SCOTLAND’S First Minister has said he believes independence can be delivered within five years.
John Swinney previously told The National that he remains committed to his predecessor Humza Yousaf’s strategy to win independence, which was agreed at a special conference last year.
It involves the party winning the majority of Scottish seats at the General Election and taking that as a basis for independence support, which they said they would take to the UK Government to begin negotiations on how to give that “democratic effect”.
'Independence can be delivered in five years'
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 10, 2024
Scotland's first minister John Swinney MSP says 'the arguments for it are compelling'https://t.co/gObZPRcyBz
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Speaking to Sky News, Swinney was asked about delivering independence and specifically whether this could happen “within five years”.
The First Minister replied: “I think independence can be delivered in that timescale because the arguments for it are compelling.
“If we look at two of the biggest issues we face as a country in Scotland, the effect of the cost of living and implications of Brexit.
READ MORE: Yes group urges John Swinney to 'prioritise path to Scottish independence'
“Both of those major strategic factors that are doing severe economic and social damage to Scotland are because of decisions, bad decisions, taken in Westminster.
“And independence is the answer to that but I acknowledge that we have got work to do to build greater support for independence to make that support level compelling within Scotland and that’s what my leadership will all be about.”
Swinney’s comments come after he dropped the minister for independence role created by Yousaf from his new ministerial team.
Jamie Hepburn will instead take on the role of Minister for Parliamentary Business with Swinney writing in The National that every minister has responsibility for independence.
“Because the Scottish Government believes independence offers the best future for Scotland, all Cabinet Secretaries and ministers – not just one – are responsible for helping to bring about that better future,” he said.
He also argued in the same article that shortcuts and impatience would not help Scotland win independence.
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