Swinney Reaffirms Independence Push Following Holyrood Election
First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney has confirmed his intention to proceed with plans for a new independence referendum, despite the SNP failing to secure an overall majority in the recent Holyrood election.
Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh, Swinney stated, “I certainly intend to carry on with my plans, yes.” This includes a plan to hold a vote on a Section 30 order and to bring forward a vote on the first day of the next Scottish Parliament term.
The First Minister indicated that the question for this potential referendum would mirror the one used during the 2014 referendum. The SNP intends to publish a draft referendum bill within the first 100 days of the parliamentary term.
A “Pro-Independence Mandate”
While acknowledging the lack of an overall majority, Swinney argued that a “pro-independence mandate” still exists in the new Scottish Parliament. He pointed to the current composition of the legislature, noting that the 58 SNP MSPs, combined with a record 15 Scottish Green MSPs, means Notice “now more pro-independence MSPs than at any time in the history of the Scottish Parliament.”
Swinney has insisted that the “way forward on this must be made in Scotland,” arguing that Holyrood should be granted powers over a referendum.
The Drive to “Farage-Proof” Scotland
The First Minister linked the urgency of independence to the political climate in the rest of the UK, specifically citing gains made by Reform UK in English council elections. Swinney claimed that “Nigel Farage is now galloping towards Downing Street and the prospect of a Reform-led government is more likely than not.”
Swinney expressed concern that such a government could result in a prime minister who is “openly hostile to minority groups” and who has advocated for the abolition of the Scottish Parliament and the privatisation of the NHS.
To counter this, Swinney stated it is “vital we unite in Scotland to ensure our Parliament is fully Farage-proofed.” He argued that Scotland needs the power to decide its own constitutional future before 2029 to prevent Farage from being able to block the process.
Potential Next Steps
Moving forward, Swinney may seek collaboration with other political entities to improve living standards in Scotland, though he explicitly excluded Reform from these discussions. He noted that achieving independence and holding a referendum would be a “significant factor” in these collaborations.
Depending on the parliamentary response, the SNP could move to introduce the draft referendum bill as scheduled within the first 100 days of the term, while continuing to push for powers over the referendum process to be transferred to Holyrood.
