Swinney rules out SNP rebels' plans in 2026 election

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

There would, he added, be "no humming and hawing."
The SNP leader also rejected calls from within his own party to use the election as a de facto referendum.
He said only an agreed vote would deliver a legitimate route to independence.
He confirmed the SNP would enter the May 2026 Holyrood election on a single, unambiguous pledge: that a majority of SNP MSPs would constitute a mandate to hold another referendum.
'There'll be no mucking about,' he said.
'It will be absolutely crystal clear, because I want the clarity from the people of Scotland to be able to make sure their wishes are delivered.'
Mr Swinney's strategy has proved controversial, with rebels set to attempt to amend it at the party's October conference.
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One change backed by 43 branches would make a majority of list votes for pro-independence parties in 2026 a mandate for independence negotiations with the UK Government.
Mr Swinney told the audience in Edinburgh's Summerhall: 'I do not think that is an argument that would have any legal force at the end of it, because it is not an agreed process.
'It might be what we would like to do, and I would love Scotland yesterday, today, but it is not going to deliver that agreed process of Scotland becoming an independent country.
'Look at the situation that has emerged in Catalonia without an agreed process. Catalonia tried to secure its independence, and it did not succeed.'
The FM said there would be no mucking about at next year's election (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ) Asked by The Herald's Brian Taylor if he was only raising independence because his party was in 'some degree of trouble', the First Minister said it was about his phases.
Phase one was ensuring the SNP 'could get a hearing' and was considered 'credible in the eyes of the public'. Phase two was about the constitution.
Asked what would happen if he fell short, his plan B, Mr Swinney said: 'Well, I am going to go for my aim, and then we will see.'
On Monday, at [[The Herald]]'s Unspun Live, Professor Sir John Curtice said he thought the [[SNP]]'s chances of winning a majority of seats was "extremely unlikely."
Asked if not winning a majority of seats would mean a referendum was off the table, Mr Swinney said: 'I am just simply putting forward my point of view.
'And also an important constitutional point and a substantial point about who we are as a country — this country is being denied, under the current arrangements of the actions of the United Kingdom Government, the right to decide.
'By the way, on the point of a generation, while I am on this question, by 2030 a million people will be in Scotland who were not eligible to vote in 2014, if you want to start talking about what a generation looks like.'
Mr Swinney also ruled out any co‑operation with Reform UK, describing the party's values as 'anathema' to his own.
'I just think the value system and the outlook of the Reform leadership is anathema to what I represent in my politics. I am not going to do a deal with Reform,' he said.
By contrast, he expressed willingness to work with other parties on specific issues, pointing to agreements with the Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats on this year's budgets.
'When I became First Minister, in my acceptance speech, I said that I wanted to try to rebuild the ability of Parliament to work properly across parties, because I thought it had become too fractured, too polarised.
'When it got to the budget, four parties voted for the government's budget.
'Alex Cole‑Hamilton, immediately before I became First Minister, said his votes were available to bring down the government and force an early election.
'Three months later, the Liberals were voting for the budget.'
Asked about criticism from consultancy EY that Scotland's higher overall tax burden could deter investment, Mr Swinney rejected the claim, pointing to net migration into Scotland as evidence to the contrary.
'I do not take that view,' he said. 'We have got to invest in our infrastructure and services. We are seeing net migration levels into Scotland which are higher — that is an indication that tax is not putting people off coming here.'
He said there would be no changes to tax policy before the next election but called for an 'open debate' on how to fund public services in the long term. 'We have to strike a rational balance,' he said.
Mr Swinney also reflected on his recent encounter with former US president Donald Trump, who was in Scotland earlier this year.
'I had a very pleasant and courteous exchange with President Trump and valued the opportunity to set out the views of the people I serve,' he said. 'In the conversation, he made it abundantly clear to me that he adores Scotland.'
The First Minister presented Mr Trump with a framed copy of a handwritten 1853 marriage record from Lewis relating to the President's mother's grandparents, and a 1921 census entry showing his mother aged nine.
'He seemed deeply touched,' Mr Swinney said. 'I later found out most governments give him golf clubs."
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The First Minister was also asked about Kate Forbes' decision to stand down, and how he balanced family life with high office.
Mr Swinney's wife, BBC journalist Elizabeth Quigley, has MS. They have a teenage son, Matthew.
Asked if he was anxious about taking the job given his wife's illness, he said: 'Yes, I did, and we have both been very open about this. I left office in 2023 because I thought I had asked too much of my family — too many sacrifices.
'I felt my wife needed her husband at her side a bit more. I am not sure she felt that, but I kind of felt I should be a bit closer at hand.
'So when things changed and the gravity of the situation facing my party became clear in late April 2024 we had to talk through what would happen and how we would manage.
'We manage by a lot of help and support from friends locally, and by us just working together to try and make it all work.'
Had Humza Yousaf stood down as First Minister a month earlier, Mr Swinney said he would not have been able to take the job as Elizabeth 'was not doing well'.
'And we have just got a period just now, where things are not too good, to be honest. We are struggling a bit at home.
'Normally, I have commitments in the city tomorrow. I would normally stay in Edinburgh — I am going home tonight because I have just got to adjust.'
Responding to Mr Swinney's comments on the constitution, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: '[[John Swinney]] sounds like a broken record.
'He does not have anything new to say, so instead he has turned to the old SNP playbook by talking up independence and marching activists up the hill."
She added: 'John Swinney arrogantly takes the public for granted by assuming the SNP will be returned as the largest party at Holyrood before a single vote is cast.
'And yet just this week, even his Deputy First Minister has decided to abandon ship.
'The people of Scotland will not be fooled by this latest desperate attempt to distract from the SNP's dismal record after 18 years in government.
'Only Scottish Labour has vision for Scotland, by restoring our public services and offering Scots the chance to take a new direction.'