Swinney tells SNP conference 'stars are aligning' for Scottish independence

John Swinney will tell the SNP Annual Conference in Aberdeen today that the “stars are aligning in the campaign for independence” and declare that 2026 has been “a turning point in Scotland’s journey towards statehood” with “no turning back”.

“We are winning. One by one, the stars are aligning in our favour,” the First Minister will tell delegates, claiming the Westminster parties are “weaker than they have ever been” and that “in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast every First Minister now supports our nations’ right to self-determination”.

He will add: “The SNP is making the weather and, make no mistake, the wind is now firmly in the sails of Scotland’s independence movement.”

Mr Swinney bases his case on May’s elections, which saw the SNP win a record fifth term at Holyrood while falling seven short of a majority, alongside a historic Plaid Cymru victory in Wales ousting Labour from power in the Senedd and a Sinn Fein First Minister in Northern Ireland.

His address comes a day after Downing Street reaffirmed its opposition to another referendum. A 2022 Supreme Court ruling made clear any vote requires UK Government agreement.

On polling, a Survation survey commissioned by the SNP this week put Yes on 52%, a YouGov study found 53% would vote No, and More in Common put remaining in the UK at 52%. A new Survation poll published today puts independence ahead by 54% to 46%.