Swinney says Scottish government writing too many strategy papers

Mr Swinney was introduced at the event by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.

She said: “This government is focused on job creation, is focused on economic growth and is focused on attracting investment.”

Mr Swinney said that when he stood down as deputy first minister in March last year, he did not realise he was in a “sort of sabbatical year” and would return to the head of the Scottish government.

“During that time I began to see the world, and crucially our politics from a very different perspective,” he said.

“To be honest, I didn’t like what I saw.

“I saw our politics as polarised, combative, disinterested in finding common ground, more interested in dragging down than building up.”

Mr Swinney was elected as first minister after 16 years in key government roles under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

Mr Swinney also hit out at Rishi Sunak over the “astonishing” decision to tighten migration policies for those seeking to come to the UK.

He criticised the prime minister for posting on social media that people such as care workers and overseas students looking to bring dependent family members with them had been “stopped”.

Mr Swinney said that such people should be welcome.