Second IndyRef on agenda in upcoming meeting between First and Prime Ministers

The issue of a second referendum on Scottish independence will be on the agenda in talks between Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney, the Scottish government has said.

The meeting was agreed during a phone call between the under pressure Prime Minister and the First Minister on Tuesday evening.

The official read-out of the call noted that Mr Swinney’s call for a referendum would be among the issues discussed in next month’s face to face talks.

A spokesperson for Mr Swinney later added that it was “particularly welcome that the Prime Minister agreed to meet next month to discuss a referendum on independence”.

Sir Keir has repeatedly made clear his opposition to a second referendum.

Mr Swinney’s spokesperson said: “The First Minister is pleased that the Prime Minister reached out to congratulate him on his emphatic election win and that the Prime Minister stressed his willingness to work in collaboration with the Scottish Government where possible.

“It is particularly welcome that the Prime Minister agreed to meet next month to discuss a referendum on independence.

“Given the SNP’s landslide victory and the fact that the people of Scotland have elected more pro-independence MSPs than at any point in the Parliament’s history, the previous refusal of the UK Government to consider Scotland’s right to decide its own future was clearly unsustainable.

“A way forward must be found and so these discussions are welcome.”

They added: “Coming alongside Labour MSPs making clear that there must be a way for this question to be resolved, it is now very clear that the momentum is building behind Scotland’s right to decide.

“The First Minister looks forward to the talks with the UK Government, and is confident that the people of Scotland will choose the fresh start of independence.”

Reacting to the announcement of the meeting, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused the Prime Minister of an “extraordinary capitulation” on the issue amid the deepening crisis engulfing his own premiership.

He said: “Even by Sir Keir Starmer’s dismal standards this is an extraordinary capitulation to John Swinney.

“We warned during the election campaign that if Swinney achieved his self-imposed ‘mandate’ of an SNP majority, Starmer would be likely to surrender to his referendum demands.

“But for Starmer to entertain talks on the subject when the nationalists haven’t even met their own target is downright foolish and reckless. If he wasn’t so weak, Starmer would have sent Swinney packing and told him to get on with the day job.

“Labour and Reform, who have pro-independence MSPs in their ranks, naively pander to the nationalist obsession of breaking up the UK. Only the Scottish Conservatives can be trusted to stand up for Scotland’s place in the Union.”

A spokesperson for No 10 said: “The Prime Minister committed to meeting to discuss shared issues, including the cost of living.

“As the Prime Minister told the First Minister, the manifesto this government was elected on was unambiguous that ‘Labour does not support independence or another referendum’.

“Our position remains unchanged.”

Mr Swinney previously said during the election campaign that an SNP majority would be key in forcing a second referendum.

The SNP did not achieve this, but Mr Swinney has said that regardless, the election result has delivered a strong mandate for a second vote, with the combined number of SNP and Scottish Green MSPs making the largest pro-indy bloc in Holyrood since devolution.

In 2014, 55% of voters ticked “no” on their IndyRef ballots against 45% in favour.