John Swinney pledges to work with new PM on ‘areas of mutual interest’

Mr Swinney described the result, the SNP’s worst since 2010, as “very, very difficult and damaging”.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the official UK Prime Minister account posted that Sir Keir had spoken to the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It added: “We are resetting our relationship, working together to unite our country.”

A spokesperson for Mr Swinney said: “The first minister spoke with the prime minister by telephone this evening and congratulated him on his appointment.

“He committed to working collaboratively and co-operatively with the UK government on areas of mutual interest.

“The first minister has outlined his priorities in government and believes there are many ways in which the two governments can work together to deliver progress on them for the benefit of people in Scotland.”

The two men committed to meeting in person in the coming days.

Relations between the UK and Scottish governments have often been strained in the past.

Legislation passed at Holyrood on gender recognition was blocked by Westminister on grounds it would interfere with the operation of the UK-wide Equality Act, and Scotland’s proposed deposit return scheme was also a source of tension.

Mr Swinney has claimed that the result of 2021 Scottish Parliament election is a mandate for another independence referendum, but the UK government has refused to agree to one, claiming the result of the 2014 referendum is still valid.