Swinney: SNP Ready for Majority, Independence Talks

0:00On March 26th, John Swinney, Scotland's first minister, kicked off the S&P's campaign for the Holyrood election on May 7th. He says his party is ready to win big and secure a majority that would kickstart independence talks. Swinney believes this result would force a second referendum on breaking away from the UK. The campaign launched in Glasgow, March the start of six weeks of intense effort, with Swinney promising the biggest push yet. He's aiming to lead from the front, and block any power sharing between rivals like Reform UK and Labour. Polls show reform could finish strong in Scotland, raising fears of backroom deals without an SNP majority. Swinney pointed to the S&P's 2011 win under Alex Salmond as proof that a clear majority sends an undeniable message to Westminster. Successive UK Prime Ministers have blocked referendum calls so far, but he argues this election could change that dynamic for good. He took sharp aim at Labour's Westminster government, accusing them of ignoring Scotland's

1:02energy wealth, amid rising bills and failing to protect. People. Swinney also warned against getting dragged into a Gulf War alongside the US and Israel, calling it unjustified with no clear end. In closing, Swinney made a heartfelt pitch to voters, drawing on his decades of service to promise strong leadership and real change if re-elected. European News, powered by AI. This is Europe News Today.