25 June 2004
Scottish National Party leader John Swinney is to step down in September in the wake of the party's disastrous European election results.
The 40-year-old MSP for Tayside North was elected party leader in September 2000 but has faced internal criticism for accepting the concept of devolution.
His deputy, Roseanna Cunningham, was the first to announce her intention to stand for the leadership.
Swinney said: 'Despite my best efforts over the past four years I accept that many people still do not have a clear understanding of what the SNP stands for, over and above an independent Scotland.'
PFjun2004
