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Mike Swinney, Scotland's First Minister, has called on Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to unanimously support a motion asserting Scotland’s right to decide its own future. The motion will be presented in Parliament on Tuesday and follows a meeting between first ministers of the UK’s devolved nations where they signed a memorandum aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Andy Burnham to agree to holding independence referendums. Swinney argues that Westminster's stance against such referendums is becoming unsustainable given recent electoral outcomes and growing public support for Scottish independence.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday, Mr Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, called for all members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to unanimously support a motion asserting that Scotland has the right to decide its own future. The motion is part of an escalating push for independence referendums in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, following a meeting of first ministers from these devolved nations in Cardiff on Monday, where they declared “Westminster’s time is coming to an end.” Swinney has urged MSPs across party lines to back the motion despite their individual stances on independence. This initiative builds upon previous efforts, such as a successful vote in May by 72 votes to 55 for Westminster to devolve powers for holding an independence referendum under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998. The goal is to pressure Prime Minister Andy Burnham into agreeing to hold referendums on independence.
Written for “Scottish Independence Rights” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Mr Swinney claimed the movement for self-determination in Scotland is “gathering pace” and he argued there was a growing acceptance on all sides that Westminster’s position of vetoing democracy was unsustainable.
asserted
position → claim → democracy
On Tuesday, Parliament will be asked to endorse a motion which says “that the Parliament agrees that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future”.
asserted
that → ask → future
Mr Swinney has urged all MSPs in the chamber, regardless of their views on independence, to back the motion.
asserted
Swinney → urge → motion
The move comes after first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations met in Cardiff on Monday to declare jointly that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.
asserted
time → come → end
The memorandum of understanding signed by Mr Swinney, along with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill, aimed to pressure Prime Minister Andy Burnham into agreeing to hold independence referendums.
asserted
memorandum → sign → referendums
Mr Swinney had said during the Holyrood election campaign earlier this year that he would seek to push forward with plans to achieve independence if the SNP was voted back into power.
asserted
SNP → say → power
In the days after the SNP Government was re-elected in May, a motion in the Scottish Parliament to call on Westminster “to make a section 30 order under the Scotland Act 1998 to devolve the powers to the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on Scottish independence” passed by 72 votes to 55.
uncertain
motion → re → 55
In August, the Scottish Government published draft legislation to hold a second independence referendum and said the Bill will be introduced at Holyrood once the necessary powers are secured.
asserted
powers → publish → Holyrood
Mr Swinney 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.
asserted
people → say → independence
Read More
“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.”
asserted
position → read → sides
Mr Swinney said he will ask MSPs in Holyrood to endorse that position on Tuesday.
asserted
he → say → Tuesday
“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,” the First Minister said.
asserted
Minister → ask → belief
“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.”
asserted
motion → look → what
He continued: “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.
asserted
that → continue → Scotland
“I will always use every power at my disposal to make Scotland a better country – but the full powers of independence are key to tackling some of the deep-seated challenges we face.
asserted
we → use → challenges
“With underlying economic strengths that many countries can only dream of, we should look to the future with confidence.”
asserted
we → underlie → confidence
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.
asserted
it → say → living
“We want to work with the Scottish Government to drive growth, opportunity and prosperity in Scotland.”
asserted
We → want → Scotland
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