The campaign for a second Scottish independence referendum has begun, according to Scottish First Minister John Swinney. He revealed a nationwide effort to renew the argument for leaving the United Kingdom during his keynote address to the Scottish National Party conference on Saturday.
Speaking in Aberdeen, Swinney told delegates that the party would launch what he described as its most sophisticated campaign in history to convince citizens of the benefits of self-governance. The initiative, named Choose Scotland, is backed by a six-figure war chest and aims to build broad consensus for leaving the union.
Swinney argued that the stars were aligning for the pro-independence cause. He told the conference that nationalist leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had panicked pro-union parties.
For centuries, people in the Celtic nations have been told that they are not good enough, Swinney said. He added that languages were derided, cultures suppressed, and histories rewritten. When he stood on a stage recently with pro-independence leaders from Wales and Ireland, he said it upset opponents.
From their point of view, they are right to be worried, Swinney said, watching us pledge to work together and seeing the love and respect we feel for each other’s nations. Never again can they portray us as separatists.
Leading figures within the party argued during the event that a hung Westminster parliament offers the most realistic path to securing a second referendum. Nationalists believe they would likely hold the balance of power in forming a future progressive government.
Jenny Gilruth, the deputy first minister, said her party would welcome an early general election to reenergise the push for independence. Polling suggests the SNP would hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, she said.
Lara Bird, the MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said the party could negotiate another poll if overall election results are tight. She told a podcast that a strong showing could put the onus on Westminster to meet at the table and set out a plan.
Recent MRP polling by Electoral Calculus predicted a narrow Labour victory, with the SNP winning 28 seats, though other estimates suggest the party could secure between 40 and 50 MPs.
During a visit to Lanarkshire on Friday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the Scottish government to move beyond the question of independence. He offered to work more closely on devolving power from Holyrood while stating that people in Scotland are suffering the cost of living crisis and that too much time is wasted on constitutional dramas.
Although calling a referendum is not within Swinney’s power, he told the conference that another vote could happen sooner than expected. In the long arc of history, nothing is static, he said.
