Scottish National Party: Key People

With Scottish National Party activists gathered in Inverness for their autumn conference, BBC News Online provides pen-profiles of key figures in the party.

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John Swinney

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Mr Swinney joined the Scottish National Party when he just 15 and had a 20-year wait to become its leader in 2000.

He has experience of being a Westminster MP and worked in the financial sector before devoting himself to politics full time.

Mr Swinney studied politics at university in his home town of Edinburgh and has two children.

He became leader of the party when Alex Salmond stood down to focus on leading the party at Westminster.

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Fiona Hyslop

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Fiona Hyslop is seen as John Swinney's "right hand woman" and is credited with being one of the leading thinkers and strategists in the SNP.

Mrs Hyslop began politics on a full-time basis after a career in marketing in the financial services industry.

Her association with the SNP began in 1986 and she stood both as a councillor and MP on a number of occasions before entering Holyrood in 1999.

Ms Hyslop, who is married with two children, describes herself as a serious politician and is heavily involved in choosing what tactics the party will take into debates.

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Nicola Sturgeon

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Nicola Sturgeon managed John Swinney's campaign to become party leader in 2000 and in the process secured her standing as one of SNP's most senior figures.

She admits that she has a direct style, but she attributes that to the seriousness with which she approaches her health portfolio for the party.

Ms Sturgeon was another early starter in the political field, signing up with the SNP when she was aged just 16.

She practised as a solicitor after studying law in Glasgow and contested local and national elections before gaining her seat in the Scottish Parliament.

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Andrew Wilson

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Andrew Wilson is another of the SNP's young guns and is expected to play a significant role in the 2003 Holyrood election campaign.

He speaks on economic matters for the party, drawing on his university education and experience as an economist with the Forestry Commission.

Mr Wilson began working for the party full-time in 1996 as an economist and researcher to help formulate policy.

However, after the 1997 Holyrood referendum he joined the Economics Office of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

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Roseanna Cunningham

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Roseanna Cunningham practised as a lawyer and advocate before becoming an MP and now speaks on justice matters for the SNP.

She was born in Glasgow, but largely educated in Australia, and has been involved with the nationalist movement since she was aged 20 in 1971.

Ms Cunningham first entered parliament in 1995 after winning a by-election for the Perth and Kinross seat at Westminster.

As well as being a member of the Faculty of Advocates she is a member of the National Union of Journalists and has presented Channel 4's Powerhouse programme.

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Michael Russell

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Michael Russell is a former chief executive of the Scottish National Party and has been director of its election campaigns, making him one of the party's most recognisable faces.

He now speaks on education matters for the SNP and is one of the most prolific members of cross-party groups, representing his diverse interests.

His professional background is in the media. He has worked as a film and TV director and also has a number of credits as an author.

Mr Russell is married with a son and has what he describes as a "knowledge" of both French and Gaelic.

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Alex Salmond

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Alex Salmond stood down as leader of the Scottish National Party in 2000 after 10 years in charge and yet he probably remains the party's best known politician.

He has worked as an economist for both the government and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Mr Salmond has been parliamentarian of the year and is well respected for his debating skills and the slickness with which he presents his arguments.

He shone in the Scottish Parliament after cutting his political teeth at Westminster.