John Swinney’s independence plans ‘taking us nowhere’, says Kenny MacAskill

John Swinney’s plans to secure an independence referendum are “taking us nowhere”, Kenny MacAskill has said.  

The leader of Alba made the comments following John Swinney’s speech today where he set out how leaving the United Kingdom would improve living standards for people in Scotland.  

But MacAskill criticised the first minister’s lack of a clear route to a referendum and said he was “telling us yet again what we know all too well”.  

Launching a new independence white paper today, Swinney told journalists that Scotland is reaching “the limits of devolution” and restated his ambition for an independent nation within the EU and Nato, but without nuclear weapons, following examples set by European neighbours such as Denmark and Ireland. 

MacAskill said “it’s not enough” to talk about independence, arguing action and direction is needed. 

The former SNP justice secretary said: “Of course, independence is the way to transform our economy and eliminate poverty. We know the benefits of independence as well as feeling the pain of the price of the union.  

“But it’s not enough to talk about independence and its benefits. Scots need action and a clear route out of this social and economic blight.  

“Telling us yet again what we know all too well is taking us nowhere.” 

Last month Swinney set out his plans to achieve a referendum, stating his party would have a mandate to make the case to the UK Government for a referendum if it won a majority of seats at the Scottish Parliament elections, similar to what Alex Salmond achieved with the party in 2011. 

However, MacAskill argues that every pro-independence party in Scotland including a line in their manifestos that states votes cast on the regional list for pro-independence parties would provide a mandate for independence would be a better route to achieving a referendum.  

“That is what the grass roots of the independence movement wants to see,” the Alba leader said. 

He added: “That is why the list vote for the 2026 Election is so crucial. This can be the democratic event which provides the mandate for independence if all of the pro-independence parties sign up to it.  

“It requires each pro-independence party to include a section in their manifesto that a majority of votes cast on the list for pro-independence parties will be the mandate for independence.”