John Swinney declared the SNP has to “get our act together” and win the doubters back in his first speech after becoming party leader.
No other candidate put themselves forward to replace Humza Yousaf by Monday’s noon deadline, meaning Mr Swinney becomes leaders without a contest.
In a speech at Glasgow University, he called for unity as he starts to look towards officially becoming first minister and reshaping his Scottish Government.
“We need to stop shouting at each other and talk,” he said.
“More than that, actually, we need to listen. As first minister, I will do exactly that.”
He used the speech to mark a “new chapter” and confirmed there will be no return to any formal deal with the Green party.
Mr Swinney claimed the SNP would “get our act together” and win back the votes of supporters of Scottish independence who may have turned away from the party.
“If someone is an independence supporter in Scotland and they they want Scotland to be independent there’s only one political party that will ever deliver and that’s the Scottish National Party,” he added.
In a video message, Humza Yousaf congratulated his successor.
He said: “John’s central message has been one of unity.
“As a party, we must heed his call, whatever has happened in the past should remain there.
“Let’s get behind John and his team so they can deliver for Scotland.”
Mr Swinney is not yet First Minister of Scotland – a vote of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament is required before he is officially nominated.
If a similar timetable to when Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon is followed, it is likely Mr Swinney will be sworn in as First Minister of Scotland on Wednesday morning at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Contest avoided after activist stands aside
There was fears inside the party a contest would need to take place after an SNP activist claimed he’d secured the support required to make it onto the ballot.
But Graeme McCormick confirmed on Sunday he had decided not to stand after a “fruitful” conversation with Mr Swinney.
Mr Swinney becomes leader of the SNP for a second time, having first served in the role for four years until he stepped down in 2004.
He previously told us that the decision to put his name forward to replace Mr Yousaf required “careful consideration”.
Mr Swinney’s wife, BBC reporter Elizabeth Quigley, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000.
He had to speak with his family to ensure they would support his decision,
“I had to give very careful consideration to standing for office, ” he said.
“My wife relies on the support that I can offer her.
“If I’m going to do the job well, I have to know those that I love are alright. That things are OK for them.
“I can’t just go off deciding things for myself, I must make the right judgements for them.”
‘Tepid’
Opposition parties were not impressed by the latest change at the top.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said “John Swinney’s coronation is entirely about managing the SNP rather than running our country and delivering for Scotland.
“At a time when Scotland is crying out for change, the SNP is offering more of the same.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “We urge him to govern for all of Scotland by abandoning his relentless push for independence – but, judging by his leadership launch slogan, that looks a forlorn hope.”
Greens leader Patrick Harvie said there is now a choice for Mr Swinney.
“Will they offer a progressive vision for Scotland’s future, or will they retreat toward the tepid middle ground, which would force them to rely on the Tories and other pro-union parties?” he asked.
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