Swinney insists 'stars are aligning' for Scottish independence
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John Swinney will deliver his keynote speech to the SNP conference in Aberdeen, insisting that "the stars are aligning" for Scottish independence.
The first minister will tell party members:
That 2026 has been a turning point in Scotland's "journey towards statehood".
He will highlight that "in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, every first minister now supports our nations' right to self-determination".
Swinney seeks to press the case for another independence referendum following the SNP's record fifth term in government at Holyrood in May.
Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'
- (Published 18 hours ago)
Westminster's time is coming to an end, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish leaders say (Published 14 September)
'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum (Published 1 day ago)
The nationalist first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland held a summit in Cardiff last month where they signed an agreement, which is not legally binding, stating that no Westminster government had the right to "block democracy".
Swinney will declare: "The SNP is making the weather. And make no mistake – the wind is now firmly in the sails of Scotland's independence movement."
He will claim that unionist parties at Westminster are "weaker than they have ever been".
Swinney's speech comes a day after Andy Burnham extended an olive branch, offering to work with the SNP to deepen devolution in Scotland.