Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney to stand down

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he is leaving the Scottish government after almost 16 years.

The 58-year-old has been Nicola Sturgeon's deputy since she became first minister in 2014.

Mr Swinney will stand down once a new first minister is appointed later this month.

In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, who announced her own departure last month, Mr Swinney said it had been an "honour to serve Scotland".

Mr Swinney has been an SNP MSP since the beginning of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

He was leader of the party for four years from 2000 to 2004 and has held cabinet roles including education secretary and finance secretary as well as serving as the country's deputy first minister since 2014.

Ms Sturgeon paid tribute to Mr Swinney's "deep care and attention to the wellbeing of our nation" and said she could not have wished for a better "partner in government".