Swinney to set out Programme for Government including tackling violence against women and girls
The First Minister will set out the plan on Tuesday
The First Minister is warning Scotland faces an “epidemic” of violence against women and girls, as he vows to show “much greater personal leadership” to tackle the issue.
John Swinney will set out his Programme for Government on Tuesday – he says meetings with abuse survivors and the family of Stacy Hunter have spurred him to act.
Stacy was murdered three weeks after her estranged husband appeared in court, charged with assaulting her, and was released on bail.
Mr Swinney says he had “always been conscious” of the problem of men’s abuse of women, and his concerns will be “reflected” in the Programme.
"Epidemic of violence"
With an “increasing” number of women’s deaths linked to domestic abuse, he said this was linked to “extreme misogyny” and to “appalling” online behaviours which are “being spread unfettered in our society”.
The commitment comes after the Scottish Government dropped plans for legislation to criminalise misogyny in May 2025.
The First Minister recalled how ahead of meeting Danielle MacDonald, who was subjected to a 15-year campaign of abuse which resulted in her estranged husband David MacDonald being jailed for 12 years in July, he had looked at an online news site to see that the top three stories involved women’s deaths, while the fourth was about the rape of a young woman.
Mr Swinney said: “That sequence of events said to me that we have reached a point which requires much greater personal leadership from me as First Minister, because we face an epidemic of violence against women and girls in Scottish society today.”
"Extreme misogyny"
He added: “The data tells us that the number of fatalities from domestic abuse are increasing, and that environment I think has been fuelled by some of the cultural issues that are out there of extreme misogyny, of online behaviours that are appalling that are being spread unfettered in our society.”
As a result Mr Swinney said he must “exercise the most emphatic political leadership as First Minister to do something about that”.
He continued: “Although I have been conscious and aware of the issue of violence against women and girls in our society, I have become extraordinarily concerned about the impact of that and the severity of it.
“So that will be reflected in the Programme for Government.”
Mr Swinney added that while he “can’t begin to come to terms with the loss Stacy Hunter’s mum has had to experience, or the suffering Danielle MacDonald has gone through” he could “make sure government gives the leadership, and I give that leadership as First Minister, to tackle that issue”.
"Can't begin to come to terms"
Liz Curran from the Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance said that the First Minister was “right to recognise that violence against women and girls demands urgent and sustained action”.
But she insisted: “After years of commitments, women and girls need to see meaningful change, not simply another set of promises.
“The Programme for Government must deliver concrete measures that prevent violence, protect women and girls at risk, and hold perpetrators to account.
“That means properly resourcing specialist services, strengthening the response to domestic abuse and sexual violence, and ensuring the justice system acts decisively when women and girls are at risk.”
"Sustainable funding"
Ms Curran said the charity had “been clear with the Scottish Government about what is needed to end violence against women and girls, and to support those affected by it in the meantime”.
She insisted that specialist rape crisis services form “a critical part of that response and must have the sustainable funding needed to meet demand and provide women and girls with the support they need”.
And she added: “The First Minister has spoken about the need for political leadership. We agree. But leadership must be measured by action and outcomes, not rhetoric. The test of this Programme for Government will be whether it makes women and girls safer.”
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