Swinney ‘out of touch’ with independence call – Daily Business

John Swinney: Westminster is broken (pic: Terry Murden / DB Media Services)

First Minister and SNP Leader John Swinney will today reaffirm his claim that Scotland would be better off under independence despite a new poll showing only one in 12 Scots see another referendum as a priority.

Mr Swinney will tell his party conference today that “a better future is possible – away from a Westminster system that will never work for Scotland”.

However, a pro-UK campaign group claimed Mr Swinney was “out of touch” after a new survey showed only 40% favour another vote on independence and just 8% see it as a priority.

In a keynote speech to the SNP’s Campaign Conference, Mr Swinney will take a swipe at the “super-rich” as new figures have emerged from the Electoral Commission revealing that the SNP is struggling to attract big business donations.

Recent disclosures show the SNP received no major donations at all in the third quarter of 2025. Former benefactors included the transport entrepreneur Sir Brian Souter and the building company boss Sandy Adam.

Mr Swinney will tell the party faithful that the UK’s economic model is fundamentally broken and is leading to a cost of living crisis hurting households across Scotland.

However, he is unlikely to spell out how an independent Scotland would overcome the cost of living challenge which is being felt in other parts of the world, or how he would boost the economy and productivity.

He will tell party members in Edinburgh: “Quite simply, the Westminster economic model is totally broken. It doesn’t generate enough money for public services for the people. And it looks the other way as the super-rich get richer. Westminster hasn’t worked for Scotland.

“The good news is, a much brighter future for Scotland is ours to build. To glimpse that future we only have to lift our heads and look to our independent neighbours. All around us right now there are countries, just like Scotland, showing us the way.

“Higher living standards. Less inequality. Higher pensions. Less poverty. More money for public services. That is the standard to which Scotland should aspire.

Scottish independence is backed by 40% in new poll (pic: Terry Murden / DB Media Services)

“Scotland has more than what it takes to match them. Our people are every bit as talented. And we’ve got natural resources that most could only dream of. The fresh start that Scotland needs is within our grasp.”

The latest survey from Survation shows that the NHS, immigration, economy and jobs, energy bills, housing, crime and policing, and education all rank higher than another Scottish independence referendum.

Only 26% said Mr Swinney is doing a good job as first minister and nearly two-thirds (64%) said that rather than going it alone the Scottish government should work more closely with Westminster after the election. It showed 60% favoured staying part of the UK.

The only issue on which positive responses outstrip negatives is the running of Scotland’s trains.

Alastair Cameron, chair of pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, said:  “This poll shows how out of touch John Swinney and the SNP leadership are with the concerns of people across Scotland.

“Voters can see through the nationalists’ bluster, and understand that the SNP is dragging Scotland down.

“We need a government in Scotland which prioritises issues which matter to people every day, rather than obsessing about breaking apart the UK. We can’t afford another five years of SNP incompetence and division.”

Poll findings

Q) If there was a referendum with the question ‘Should Scotland remain part of the United Kingdom or leave the United Kingdom?’, how would you vote?

Remain part of the United Kingdom: 60%

Leave the United Kingdom: 40%

(Respondents likely to vote, factored by likelihood to vote, with undecided and refused removed)

Q) Which of the following should be the top priorities for the next Scottish Government?

Cost of living: 56%

NHS: 49%

Immigration: 26%

Economy and jobs: 21%

Energy bills: 20%

Housing: 16%

Crime and policing: 14%

Education: 14%

Tax levels: 13%

Welfare and benefits: 12%

Climate change: 9%

Social care: 9%

Another Scottish independence referendum: 8%

Family life and childcare: 5%

Transport: 4%

Our culture, identity and values: 3%

Culture and the arts: 1%

None of the above / don’t know: 2%

Q) Powers in the following areas are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. How well, if at all, do you think the current Scottish Government is performing when it comes to the following policy areas?

Well (very and quite)

Drug deaths: 22%

Ferries: 24%

The economy: 28%

Rural issues: 28%

Housing: 29%

Small business support: 29%

Local council funding: 29%

Social care: 30%

NHS: 32%

Crime and policing: 34%

Climate change prevention: 37%

Education: 40%

Trains: 48%

Q) Do you think First Minister John Swinney is doing a good job or a bad job?

Good job: 26%

Bad job: 35%

Neither a good job nor a bad job: 29%

Don’t know: 10%

Q) Which of the following statements is the closest to your view?

After the next Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish and UK governments should work together more closely: 64%

After the next Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish and UK governments should not work together more closely: 19%

Don’t know: 17%

Survation polled 1,014 adults aged 16+ in Scotland between 4 and 9 March.

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