Swinney at SNP conference: 'Scotland is not Manchester', bus pledges and independence campaign

The key facts

Swinney, without naming Burnham, declared: 'Scotland is not a city, not a region, we are a nation, and soon we will be an independent one'
The bus network will pass into public control by the end of the parliamentary term (2031); the £2 cap will be extended to the north-east from April
The Choose Scotland campaign: a day of action, advertising, a survey of almost 1.5 million people; Burnham earlier called a referendum 'off limits'

Response to Burnham and the course towards independence

Speaking in Aberdeen at the Scottish National Party conference, First Minister John Swinney did not name Mayor Andy Burnham, but clearly responded to his recent visit to Scotland and his experience as Mayor of Greater Manchester: 'Some think we should be like Manchester. I'm afraid I disagree. Scotland is not a city. We are not a region. We are a nation. And soon we will be an independent nation.' Swinney said the 'stars are aligning' for independence supporters, citing the SNP's victory in the May elections, which brought a record number of pro-independence MSPs to Holyrood — although the share of votes for independence fell from roughly 50% in 2021 to about 41% this year. The Scottish Government hopes to hold a second referendum by 2031. Burnham, whose consent is necessary for a vote, previously spoke of the possibility of referendums with clear consensus, but at a meeting with Swinney in Glasgow called a second Scottish referendum 'off limits'. In 2014, Scotland voted against independence 55% to 45%, and in 2022 the UK Supreme Court ruled that a new vote requires the UK Government's consent.

The Choose Scotland campaign and the 'war chest'

Swinney announced that the SNP will launch its 'most sophisticated' independence campaign, called Choose Scotland, backed by the party's 'six-figure war chest'. It includes a national day of action, digital and TV and radio advertising, as well as an independence survey to be delivered to almost 1.5 million people. He also cited the non-binding agreement signed last month by the nationalist first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that no government at Westminster has the right to 'block democracy'. The speech ended with an emotional passage: Swinney said he is inspired by his 15-year-old son Matthew, for whose sake he wants to make Scotland 'a future fit for our children'. According to BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell, Swinney's voice trembled, then the autocue froze, and the hall supported him with a standing ovation. The commentator notes that this passage appeared to be a response to Burnham's emotional speech in memory of his father at the Labour conference in Liverpool. At the same time, according to the BBC, Swinney is ready to cooperate with the Prime Minister on creating a regional tier of government in Scotland with powers devolved from both Westminster and Holyrood.

Buses, racism and misogyny

Swinney announced that by the end of the parliamentary term, by 2031, through franchising and regulation, Scotland's bus network will be returned to public control. The £2 bus fare cap, currently in force in the west of Scotland and in the Highlands (operators receive government subsidies to participate), will be extended to the north-east of the country from April, with nationwide coverage promised by 2031. 'We need more buses and more frequent buses. This is good for passengers and for the climate,' he said. In addition, a £30 million fund for community groups to 'counter the rise of racists' was announced, along with a bill to make misogynistic harassment and abuse a standalone criminal offence, as well as a £1 million 'respect fund' giving every school resources to tackle misogyny. According to the BBC, these measures are intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of devolved government in everyday matters — part of Swinney's strategy to grow support for independence, without a sustained rise in which, the commentator notes, another referendum will not happen.