JOHN Swinney will call on every MSP at Holyrood to back Scotland’s “right to decide” its own future as he faces growing pressure from within the SNP over the party’s independence strategy.
The First Minister will ask the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday to endorse a motion stating “that the Parliament agrees that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future”.
Swinney said the principle should be something every MSP can support regardless of their position on independence and argued there was “no reason” why the motion could not pass unanimously.
The move comes ahead of the SNP’s forthcoming conference, where Swinney is facing calls from within his own party to adopt a new approach to securing independence.
More than 50 SNP branches, as well as the party's largest affiliate body, the SNP Trade Union Group, are backing an amendment setting out a new four-point strategy.
The proposals include building consensus around a “democratic, lawful and credible” route to independence, launching a national campaign to increase support and making the next UK General Election a defining vote on Scotland’s “right to choose”.
It would also establish an “independence delivery unit” tasked with laying the groundwork for independence.
The amendment is due to be considered by the SNP's conference committee on Sunday, with a final decision on the conference agenda expected on Wednesday.
It comes amid UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham accepting the principle that another independence referendum could take place if there was sufficient public support.
While Swinney this week joined pro-independence leaders from Wales and Northern Ireland in signing a memorandum of understanding on constitutional change.
Swinney said those developments showed the campaign for self-determination was “gathering pace”.
He said: “The movement for self-determination in Scotland is gathering pace, with growing international attention on the issue and a welcome acknowledgement from the Prime Minister of the principle that Scotland should have a referendum when it is likely that people would vote for independence.
“After yet another SNP landslide victory, and with most opinion polls now showing independence as the most popular option, there is clearly a growing acceptance on all sides that Westminster’s anti-democratic position has become unsustainable.
“This week, I will ask MSPs in Holyrood to endorse that position.
“I will ask them to affirm to the people who elected them their belief that Scotland is not a region – it is a proud and ancient nation, and that our future is for us to decide.
“This is a principle that every MSP in the chamber – regardless of their view on what that future should look like – should be able to sign up to, so there is no reason why this motion cannot pass unanimously.”
The SNP Government was returned to power in May, with Swinney having pledged during the Holyrood campaign to push forward with plans for independence if his party was re-elected.
Days after the election, MSPs voted by 72 to 55 for a motion calling on the UK Government to make a Section 30 order transferring the necessary powers to Holyrood to hold another independence referendum.
The Scottish Government subsequently published draft legislation for a second referendum in August, saying the Bill would be introduced once the necessary powers were secured.
The latest intervention also comes after Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill met in Cardiff on Monday and signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at advancing constitutional change.
Swinney added: “There is widespread agreement, from the Prime Minister downwards, that Westminster has failed people – and that’s why there is such excitement about building a modern and genuinely equal partnership between Scotland and our nearest neighbours.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that another independence referendum is off limits, because it would be a distraction to our vital work of growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living. We want to work with the Scottish Government to drive growth, opportunity and prosperity in Scotland.”
