Leader Interviews - John Swinney of the Scottish National Party | Election 2024

[@lyudmilakutsenko7045]

What I want to tell is that British people have always been known for their desire of freedom and independence. And what I believe is that all the people there should have own opinion on whom to choose during the election. Not depending on the media, not depending on their speeches. Follow your own heart and your own perception.

[@andrewjones-productions]

I understand what John Swinney is saying, but the 2024 election is not the one that will determine Scotland's future directly. The more influential election will be the following general election in 2029. This election is often framed as the 'cost of living election' although I honestly think that it should be more accurately thought of as the 'oust the Tories election'. After the scandals that the SNP have experienced and their unpopularity with certain Green Party led or heavily influenced policies, they need a period of relative normality, regrouping and redemption. Labour, for all of their best intentions and promises, will not be able to deliver on everything and the electorate's support of them is going to wane pretty quickly. If the Tories fail to reestablish themselves, then the current nothing more than disruptive Reform party are going to gain real traction and the threat of a Reform Government in 2029/30 may see an increase in support for Scottish independence. John Swinney would be better to quietly keep independence in the manifesto and rhetoric, but actually focus on governing Scotland well in the upcoming 4 years and avoid controversial policies.

[@ScottishRoss27]

I want Decolonisation aka Independence.

[@gottmituns813]

Totally agree with your speech.

[@alansbinnie1446]

@@ScottishRoss27 Well bad luck then.

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@alansbinnie1446 Bad luck is over to you Labour will deliver nothing

[@alansbinnie1446]

@@ScottishRoss27 Pretty much as the SNP did then.

[@blackislepeastoo]

I've been casting around social media for people's views (SNP and non-SNP voters both) of why the SNP lost - initially I thought of a 'top ten', but it got bigger quickly, so here's what came up, they are roughly in order of importance to the electorate as far as I could see. Any duplication, errors etc - my fault. Arrogance and incompetence of the SNP government Failure to listen to the Electorate and not focussing on issues that matter to them Named Persons Bill, Gender Recognition, Trans Rights, Hate Crime, DRS not wanted Forever blaming someone else - Westminster, Conservatives, Labour and even Thatcher Obsession with power not Independence Always lying about the support for Independence - give us a plebiscite White, White, White Always bleating on about independence without addressing real needs Lack of honesty and transparency - lying, cheating and stealing - Matheson's iPad Divisiveness of Sturgeon inciting hatred Didn't talk about anything other than Indy in their speeches & literature. Uninspired leadership of last 2 FMs Failure to actually make any move towards Independence in 17 years Last 3 or 4 years considered the worst government Scotland has had. Incompetent, hubristic, arrogant and corrupt. Criminal incompetence of the SNP and the stink of corruption Where's the money, especially the £ 600,000 Sturgeon Attacks on Salmond SNP run as a Cabal Probably the most vociferous feedback was : The SNP needs to take it's head out of its ar$e & start working towards its declared goal whilst running Scotland in ways that will improve education, health, local services and internal / external investment and increase TRUST in their ability to run a country. Why would we ask for independence from the UK, only to hand it over to Brussels ? Thatcher, Westminster, Conservatives & Labour are NOT the problem - SNP arrogance and incompetence is.

[@ianscott3180]

If the SNP lose half of their seats will you take that as an indication that Scotland does not want another referendum? I can't hear you John?

[@ScottishRoss27]

Scotland voted for a referendum in 2021 Scottish Election. Holyrood already has a mandate for a referendum.

[@ianscott3180]

Seems not because they are not getting one.

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@ianscott3180 Is the Union voluntary?

[@blackislepeastoo]

@@ScottishRoss27 And we voted 55% to stay in the Union - democratic decision !

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@blackislepeastoo Democracy is an ongoing thing not a one of, for example the current election.

[@rosiemcgregor5710]

The brilliant John Swinney 👍👏😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@davidtoshack4451]

Brilliant at perverting young children - well done 👍

[@JohnM...]

Sarcasm I take it…

[@gherkamum]

SNP just look at their history, very dodgy ....

[@rippedtorn2310]

STFU look at England if you want a horror story of history , Dodgy isnt the word ?

[@Chiilllllllllll]

BRITAIN look at their history very dodgy……

[@Obrannt]

Like this guy. SNP politicians talk like they know what they’re talking about. Refreshing compared to some south of that border.

[@Krytern]

Changing tbe subject so he doesn't have to answer the questions is refreshing, and talking like he knows what he's talking about? Did you hit your head?

[@Worldsfucked]

Snp are evil

[@JohnM...]

Get back on your meds…

[@jameslochridge4265]

We still want independence the fact so many were conned into lending Labour their vote is one of the saddest things I've seen in my lifetime.

[@Walksfar64]

How many Muslims are paying stamp duty and council tax in Scotland . Answer none probably.

[@PeterBarkerMusic]

Based on what evidence?

[@martinanderson4721]

John Swinney talks about the " behaviour " of the Westminster Govt. - that's rich coming from the SNP ' perhaps he doesn't do irony.

[@ScottishRoss27]

What don't you like?

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

Absolute nonsense

[@floydatwork]

please explain?

[@ianscott3180]

@@ScottishRoss27 Michael Mathieson?

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@ianscott3180 The former health secretary that avoided strikes in Scotland's NHS by securing a pay rise for junior doctors? while they went on strike in Torie run England and Labour run Wales?

[@SharonaPJ]

And the SNP have done untold damage on Scotland over the past 17 years. Duh!!!

[@carlworrall]

Peter Hitchens EXPOSES Keir Starmer give that a read or watch then watch what his brother said years ago.

[@floydatwork]

Why is it "untold" damage, its told all the time on the news and other media outlets? What do they mean when something is "untold"?

[@KizzyKismet1]

£28 bn a year lol, SNP me :) BREXIT!

[@Pauli-tm2zt]

Getting the loony Left SNP out of the UK parliament would be a massive boon for the English electorate.

[@ScottishRoss27]

Seem a bit confused Pauli

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

The day the people of Scotland TAKE THEIR INDEPENDENCE IS THE DAY SCOTLAND WILL NEVER LOOK BACK. 👎🏻🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☮️🇪🇺

[@Pauli-tm2zt]

@@ScottishRoss27 How so?

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@Pauli-tm2zt Confusing UK Parliament for England's Parliament

[@susanjones6202]

The SNP Will Be Lucky If They Get 20 Seats At The Westminster Election

[@tisFrancesfault]

My biggest issue of the SNP is not so much the ide of independence (they can do what they like on that front - though generally against I'm in favour of the generation choice), but more on the presentation of such, in particular to finances. The SNP tend to have an issue of presenting an independent Scotland a land of milk and honey, without any basis. First point they have £20 billion pound subsidy by Westminster. Second, Leaving the UK would be worse than the UK leaving EU. ScotNats (rightfully) complain about Brexit being bad for the economy etc, but are happy to do a much more destructive path.

[@ScottishRoss27]

We don't.

[@ScottishRoss27]

Independent Scotland would join the 7x larger European Market than the UK. How can removing 31 barriers to trade be worse?

[@portman8909]

@@ScottishRoss27 Little England would soon be jealous of how much wealth we'd be gaining back inside the EU single market.

[@tisFrancesfault]

@@portman8909 As explained, the maths make no sense. By all means try to explain it. But the SNP would have an effective £30 billion pound deficit to make up; A point completely unaddressed.

[@24hourjukebox55]

Leave the U.K. - gain Independance ...Join the E.U. - give up independance. 🤔 No contradiction there...😂 It's embarrasing being a Scot these days.

[@susanjones6202]

Someone Should Tell John Swinney This A Westminster Election Not A Holyrood One,

[@ScottishRoss27]

Your point?

[@colinsmith1288]

​​@@Celticsamuraiblue Not at all. An indepgendent Scotland would see the SNP become more autocratic. No Uk parliament to control it's excessive curbs on personal liberties. Enjoy a new government on July the 5th. Scottish labour.😂

[@colinsmith1288]

​@@ScottishRoss27Scottish labour are taking over the reigns of power.

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@colinsmith1288 Scottish Labour isn't even a registered political party.

[@colinsmith1288]

@@ScottishRoss27 For semantics sake we will call it the Labour party.

[@geoffvador]

ah so its not the one that shouted at a Scientologist

[@Krytern]

Always the same shite from the SNP

[@ScottishRoss27]

More ambitious than keeping powers with-held from Scotland.

[@aleph8888]

He wants to give law making powers away to Brussels and a court in Luxembourg that bans its judges from writing dissents.

[@ianscott3180]

How many seats do you think that the SNP will lose?

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@ianscott3180 Survation poll of 4000 people on the 18th said SNP will win the election in Scotland with 35 seats. That is a loss of 8 seats from the 43 currently and still win the election.

[@ChristineRead-ck1uq]

Scotland had a referendum and voted to stay in the UK. What is it with these people?

[@ScottishRoss27]

Democracy is an ongoing thing not a once of, for example the current UK Election.

[@24hourjukebox55]

they're stupid.

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

Any vote before EU REMOVAL IS NOW ‘NULL & VOID’ 👎🏻🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☮️🇪🇺

[@Krytern]

​@ScottishRoss27 Something as big as independence shouldn't be voted every couple years because the losing side can't accept the result. Wasn't the referendum called "once in a generation" or something like that by the SNP? Accept you lost and move on.

[@Krytern]

@@redred7289 What happened to it being a generational vote?

[@davidwilkinson7746]

How boring

[@Neil-v8z]

Snp haven't done anything in Scotland 😢 wasted money on Scottish ferries, they lied about covid and WhatsApps and English too, money going missing, no work getting done on Scottish roads and there's loads more! I used to vote snp never again

[@ScottishRoss27]

SNP have done wonders for Scotland.

[@KizzyKismet1]

100% oil & gas, 100% whisky, 100% Salmon, 100% wind power Scotland!! Union & imperial masters goodbye!

[@fortune-614]

So if Scotland votes in less SNP MP’s it means Scotland doesn’t want Indy.

[@Krytern]

They'll still call for independence again next election. If Scotland becomes independent, SNP will have more power.

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@Krytern Everyone in Scotland's democracy will be more empowered.

[@andrewjones-productions]

Not really. The next Scottish Parliament election must take place no later than the 7th of May, 2026. At that point, Labour (most probably) will have been in power nigh on 2 years and what they will have achieved by then will not that be that much and as with any government, there will have been scandals, difficulties and controversy. It is possible that the Scottish electorate will return the same or more SNP SMPs to Holyrood. That of course, is dependent on the current SNP government avoiding any scandals, governing well and most importantly, avoiding any controversial and divisive policies.

[@JohnM...]

@@ScottishRoss27back in your bed now, good boy, and don’t forget to take your medicine… from nurse Packer…😂

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@JohnM... You take yours, you seem to be angry about something

[@joycetube6680]

No farage no contest

[@ianbaxter2667]

How do you feel about the immigrants now john the traitor.

[@Janabulosity]

It is time for Scotland to stand up for an election to determine who should hold the position of First Minister of Scotland. In the meantime vote for Reform UK 4th July 2024. Democracy.

[@gottmituns813]

Scotland deserve independence.

[@jadoon2981]

feck me just let them have it and all the debt etc that comes with it, this is boring now just feck off already

[@ScottishRoss27]

Due a share of the UK's Assets if taking a share of the UK's Debt.

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

There is no debt. Scotland will be far better off as an Independent Country. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☮️🇪🇺😎

[@Krytern]

​​@@ScottishRoss27How much share of the assets? Scotland's population is nothing and the rest of the UK has to pay for Scotland already. Scotland takes more from the UK economy than what it takes..

[@ScottishRoss27]

@@Krytern A population share of the UK State Assets and Liabilities is reasonable. Scotland's population is nothing? there are around 80 nations with smaller populations. No it doesn't.

[@mmcc5846]

England don't produce anything muppet​@@Krytern

[@williammitchell2435]

As usual bullshit ?

[@alanfrost4661]

Change the fing record everbody is sick of this including the Scots

[@user-ey6rz3fv5y]

The snp are finished in Scotland look at the damage you have done in Scotland

[@ScottishRoss27]

What damage?

[@andyirwin3426]

Bawbag

[@ianwhitelaw3066]

Indepence does not mean freedom,look at their policies.

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

Are you having a laugh.?