Scottish Parliament to vote on second independence in just days

First Minister John Swinney has confirmed he will table a motion on Scottish independence in just days.

The Scottish Government has scheduled a statement and debate for May 26 under the title "ambitious for Scotland", marking Mr Swinney's first opportunity to outline his governmental priorities following this month's election victory.

Although the SNP fell short of the majority threshold Mr Swinney previously indicated would justify triggering a fresh referendum, the motion is virtually guaranteed to succeed.

With 72 MSPs in the chamber backing independence, the vote represents the largest pro-independence contingent in the Scottish Parliament's history.

Independence campaigners have been urged to gather outside Holyrood to coincide with the historic vote.

Speaking to the Press Association on today, Mr Swinney outlined his approach: "I intend to bring forward a motion to Parliament on Tuesday, following a statement, subject to the agreement of the parliamentary authorities, about the Government's priorities.

"To give Parliament the opportunity to say what I believe it will say, because there is the largest number of independence supporting MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, that the constitutional future of Scotland should be decided by a referendum, delivered through a Section 30 order involving a transfer of powers."

When asked whether he expected the motion to succeed, the First Minister expressed confidence.

"There is the largest number of MSPs supporting independence, so I will put forward that proposition as part of fulfilling the commitments I made in the election and providing us with the opportunity to take forward the agenda to make sure that Scotland's future is in Scotland's hands," he said.

The announcement follows pressure from Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay, who called on Mr Swinney to hold the vote immediately after being sworn in as First Minister.

"Scotland has voted for a pro-independence majority, and that mandate does not belong to one party alone," Ms Mackay stated.

She emphasised that Green voters had cast their ballots for independence and Scotland's right to determine its own future rather than having decisions imposed by Westminster.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Scottish First Minister John Swinney reveals new slimmed-down Cabinet
• 'We've given control to the gulls!' Councillors surrender in war on seagulls 'colonising' historic city
• Multiple steel firms crash into administration with 93 job losses in huge blow to British manufacturing

"Scotland voted for a pro-independence majority, and that must be respected," she added.

Ms Mackay criticised successive UK governments for disregarding Scotland's democratic wishes and urged Mr Swinney's administration to schedule the parliamentary debate at the earliest possible opportunity.

Time for Scotland, the campaign group behind previous rallies at Holyrood including a gathering on election day, has called on supporters to assemble outside the parliament building at 6pm on Tuesday 26 May.

A spokesman for the organisation said the demonstration would last approximately ninety minutes, timed to coincide with evening news broadcasts expected to cover the vote live.

"We must show the world that we still care," the spokesman added.

Swinney announced in April that his party would seek parliamentary approval for a Section 30 Order transferring the necessary powers to hold a referendum.

The SNP has committed to publishing a draft referendum bill within the first hundred days of the new parliamentary term.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter