Scottish Independence

First Minister John Swinney says independence will be central to the SNP’s 2026 election campaign.

Independence to be 'central' to SNP's 2026 election campaign
The First Minister says his party will argue that ‘Westminster doesn’t work for Scotland’ in the Holyrood election campaign.

Scottish independence supporters on the march. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Here's why John Swinney is talking about Scottish independence again

Donald Dewar and David Steel arrive at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in July 1999 (Picture: Ian Stewart)

Old unionist champions are gone, creating chance for independence push Stephen Gethins

Officers from Police Scotland outside the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh following the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell in April 2023. Mr Murrell was later released without charge, pending further enquiries. Picture: PA

Ex-SNP treasurer arrested under Branchform probe bids to stand again

Alex Salmond and Chris McEleny

Salmond wanted to build a new town called 'Independence' - Alba ally

First Minister John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Swinney wants Northern Ireland-style trigger for independence poll

Scottish independence supporters on the march. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Exclusive Last indy strategy damaged 'credibility', Pete Wishart says

Keir Starmer's plans to bulldoze through housing and infrastructure construction ─ including the relentless march of wind turbines ─ may not go down well with voters (Picture: Chris Radburn)

Labour's disastrous start is setting up a 2029 independence showdown John McLellan

Any decision to scrap independence spending from the Scottish Budget next month could have consequences

SNP must not axe independence spending in Budget, say Greens

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dances at a campaign rally at Greensboro Coliseum (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Swinney backs Harris for president after Trump opposes independence

Former Scotland first minister and current Alba Party leader Alex Salmond has died aged 69.

Tributes for 'monumental figure' Alex Salmond pour in

Dark clouds may have gathered over the SNP and its leader John Swinney recently, but the independence movement's positive message is more appealing than unionists' negative one (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why cock-a-hoop Scottish unionists are actually LOSING the argument Joyce McMillan

John Swinney

John Swinney calls on SNP to stop focus on route to independence

In 1995, Quebeckers voted by a whisker against seceding from Canada (Picture: Andre Pichette)

Why future of Scotland’s independence movement may be found in Quebec Murdo Fraser

John Swinney must do better as First Minister than his previous two predecessors or the SNP, the independence cause and Scotland itself will all pay the price (Picture: Michael Boyd)

10 years after indyref, SNP must learn hard lesson or face disaster Scotsman comment

Labour is starting to deliver the change that Scotland and the UK need (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

How Scotland can finally break free from endless independence debate Jackie Baillie

Nicola Sturgeon's style of government saw many important issues being sidelined (Picture: Andy Buchanan/pool)

How Sturgeon’s war on Westminster created decade of lost opportunities Henry McLeish

Nicola Sturgeon failed to deliver independence (Picture: Mark Runnacles)

Analysis Sturgeon's indy failures pose questions over SNP's Holyrood future

A young independence supporter waves a Yes flag ahead of the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence (Picture: Leon Neal)

With UK in decline, young people know independence is the answer John Swinney

Retail property investment has rebounded thanks to several factors including the arrival of the flagship St James Quarter in Edinburgh.

Why Indyref was the turning point for the Scottish commercial property market

Yes activists gather in George Square on September 17, 2014

Why I'll never forget being a young journalist during indyref Alistair Grant

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond after he gave his last SNP conference speech as party leader in November 2014 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why SNP remains in denial about Scotland's rejection of independence John McLellan

First Minister John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

SNP hopes on 'indy generation' as 63% of young Scots back Yes in poll

What do Vladimir Putin, Kermit the Frog, Alex Salmond and Lego have in common? Indyref rows

10 bizarre indyref moments you may have forgotten

First Minister John Swinney and Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader

The cross-border summit SNP leader believes can 'break indy impasse'

Former first minister Alex Salmond has taken aim at BBC Scotland in an extended thread posted on X

Alex Salmond unleashes on 'venomous' BBC over indy documentary

First Minister John Swinney who has revealed he had reservations about Nicola Sturgeon's strategy of calling for a second independence referendum immediately after the Brexit vote

Revealed - How Swinney raised concerns over Sturgeon IndyRef strategy

Alex Salmond on the 2014 referendum: It's The Sun Wot Lost It

Scottish independence supporters themselves should recognise the need for a super-majority in any future referendum (Picture: Andy Buchanan)

SNP want legal route to independence. Here's what that looks like Scotsman comment

Like the 'Sagrada Familia' basilica in Barcelona, Scottish independence may take a long time to deliver (Picture: Pau Barrena)

Like the Sagrada Familia, Scottish independence may take a long time Stewart McDonald

Kate Forbes

Exclusive Kate Forbes: Why the SNP needs to 'change tack'

Alex Salmond. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Exclusive Alex Salmond accuses SNP of 'brain dead' election response

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond. Picture: BBC

'New light' on Sturgeon-Salmond's 'troubled union' in BBC documentary

Why election just gave Scotland another vital reason to back independence Kenny MacAskill

John Swinney's SNP lost a lot of seats but still persuaded more than 708,000 people to vote for them (Picture: Michael Boyd/Getty Images)

Nationalism is not dead – despite the SNP’s rout

Labour's landslide freed Scotland from dead hand of indy debate Brian Wilson

Our independence mission has been given a hard pause by voters Stewart McDonald

Why voting against the SNP would be for the party’s own good Paul Wilson

SNP’s independence plan would deliver ‘super-austerity’ Murdo Fraser

Why true Scottish Conservatives should avoid Nigel Farage like the plague John McLellan

Exclusive Almost 60 per cent say Scotland is worse country now than in 2014, finds poll

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Keir Starmer rules out negotiations with SNP over second independence referendum

Why SNP need to have courage to admit there’s no fast route to independence Joyce McMillan

Exclusive New poll shows John Swinney has had ‘little success’ in restoring SNP’s fortunes

Tony Blair. Stefan Rousseau/PA

Why Tony Blair says Scottish independence is ‘further away than ever'

Exclusive Majority believe no progress made on independence case since referendum

Poll: Swinney’s approval rating below Starmer and Sarwar

How times have changed: Why independence is now a vote loser Scotsman comment

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaking at the launch of Scottish Labour's general election campaign at City Facilities in Glasgow. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

How Keir Starmer hopes Labour can woo Scottish independence supporters

Torness could be considered as the site for a new nuclear reactor in Scotland. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

UK Government considering new nuclear reactor in Scotland, Alister Jack says

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack called for a new committee to review Scottish legislation

Alister Jack suggests new Lords 'grand committee' to review Scottish legislation

How SNP created a 'grassroots' movement that could end their independence dream Euan McColm

Could Swinney be unlikely Superman who leads Scotland to independence? Joyce McMillan

Analysis Yousaf's extraordinary miscalculation will go down in Holyrood history

Next SNP leader must tell followers that independence is dead for a generation Euan McColm

Who is Kate Forbes: The bold, Highland Christian who could lead SNP

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey during a visit to Treflach Farm in Treflach, Shropshire. Picture: Jacob King/PA Wire

Sir Ed Davey says SNP situation as no confidence vote looms a 'total mess'

If Labour wins the next general election, Keir Starmer will have a task on his hands to persuade Scots not to support independence (Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Here's what Labour needs to do if it wants to save the Union

Here's a Nobel Prize-winning route to independence John McLaren

Government independence papers costing taxpayers up to £10.85 per download

SNP's new independence paper shows Scottish nationalism is running out of ideas Euan McColm

Yousaf’s ‘Tory free’ rhetoric treats voters with 'open contempt'

Analysis ‘There will be infighting, bloodletting, feuding’: What next for the SNP?

Independent Scotland would always be the UK's closest friend and ally Angus Robertson

Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant, one of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines, at HM Naval Base Clyde

SNP: Removing Trident after independence 'would not embolden Putin'

Angus Robertson. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

SNP's defence plans in an independent Scotland leave many questions unanswered

One of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, west of Glasgow. Picture: James Glossop/AFP via Getty Images

SNP ministers to set out plans for removing nuclear weapons after independence

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, alongside Angela Rayner, Labour MP and shadow deputy prime minister. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Analysis: What's behind the boost in support for Labour in Scotland?

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries