Scotland’s ‘immense resources’ only available with independence, says Swinney

Access to Scotland’s “immense resources” will only be available if the country becomes independent, First Minister John Swinney has said.

At an event in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Mr Swinney will unveil a new independence paper, which appears to be different to the 13 documents in the Building a New Scotland series published by his two immediate predecessors Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the paper – dubbed “A Fresh Start with Independence” – the First Minister said: “We need to be able to utilise the immense resources of our country for the benefit of all our people.

“Those possibilities are only available to Scotland with the fresh start of independence.

“Scotland has so many strengths and so much potential: our people, our land, our natural resources, our key sectors, our institutions, our ingenuity and our cultural assets.

“But our ability to improve the standard of living of people in Scotland is constrained by the UK, its poor economic performance and its long-standing, deep inequalities.

“Scotland needs to be able to improve the opportunities available to our people, our communities and our businesses. Scotland needs to build a stronger, more inclusive economy that works for all.

“Publishing ‘A Fresh Start with Independence’ will set out how, by becoming an independent country, we can tackle the current challenges and create a Scotland with a prosperous economy and just society.”

The publication comes just days before the beginning of the SNP conference, where the First Minister will put his plans for seeking a new independence referendum to party members.

The proposal would see Mr Swinney seek a second referendum if the party gains a majority in next year’s election.

However, an amendment to the motion laid by Mr Swinney which will be debated at the Aberdeen event this weekend would treat the vote in May as a de-facto referendum, meaning victory for the SNP would provide a mandate for Scotland to become independent without a poll similar to that of 2014.

Scottish Labour constitution spokesperson Neil Bibby MSP said: “The idea that John Swinney – a man now having his second stint as SNP leader after first leading the party in 2000 – can offer Scots a fresh start, is frankly laughable.

“This is a party that has been in power in Scotland for 18 years, during which time they have presided over a decline in public services, rising waiting times in our health service, and a fall in our education standards.

“Rather than focusing on the priorities facing Scots, John Swinney refuses to end his obsession with division, with the SNP woefully out of touch and obsessing over the arguments of the past.

“The terms of the next Scottish Parliament election have been set – a third decade of this tired SNP government, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.

“Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour offer new thinking, new energy and a new direction for Scotland.”