SNP majority solely option to safe second referendum – Swinney

An SNP majority at Holyrood is the one method to make sure a second independence referendum, the primary minister has stated.

John Swinney stated securing independence can be on the coronary heart of his celebration’s marketing campaign for the 2026 election.

There are presently 60 SNP MSPs at Holyrood. A majority would require the SNP to win 65 of 129 seats in parliament.

Swinney spoke to BBC Scotland Information forward of a gathering with US President Donald Trump, throughout his go to to Scotland.

“We have got to place a precedence on securing independence,” the primary minister stated.

“We try this by electing a majority of SNP MSPs to the Scottish Parliament after which taking ahead the democratic path to independence which can safe the way forward for our nation.”

Swinney stated a second referendum would enable the SNP to make “Scotland’s power wealth work for Scotland” and make “truthful and equitable” adjustments to the welfare system.

He stated: “It solely occurs if now we have that referendum and we solely get that referendum if a majority of SNP MSPs are elected subsequent Might.

The SNP gained a majority on the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections, which led the way in which to the 2014 independence referendum.

Swinney stated a majority in 2026 would put comparable strain on the UK Authorities.

He added: “There isn’t any UK prime minister that may sit round and primarily deny the democratic needs of the folks of Scotland.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer can also be in Scotland to satisfy with Donald Trump.

Swinney and Starmer are each anticipated to attend a personal dinner with the president.

In the meantime, Ex-SNP well being secretary Alex Neil has been vital of Swinney’s independence plan.

He instructed BBC Scotland Information that the SNP was not as in style because it was in 2011 and had “misplaced its repute for good authorities”.

He stated the technique was “extra about making an attempt to avoid wasting the SNP’s bacon” than win independence.

Labour and the Conservatives have been additionally vital of Swinney’s feedback.

Scottish Labour deputy Chief Jackie Baillie stated the SNP had “misplaced its method and ran out of concepts.

She stated: “John Swinney cannot finish his personal obsession with division, and right this moment has confirmed he’ll put Scots second to appease his personal celebration.

“From the disaster in our NHS to the violence in our colleges, the SNP has left each establishment in Scotland weaker.”

Scottish Conservative deputy chief Rachael Hamilton stated folks have been “sick and drained” with Swinney’s “obsession” with breaking apart the UK.

She added: ” In a bid to silence inside critics of his weak management, he has thrown diehard nationalists some extra purple meat on the one subject all of them agree on, independence.”

That is fairly a giant second, as John Swinney is setting a really excessive bar for a second referendum.

Polls counsel the SNP is presently falling wanting an outright majority, with the 2026 election looming. In truth, dropping seats (whereas remaining the most important celebration) appears to be like extra doubtless on present developments.

So why is John Swinney doing this? Nicely, the thought of independence is presently extra in style than the SNP. So it is logical to tie his celebration as intently to that trigger as doable.

And he desires to dissuade pro-independence Scottish voters from trying in the direction of different events which again leaving the UK.

Although it is a dangerous technique. If he falls wanting a majority in 2026, it appears to be like like independence must take a again seat for some time.

And, no matter end result, what if the UK authorities simply says “no”? It is unclear the place the primary minister would go from there.