John Swinney Wife Elizabeth Quigley Struggles With Multiple Sclerosis

John Swinney wife, Elizabeth Quigley’s battle with multiple sclerosis has only made her stronger and determined not to let her illness dictate her life.

At last, Humza Yousaf has stepped down as Scotland’s first minister. His resignation might not have been an out-of-the-blue incident, but it has thrown the Scottish National Party into chaos.

The party looks to nominate a candidate who could perform as brilliantly as Yousaf and also make up for where he lacked. And, here comes one of the favorite nominees, John Swinney.

Key Takeaways

• John Swinney has been married twice. His first marriage only lasted for seven years.
• John Swinney’s wife, Elizabeth Quigley, has a severe degenerative condition called multiple sclerosis.
• The Scottish politician has fathered three children with his ex and current wife.

The former Scottish National Party leader has served as the MSP for Perthshire North since 2011. He also worked under First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

John Swinney is carefully considering becoming Humza Yousaf’s successor. The odds are in Swinney’s favor, as more and more party members believe he is the right guy for the role.

There Is More To John Swinney Wife, Elizabeth Quigley, Than Meets The Eye

One factor that made John Swinney consider his commitment to the Scottish parliament was his family. He wants to do the right thing for his precious family and country.

The Scottish politician has a happy marital life with his spouse, Elizabeth Quigley, a former BBC Scotland News reporter. They married in 2003.

Everything was going swell for Elizabeth until her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in the early 2000s. Her situation has only deteriorated since then, and she struggles to walk unaided, write, or use a computer.

Mrs. Swinney spent four months shielding during the COVID-19 pandemic. She detailed her struggles with her illness during that period on the BBC website.

Here is a fascinating piece by my wonderful wife Elizabeth Quigley. Well worth listening to her Reporters Notebook on BBC GMS at 8.55 this morning. https://t.co/SMkuHoZekd

— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) May 2, 2020

John Swinney’s wife was also scared to walk outside after four months of isolation. She struggled to home-school her son and distanced herself two meters from her husband.

When it was announced that shielding was being extended until the end of July, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was terrified about the world opening up.

As she battles a severe degenerative condition, Quigley is determined not to let her medical condition hold her back. Hence, she makes the most of each day by pushing beyond her limits and enjoying activities like others.

John Swinney Shares Three Children With His Former And Current Partner

The SNP’s senior figure married Lorna King in 1991. During their seven-year marriage, the pair welcomed two children, Judith Swinney and Stuart Swinney.

John Swinney’s children were born two years apart. Unfortunately, they stay away from the limelight.

The Scottish politician welcomed his youngest son, Matthew Swinney, in 2010. Surprisingly, Elizabeth’s multiple sclerosis symptoms almost vanished when she was expecting Matthew.

John is a hands-on father who is always there for his kids. When Matthew was only a toddler, Swinney never left the house before 8 AM and always returned home before his son’s bedtime.

The politician is also proud of his older kids and often spends time with them.

Additional Information About John Swinney

• John Swinney earned an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh.
• John Swinney’s father, Kenneth Swinney, was a garage manager, while his mother, Agnes Weir Swinney, was a homemaker.
• Combining his resettlement grant of £12,524.25 and £50,097 ministerial wage, Swinney received a £116,759 payout in 2023.