John Swinney won't commit to de facto indyref: 'My preference is a S30 order'

THE Deputy First Minister has said it would be “premature” to say if he supports the idea of a General Election being used as a “de facto” independence referendum ahead of the SNP’s special democracy conference.

The party is to hold a meeting of delegates on March 19 to debate the way forward after the Supreme Court ruled Holyrood could not legislate for indyref2 without Westminster consent.

The party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has proposed two options. The first would see the next General Election treated as a “de facto” independence referendum, while the second would see that same election instead used to try and win a mandate for a repeat of the 2014 vote.