MacAskill calls on Swinney to take part in independence summit
He wants Alba, the SNP, the Scottish Greens and the smaller pro independence parties, the Scottish Socialist Party and the Independence for Scotland Party to agree "a powerful statement" on independence which would be put in their manifestos for the poll in May 2026.
In his letter Mr MacAskill, who served with Mr Swinney in Alex Salmond's governments, presses him to participate in the gathering, pointing out he recently convened a summit on tackling the populist right.
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He also points out Mr Swinney's willingness to work with Alba during this year's budget process in Holyrood, when Alba MSP Ash Regan voted for the government's tax and spending plans.
"We both served throughout the entirety of Alex Salmond's government, from the historic breakthrough in 2007 through to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum and its aftermath," Mr MacAskill, a former Scottish Government justice secretary, tells Mr Swinney.
"I am sure you will agree that it was an exciting time for those involved, and one which we can all look back on with a great deal of pride in what we were able to achieve for the people of Scotland.
Alba leader Kenny MacAskill (Image: PA) "Key to our success was the ability to work with individuals with whom we did not agree on everything, but with whom we could work on an issue-by-issue basis. Alex set the tone and as finance secretary you played a positive and constructive role.
"During your own time as First Minister, you have demonstrated a willingness to work with the Alba Party to deliver and pass your recent budget. If you are willing to convene a summit on combating the rise of populism and the far right in Scotland then surely we must be able to work together for independence."
Mr MacAskill is speaking at the pro-independence All Under One Banner march and rally in Glasgow today where he will call Mr Swinney to "put country before party" and to take part in the summit to chart a way forward for demanding and achieving independence at the Holyrood election in May next year.
He is also writing to the leaders of the other pro-independence parties, including the Scottish Greens, the Scottish Socialist Party and the Independence for Scotland Party urging them to take part in the summit.
He wants the leaders of all the parties to discuss "how we make the next Holyrood election a plebiscite election by, for example, agreeing on a simple and powerful statement to be included in each of our parties manifestos."
In a statement, Mr MacAskill, who cited coverage from The Herald's campaign on poverty this week, said: "Scotland is crying out for independence as sky high energy costs and the threat posed to the poorest and weakest in our society from Westminster's benefit cuts clearly demonstrates.
"In the week when oil refining finally ended at Grangemouth with the loss of 400 jobs and it was revealed that 80,000 children in Scotland are living in severe poverty it is beyond doubt that Westminster rule is failing the people of Scotland.
"The coming Holyrood election can be Scotland's independence election but it requires all independence supporting parties to come together in a show of unity. We can disagree about the why of independence but we can all agree on the urgent necessity of achieving independence and begin to discuss and agree how we get there.
"That is why I am writing to John and the other pro-independence party leaders asking them to commit to taking part in an independence summit to discuss how we make the next Holyrood election a plebiscite election by, for example, agreeing on a clear and unambiguous statement to be included in each of our parties manifestos.
"Independence offers a better way for Scotland but we need to work together to achieve it. I believe an Independence Summit is an essential first step in charting a clear and positive way forward. Let us unite the movement and come together in an essential show of unity."
The SNP was approached for comment.
Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said his party would not be taking part.
"Every vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote for a fairer, greener and independent Scotland in the European Union," he said.
'If we want to build a better country, lower the cost of living and tackle the climate crisis, we need the full powers of a normal independent country.
'We will always work with those who share our vision for a progressive Scotland to achieve those policies and improve people's lives.
'But we have a significantly different vision about the future of Scotland from Alba, so attending their summit wouldn't be appropriate.'
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