That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Story summary
Nicola Sturgeon's chief secretary John Swinney appeared on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show and was asked about his relationship with the First Minister after a contentious election campaign. Despite criticism, Swinney confirmed they are still friends but noted his commanding victory in the recent election. He felt personally hurt by Murrell's admission of crime involving fund-raising for their party and expressed confidence that money would be recovered through legal proceedings. When discussing Andy Burnham’s comments on Scottish independence, Swinney stated there is an obligation for the Prime Minister to recognize changes within the United Kingdom due to leaders in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland wanting to leave the UK.
Written for “Scottish Politics Conflict” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.65, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 71831: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-11
Senior figures in the SNP have strongly disputed her assessment.
asserted
figures → dispute → assessment
During an appearance on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, Mr Swinney was asked when he had last spoken to Ms Sturgeon.
asserted
he → ask → Sturgeon
“I’ve talked to her over the summer,” he said.
asserted
he → talk → summer
“We’re still friends, but I think the point I’d make is that I won the election pretty commandingly.”
asserted
I → ’re → election
He said he felt “absolutely gutted” when Murrell admitted the crime and it had been a “hugely damaging and traumatic experience for my party”.
asserted
it → say → party
Mr Swinney said he had felt most hurt by the fact he knows people who had worked “very, very hard” to raise money for the party at events.
asserted
who → say → events
A Proceeds of Crime hearing is due to take place for Murrell later this year, which Mr Swinney said he expects to be “successful” in recovering the money for the SNP.
asserted
he → take → SNP
He added: “But there are, of course, civil remedies available to the Scottish National Party.
“We will reserve our position on that until such time as the Crown process is concluded.”
asserted
process → add → time
Mr Swinney also discussed Andy Burnham’s recent comments about Scottish independence.
asserted
Swinney → discuss → independence
In his recent speech to the Labour conference, Mr Burnham said he is “utterly determined” to prove wrong Mr Swinney’s assertion that he will be the last Prime Minister of the UK.
asserted
he → say → UK
Mr Swinney said: “I think what his statement made me realise – just the extent to which he realises he has got to prove that he will not be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
asserted
he → say → Kingdom
Read More
“I think the only way that he can do that is by enabling the people of Scotland to have a choice about their own constitutional future, and that means he has to agree to a referendum on independence.”
asserted
he → read → independence
The SNP leader also referred to the recent summit involving himself, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin leaders in Cardiff.
asserted
leader → refer → Cardiff
He said: “I think there’s an absolute obligation on the Prime Minister to recognise that the United Kingdom is now a fundamentally different constitutional entity, because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by first ministers who want to leave the United Kingdom.”
asserted
who → say → Kingdom
The Aporia
