JOHN Swinney has confirmed an SNP victory in the General Election would be taken as a mandate to ask Westminster for a second independence referendum.
The First Minister said the Scottish Government’s series of white papers constituted the SNP’s preparations for this outcome.
Speaking at the launch of the SNP’s manifesto on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Swinney said he believed his party already had a mandate for independence from the pro-Yes majority delivered by the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
Humza Yousaf (below), Swinney’s predecessor, had said during his time in office that an SNP victory, defined as winning the majority of Scottish seats, could lead directly to negotiations on Scotland’s exit from the Union.
Swinney previously told the BBC the negotiations "should involve Scotland having a referendum".
But his comments today confirm the request for an independence referendum would be the "purpose" of the negotiations.
READ MORE: John Swinney rows back on SNP's 'independence negotiations' pledge in BBC interview
Speaking at the Patina events centre in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Swinney said: “I believe the best way for Scotland to become an independent country, in a way that will address all of the democratic questions, the important questions, is for there to be a referendum.
“That’s what I think is the right way to do it so that will be the purpose of the negotiations that I would take forward in the aftermath of the election.”
Asked about comments from Dundee-born Hollywood actor Brian Cox (above) who said he feared the SNP were backing off the idea of independence, Swinney said: “A future made in Scotland, I think that’s a pretty clear commitment to independence right on the front cover of our manifesto.
READ MORE: SNP launch General Election manifesto with pledge to 'deliver independence'
“And then if we open up the manifesto – ‘vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country’.
“I think that that’s quite clear, or I hope it’s clear enough anyway.”
On the SNP’s preparations for negotiations with Westminster on asking for indyref2, Swinney added: “As you’ll be familiar with, there’s been good work done within the Scottish Government on a series of documents to prepare the arguments and the mechanisms around independence and that’s exactly what the Scottish Government would take forward in the aftermath of this election to prepare for independence and to ensure that we’re successful in delivering the outcome of this election.”
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