John Swinney has faced sharp criticism after vowing to prioritise independence from day one of a new SNP government, even if he fails to secure a majority in the upcoming Holyrood election. Despite months of insisting that only outright victory would provide a credible mandate, the First Minister has confirmed he will use public money to pursue breaking up the United Kingdom as long as the SNP remains in power.
Immediate Referendum Plans
Speaking at a campaign event in Glasgow, Swinney outlined his plans for the first 100 days of a fifth-term SNP administration. He declared that on the first sitting day after the new government is appointed, he would force a vote in the Scottish Parliament to approve the development of a Section 30 Order, which would transfer the power to hold an independence referendum from Westminster to Holyrood. Within the first 100 days, he would also publish a draft Referendum Bill, the SNP's third such bill in a decade, proposing the same question as in 2014: "Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes or No." Additionally, he would convene a Constitutional Convention, excluding Reform UK, to help shape a draft constitution for an independent Scotland.
Majority Question Dodged
When asked seven times whether these plans depended on the SNP winning a majority of seats, Swinney refused to give a direct answer. However, his spin doctor later confirmed that the party would proceed regardless of the number of MSPs it holds, provided it remains in office. Swinney argued that the precedent set by the SNP's 2011 landslide victory, which led to the 2014 referendum, justifies his approach. He insisted that only the election of a majority of SNP MSPs would "break the log jam," but he did not rule out pushing ahead without one.
Political Reaction
The Scottish Conservatives condemned Swinney's stance, with leader Russell Findlay accusing him of being "hellbent on plunging Holyrood into fresh constitutional chaos." Findlay warned that Swinney's obsession with independence detracts from pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis, jobs, education, and the NHS. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the SNP of trying to "shift the goalposts" to cover up their failures, while Scottish Liberal Democrat campaign chair Wendy Chamberlain stated that every vote for the SNP would be taken as permission to focus on independence.
Polling and Other Promises
A new Survation poll for the Diffley Partnership suggests the SNP is on course for 62 seats, short of Swinney's target of 65, followed by Reform UK on 19, Labour on 17, the Greens on 12, the Tories on 11, and the Liberal Democrats on 8. Alongside his independence plans, Swinney pledged within 100 days to support 2,000 first-time homebuyers with up to £10,000 each, cap single bus fares at £2 in several regions, open five more GP walk-in centres, and introduce a price cap on essential food items by the end of the year.
