First Minister John Swinney on indyref 10 years on: 'Scotland closer to independence now than in 2014'

18 September 2024, 07:58 | Updated: 18 September 2024, 17:31

First Minister John Swinney believes Scotland is closer to independence than it was in 2014.

Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the independence referendum - which saw 55.3% of voters reject separation from the UK - the first minister reflected on how the nation was "truly buzzing" on the day.

He said: "Today, in 2024, we must reawaken that sense of hope, of optimism and of possibility that was so prevalent 10 years ago.

"It's time for us to talk to each other again. And when I say each other - I mean everyone in Scotland."

Mr Swinney said the referendum left an "overwhelmingly positive legacy" on the country.

Reminiscing on the days following the result, he said those in the Yes campaign quickly "picked themselves up, dusted themselves down, and looked to the future with a renewed determination".

He added: "Many of the grassroots campaign groups didn't melt away. They stuck together, and they continued working in - and for - their communities.

"New friendships had been forged, and a new sense of possibility planted in the minds of thousands of people. That sense of empowerment resonates to this day.

"And that's why, even though I was devastated by the result, I am in no doubt that Scotland's independence referendum has left an overwhelmingly positive legacy on our country.

"And we - the Scottish National Party - should be incredibly proud that, together, we made that happen."

Read more on indyref:
10 years on from historic referendum
Salmond: 'I started writing concession speech after first result'

Mr Swinney's comments come as his party seeks to recover from a bruising general election, which saw the number of SNP MPs drop from 48 in 2019 to just nine.

The first minister said he believes Scotland is closer to independence now than it was a decade ago due to the powers that came to Holyrood following the referendum - including "more scope to act on tax and welfare issues".

He said: "And as a consequence, we have made a difference in the lives of people in Scotland.

"So, people can see, as a consequence of the pressure to get more powers here in Scotland, we've added to the achievements and the strengths that we've already put in place.

"So, people can see the positive impact of decisions been taken here in Scotland."

Mr Swinney said the challenge for independence supporters is to "extend that on to other issues which are on the minds and the priorities of people in Scotland".

He added: "So, when people think about the challenges that we face in our public services or the need to pursue greater economic opportunities, they see independence as the pathway to do that.

"And I believe that's why people will be persuaded by the arguments for independence. And I think we are closer to achieving that than we were in 2014."

Sky News' Scotland correspondent, Connor Gillies, questioned Mr Swinney over the SNP's general election performance, which put independence front and centre of the party's campaign.

He asked: "Would you not be more likely to win back some of the supporters that you've lost if you just said and were upfront about the fact that independence is off the table?"

In response, the first minister said people want "honesty and clarity in politics".

Mr Swinney added: "They want people to set out what they believe in. And I believe in Scottish independence. I've believed in it all my adult life.

"I've never been more convinced that Scotland needs independence more than today."

The first minister said the recent change in UK government was "apparently going to solve all the difficulties" but has since made cuts which have forced the Scottish government to scrap its universal winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Mr Swinney added: "And that, to me, is the hard reality of Westminster control."

Following Mr Swinney's speech, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross claimed the three SNP-led governments since the vote have focused more on the constitution, to the detriment of issues facing Scotland.

He said: "As historians look back over the last 10 years, they will see them as Scotland's lost decade.

"The years in which we divided our country and fought bitter arguments against ourselves on an issue we had already voted on.

"Generations of Scots will come to see this as a national act of self-harm.

"They will wonder why some chose to continue the same arguments again and again, why the government of the day chose to indulge in fantasy politics instead of dealing with the real issues faced by our country, or why the national interest was ignored for the SNP's nationalist interest.

"My message to John Swinney and the SNP government is this: You lost, get over it and let us all move on."

(c) Sky News 2024: First Minister John Swinney on indyref 10 years on: 'Scotland closer to independence now than in 2014'