Scotland’s education secretary, John Swinney, has come under fresh pressure today after last night surviving a vote of no confidence for the second time in seven months.

Last night’s parliamentary vote - which related to his role as deputy first minister, rather than his education brief - went in his favour after Green MSPs sided with the SNP.

Mr Swinney had come under fire over delays from the Scottish government in handing over legal documents to MSPs probing the handling of harassment allegations made against former first minister Alex Salmond.

This afternoon he was again in the spotlight, this time at First Minister’s Questions, when Ruth Davidson, the Conservatives’ leader in the Scottish Parliament, referenced Mr Swinney’s role in the release of legal advice over the matter.

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Last night the Tories, who brought forward the motion of no confidence, united with Labour and Liberal Democrats against the deputy first minister.

John Swinney survives vote of no confidence

But the support of Scottish Green MSPs meant the challenge to him was ultimately unsuccessful, as they helped vote down the motion by 65 votes to 57.

In August, Mr Swinney survived a motion of no confidence after Scottish Labour called for him to be removed following his role in the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results controversy after Covid led to the cancellation of the 2020 exams. Labour had said this was the latest in a series of failures over education.