{"id":581575,"date":"2025-11-20T01:48:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T01:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/581575\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T01:48:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T01:48:24","slug":"snp-majority-at-holyrood-will-end-starmers-time-at-number-10-claims-swinney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/581575\/","title":{"rendered":"SNP majority at Holyrood will end Starmer\u2019s time at Number 10, claims Swinney"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Scottish First Minister told how he believes an SNP majority \u2013 which has only happened once in the history of the Scottish Parliament \u2013 could topple Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n

He also told an event in London his relationship\u00a0with Sir Keir is in a \u201ctesting period now\u201d in the run-up to that Holyrood vote in May 2026.<\/p>\n

Mr Swinney has set the SNP the target of winning more than half the 129 seats up for grabs in the Scottish Parliament \u2013 pointing out when this happened in 2011 it triggered the 2014 independence referendum.<\/p>\n

\"JohnFirst Minister John Swinney said his relationship with the Prime Minister is in a \u2018testing period\u2019 in the run-up to May\u2019s Holyrood election (Jane Barlow\/PA)<\/p>\n

Addressing an Institute for Government event, the SNP leader added: \u201cIf that was to happen in May of next year, then I have no doubt that the Prime Minister would not survive in office.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pressed on the difference between a majority for the SNP and a pro-independence majority also involving the Sottish Greens, as there is at present at the Parliament, Mr Swinney said simply: \u201cThe difference is that the SNP-only majority was not ignored.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the big difference, and that\u2019s what sets the precedence.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the UK Government having rebuffed all the Scottish Government\u2019s calls for a second independence referendum since 2014, Mr Swinney argued it is \u201cdemocratically unhealthy\u201d for there not to be a route to a fresh ballot.<\/p>\n

Saying the UK is a voluntary union, the First Minister added: \u201cThere has to be a route whereby the parties to that union can say if they want to live differently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it is legitimate for the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland to be in any way thwarted in what they wish to be.<\/p>\n

\n

EVENT | In conversation with John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland@JohnSwinney<\/a> joins us to discuss his priorities as First Minister, and the SNP\u2019s vision ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election. @AkashPaun<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/BWVQTGywGM<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/osdUF1rtSU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Institute for Government (@instituteforgov) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cPrecedent is important here. The argument I am deploying is that we are in a logjam just now about the constitutional question.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this moment there is a majority of the Scottish Parliament that believes Scotland should be an independent country and there should be a referendum to enable that to be the case, and that is not able to be advanced because of the stance of the United Kingdom Government.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the SNP having secured the 2014 referendum after winning an overall majority in 2011, Mr Swinney insisted there is a \u201cvery clear and demonstrable case that that precedent should be respected\u201d.<\/p>\n

He also said the \u201cpolitical mood in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are moving in significantly different directions\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said south of the border the debate is \u201cshaped increasing\u201d by the rise of Reform UK, with the SNP leader claiming political parties in England are \u201cmoving\u00a0on to the territory\u00a0that is occupied by Nigel Farage\u201d as a result.<\/p>\n

He said that is in contrast with \u201cthe prevailing sentiment in Scotland which does not go along with this direction of thinking\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"NigelThe rise of Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform UK is increasing shaping political debate south of the border, John Swinney said (PA)<\/p>\n

The First Minister added he does not believe the current devolved arrangements will be able to protect Scotland from a government led by Mr Farage \u2013 whose party is ahead in the polls south of the border.<\/p>\n

Mr Swinney spoke of the \u201cneed to have different constitutional arrangements that will protect Scotland from the politics of Farage and Reform\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said he doubts current constitutional arrangements \u201ccan enable us to do that\u201d as Holyrood is already seeing an \u201cerosion of the devolved settlement\u201d \u2013 citing the Internal Market Act, introduced by the UK Government to regulate trade between the four nations post-Brexit, as an example of this.<\/p>\n

The SNP leader also used the event in London to urge the UK Government to end the policy of austerity \u201conce and for all\u201d when Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her Budget next week.<\/p>\n

The Budget has got to \u201csupport households wrestling with the cost of living\u201d and \u201caddress the very significant energy costs households are having to deal with\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Swinney continued: \u201cThe Budget has got to make an impact on household income, but it has also got to make an impact on public services, because the issues and the challenges that the public services are wrestling with are longstanding as a consequence of the impact of austerity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the Budget has got to do is to end that austerity once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n