John Swinney: Independent Scotland ‘within reach’

John Swinney is expected to say an independent Scotland is “within reach” during his address to the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh later today.  

The first minister will tell the summit that successive UK governments have treated Scotland as “an afterthought” and is “prey to a broken system and a failing economic model”.  

It comes after the Herald suggested last week that senior figures within the SNP had warned Swinney had two weeks to come up with a new strategy for independence or face a leadership challenge at the party’s annual conference in October.  

In his speech to the conference, Swinney is expected to say: “It is only by taking charge of our own destiny, with our own hand on the tiller, that we are better able to ride the waves of change, that we are better able to shape our own future. 

“I have long believed that Scotland is an afterthought to successive UK governments. Scotland is not on Westminster’s radar in the same way, say, as London, the Midlands or the Southeast. 

“It holds us back in ways big and small, leaving us waiting and praying, hoping that decisions taken at Westminster are not too damaging.” 

He will describe independence as the “defining choice for this generation”, claiming the “UK status quo has proved itself incapable of delivering on the hopes and ambitions of the people of Scotland”. 

“A Scotland that is modern, dynamic and forward-looking, living in anticipation of what more can be done, what else can be achieved. Moving forward as one, moving forward with hope and self-belief. 

“Such a Scotland is within reach, I have no doubt. But if we want it, we have to work for it, we have to vote for it, we have to actively, purposefully, and I hope also joyfully, make it happen.” 

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will also address the Scotland 2050 conference. 

He is expected to tell audience members that Scotland needs to change direction and “leave the politics of division and managed decline in the past” and will criticise politicians he says want to focus on the “same old arguments”. 

He is expected to say: “If we want Scotland to thrive by 2050 then we face a choice - are we going to be a Scotland that's having the same old arguments and talking about only what Scotland can't do, or are we going to have a hopeful, outward-looking Scotland that is maximising our potential?   

“That is the choice before us and to make sure we thrive by 2050, we need to reject the old ideas and divisions now.  

“That’s why I am clear that we need big, bold, meaningful change to deliver a brighter future for Scotland.  

“That’s why Scottish Labour has bold plans to fix our NHS, renew our public services, fix our schools, end the housing crisis and unlock the potential of our businesses.  

“This is the choice we face – managed decline with the SNP or a new direction and a thriving Scotland with Scottish Labour.”