Swinney says independence referendum campaign has begun

John Swinney told the SNP conference in Aberdeen on 17 Oct 2026 that the campaign for a second referendum on Scottish independence "has already begun." The Guardian

In his keynote address, Swinney said the SNP would launch its "most sophisticated campaign in history" to persuade voters of the benefits of independence. The campaign is called Choose Scotland and is backed by what he described as a six-figure sum of money set aside to fund it.

A second referendum would be another vote on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and become an independent country. The SNP supports independence. Any referendum requires agreement on process with the UK government in Westminster, the UK parliament in London.

Leading SNP figures at the conference said a hung Westminster parliament was the most realistic route to securing another vote, with the SNP likely to "hold the balance of power." That refers to a result in which no party wins a majority, leaving a smaller party able to influence decisions.

The party currently holds eight MPs in Westminster. Polling by Electoral Calculus, using a method known as MRP that models results seat by seat, in the week of 17 Oct 2026 predicted a narrow Labour victory with the SNP winning 28 seats.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said the SNP would welcome an early general election to reenergise the push for independence. SNP MP Lara Bird, who represents Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said the party could negotiate another independence poll if the general election result was tight.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during a visit to Lanarkshire, said the Scottish government needed to "move beyond" the question of independence.