John Swinney urged to 'come clean' over his independence plans

The Scottish Conservatives have urged John Swinney to “come clean” over the tactics he plans to use if the SNP wins a majority at the Scottish Parliament elections next year.  

The calls for clarity come after the first minister told SNP members, “nobody knows what tactics I will deploy,” at his party’s annual conference last weekend.  

The first minister’s comments followed a conference resolution tabled by Swinney and depute party leader Keith Brown, which was agreed by party members.  

Swinney’s independence strategy sets out that there will be a mandate for a referendum if the party returns a majority of seats at the Scottish Parliament next year, similar to the 2011 election, and that “only a vote for the SNP” would result in another referendum. 

The remarks made by the first minister in the wake of the agreed resolution were backed by high-profile party members, including Nicola Sturgeon, who told the media: “I’ve known John Swinney for a long time and if he says he has a secret plan, he has a secret plan.” 

The deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Rachael Hamilton, has written to Swinney asking him to tell Scots what the tactics are.  

Hamilton has also asked him to confirm whether taxpayers’ money is being spent on the plans to secure a second referendum and if civil servants are involved in the latest strategy.  

She said: “John Swinney apparently has tactics he will deploy in the event of an SNP majority next year, but he refuses to tell Scots what they are. 

“They have the right to know just what measures he will take to try and secure another independence referendum.” 

Hamilton has also raised concerns over the economy and public services, amidst the fresh push for an independence referendum.    

She added: “Scots are sick and tired of the SNP continuing to obsess over independence at the expense of everything else. 

“Our economy is stagnating; bills are rising and public services are crumbling yet John Swinney continues to pour all his energy into another divisive independence strategy. 

“All of this is why it is so important that we get this rotten SNP government out at next May’s election so we can finally move on from their independence obsession.”