a day ago
SNP Government rule out Scottish independence convention
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson's explicit statement came after First Minister John Swinney poured cold water on the idea at the SNP's 2026 Holyrood campaign launch in May.
That in turn followed SNP depute leader Keith Brown telling party conference in 2024 that the SNP supported an independence convention including 'all democratically elected representatives' from Yes-supporting parties ahead of the 2026 vote.
Alba MSP Ash Regan asked the Scottish Government about plans to take that forward.
Alba MSP Ash Regan (Image: free) Regan asked the Scottish Government if 'as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, whether it will consider holding an independence convention during summer 2025'.
Responding, Robertson said: 'The Scottish Government is focused on delivering for people across the country and making the case for taking decisions in Scotland for Scotland with independence.
'The Scottish Government will publish further material on independence to give the people of Scotland the information they need to make an informed choice about their constitutional future.
'We are not planning an independence convention this summer.'
The 'further material' referenced is understood to be the final document in the series of white papers on independence started under Nicola Sturgeon's government.
Swinney has not published any since taking over as SNP leader.
Documents revealed under Freedom of Information in January showed that Robertson was happy for the series to continue, but Swinney instead decided that only one further paper, 'badged as an overview', would be published.
READ MORE: SNP Government to publish final 'overview' independence white paper
Regan said it was time to break the 'constitutional logjam' and reconnect the political case for independence with what she described as the 'economic necessity' of delivering it.
'We are less than a year out from the Scottish elections but, for too many, independence is drifting into becoming an abstract concept – and in the Hamilton by-election we saw that when independence isn't talked up others will talk it down,' she said.
'An independence convention would bring energy back to the movement and allow for the constitutional imperative of independence to be reconnected to the economic necessity of delivering it as an immediate priority.
"It is therefore bitterly disappointing that the Scottish Government have failed to see this opportunity and have instead outright rejected holding an independence convention this summer.
'The Scottish Government and Holyrood need to seize the political initiative on independence. An independence convention would do just that.'
