Scottish National Party
It was founded in 1934 and has been represented at the Westminster Parliament since 1967. After devolution in 1999, the SNP became the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament. It became the largest party in the 2007 elections, and won an overall majority in 2011. Its leaders, Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, became First Minister of Scotland.
In 2014 the voters of Scotland rejected independence in a referendum, but this was followed by greatly increased support for the SNP, which won all but three Scottish seats at the 2015 general election.
Salmond left the party to form the Alba party while Sturgeon announced her resignation in February 2023.
John Swinney took over leadership from Humza Yousaf in May 2024.
LGBT history
The SNP's LGBT section is Out for Independence.[1]
Joe FitzPatrick is a gay SNP MSP.
Following the 2015 general election, there were six LGBT SNP MPs, including Stewart McDonald (Glasgow South), John Nicolson (East Dumbartonshire) and Mhairi Black. Following the 2016 Election of the Scottish Parliament there were ten openly LGBT MSPs.
Some SNP members including the openly gay member, James Neale Hanvey, broke away from the party to form the Alba party in 2021.
