John Swinney, Scotland's Deputy First Minister, faced criticism for persistently pushing for another independence referendum debate in the Scottish Parliament. Despite a 2014 vote where 55% of Scots chose to remain part of the UK, Swinney led a discussion on Scotland’s right to decide its future, which critics argue diverts attention from pressing issues such as rising homelessness and deteriorating children's health care. Reform UK MSPs staged a walkout during the debate, calling it a "stunt" ahead of the SNP conference. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused Swinney of having an ongoing “hissy fit” over the independence vote results.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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John Swinney has been accused of having a ‘never-ending hissy fit’ over Scotland’s decision to vote against independence after forcing another debate on his demands for a referendum rerun.
asserted
Swinney → see → rerun
The First Minister came under fire for leading a debate on Scotland’s ‘right to decide its own future’ despite failing to respect the outcome of the ‘once in a generation’ 2014 vote, when a decisive majority of 55 per cent of Scots backed remaining in the UK.
asserted
majority → come → UK
He was accused of ignoring people’s real priorities, on a day when experts warned the death rate for children in Scotland is higher than other parts of the UK amid concerns about the state of the NHS while homelessness soared to a record high level.
asserted
homelessness → accuse → level
It was the second time since May’s Holyrood elections that the SNP have used Scottish Government debating time in Parliament to push the case for an independence referendum, despite falling short of the overall majority Mr Swinney claimed would be a mandate.
uncertain
Swinney → use → majority
During the debate, Reform UK’s MSPs staged a walkout in protest, with its Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord saying the debate was a ‘stunt’ and a ‘gimmick’ ahead of the upcoming SNP conference.
asserted
debate → stag → conference
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: ‘The SNP say that Scotland should decide: we did decide.
asserted
we → say → ?
More than two million Scots said no, and thank goodness for that.
asserted
Scots → say → that
‘You can’t agree to a “once in a generation” referendum and then have a never-ending hissy fit over the result: get over it, move on.’
asserted
You → agree → it
During Tuesday’s debate, Mr Swinney said that the right to decide Scotland’s future belongs to the people of Scotland, not any politician or party.
asserted
right → say → Scotland
First Minister John Swinney was accused of ignoring people’s real priorities by leading a debate on Scottish independence
He even claimed that those opposing another referendum are being ‘divisive’ by ignoring the views of those who support independence.
asserted
who → accuse → independence
Lord Offord led his Reform MSPs out of the chamber in protest at the debate after arguing that it was a ‘farce’.
asserted
it → lead → debate
He had earlier attempted to stop it taking place because the constitution is a reserved matter.
asserted
constitution → attempt → place
Lord Offord said: ‘This debate is not just a farce, it is an insult to the Scottish electorate who expect their politicians to deal with serious issues in their communities.’
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politicians → say → communities
He argued that Scots want to see MSPs dealing with ‘shocking’ homelessness figures released earlier on Tuesday, the nation’s public finances or drug deaths rather than ‘waste our time on vanity projects’.
asserted
MSPs → argue → projects
After he withdrew his proposed amendment and exited the chamber along with all his MSPs, Lord Offord told journalists the debate was ‘a gimmick and a stunt ahead of SNP conference’ and was two-and-a-half hours of ‘wasted time’.
asserted
debate → withdraw → time
Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson later said that Reform had not raised any issues with proposed parliamentary business previously, and added: ‘I therefore consider this afternoon’s antics to be a gross discourtesy to all members of this chamber.’
During the debate, Mr Swinney said: ‘Just because a right has been exercised once does not mean it can never be exercised again.
asserted
it → say → debate
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused John Swinney of having a 'never-ending hissy-fit' over the referendum result in 2014
Reform MSPs, led by Lord Malcolm Offord, stormed out of the chamber in protest at the debate
‘If the people of Scotland themselves want the opportunity to ask the question again, who has the right to stop them?
asserted
who → accuse → them
‘Scotland is a nation and its people have the right to decide their future.
asserted
people → have → future
The UK is a voluntary union, which means its nations can stay part of it or they can choose their independence.
asserted
they → mean → independence
‘These two things were once accepted right across the political spectrum in Scotland.’
asserted
things → accept → Scotland
He said he wanted to break the ‘logjam’ caused by the UK Government’s refusal to accept his independence demands.
asserted
he → say → demands
He said: ‘We hear a lot in this debate about political division but what could be more divisive a proposition than saying to half the people of the country that there is no way, no matter how you vote or how often you do it, for you to make a change, for you to even be given the opportunity to make a change.’
uncertain
you → say → change
In his first parliament intervention since becoming Scottish Labour leader, Michael Marra highlighted that child poverty targets are set to be missed ‘by a mile’ and said: ‘I think this parliament’s priority should be getting us back on track to recommit ourselves to that commitment and change the lives of children right across the country.
asserted
us → become → country
‘It is disappointing but not surprising that the SNP has a different priority.
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SNP → have → priority
‘That priority isn’t really independence, and frankly it isn’t even securing another referendum.
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it → secure → referendum
This debate – annual debate I believe - is about managing the First Minister’s party, not leading this country.’
asserted
I → believe → country
Mr Swinney’s motion was passed by 84 votes to 18 – despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham having recently made clear another referendum is 'off limits'.
asserted
is → pass → limits
The Aporia
