military aircraft
In March, the Foreign Office said officials were in talks with Abramovich’s representatives, but multiple sources told the BBC there had been no meetings between any Labour ministers and members of the foundation set up to oversee the funds since last July’s general election.
They said there was a deadlock and a political decision by a minister is needed to negotiate and sign off an agreement.
It is not known if there have been meetings in the three months since then.
The £2.5bn – and interest accrued – would make up for some of the reduction in the aid budget, announced in February.
Human remains have been found as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a Polish woman 15 years ago.
Izabela Zablocka was living in the Normanton area of Derby but lost contact with her family in August 2010, when she was 30, and has never been found.
However, new information came to light last week and a murder investigation was launched.
Derbyshire Police said remains believed to belong to Ms Zablocka had now been discovered in the garden of a property on Princes Street in Normanton.
A 39-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder was re-arrested on Monday.
Two other women, aged 39 and 43, and a 41-year-old man arrested last week remain on bail.
Ms Zablocka moved to the UK in 2009 but disappeared the following year. Pic: PA
Detective Inspector Kane Martin said formal identification hadn’t yet taken place but it’s believed the remains belong to Ms Zablocka.
“As such, we have spoken with Izabela’s family in Poland, and they are aware. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time,” he said.
“Identification of the remains is likely to be a lengthy process, but we will issue updates when we are able.”
Police will remain at the address for now as they try to gather more evidence on Ms Zablocka’s death.
A £20,000 reward is being offered until 27 August for information that leads to a conviction. Anyone who wants to get in touch is urged to contact the Crimestoppers charity.
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DI Martin added: “We know that someone out there will have information about Izabela that may help us understand what happened to her, and urge anyone who saw, spoke to, or heard anything about Izabela in July or August 2010 to come forward.
“You may hold the key piece of information that we need to understand the full circumstances of Izabela’s disappearance, and to give her family answers on what happened to their loved one.”
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