Full Breakdown
SNP Conference Unveils “Choose Scotland” Independence Drive and Major Policy Pledges
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen, First Minister John Swinney announced that the campaign for a second Scottish independence referendum has “already begun.” He launched the “Choose Scotland” initiative, calling it the party’s “most sophisticated campaign in history” with a six-figure war chest. The speech also pledged to extend a £2 bus-fare cap to the north-east, bring the national bus network under public control by 2031, and introduce a criminal offence for misogyny-based harassment before the next summer recess.
Background & Context
The SNP entered the 2025 Holyrood election with a reduced majority of 58 MSPs, six fewer than in 2021, but remained the largest party. Party finances show a £509,903 surplus after a prior deficit, while membership has fallen from a 2019 peak of 125,691 to roughly 51,000. The “Choose Scotland” war chest is a six-figure sum, with an initial £100,000 earmarked for the campaign. Legal proceedings continue over the £400,310 embezzlement conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell.
Data & Statistics
- Polling on independence is split: a Survation poll commissioned by the SNP shows 52 % support, while a YouGov study finds 53 % opposition and More in Common reports 52 % opposition.
- Bus-franchising estimates: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) projects up to £15 million in costs over five to seven years; McGill’s Group claims a franchised network could add £400 million annually.
- The £2 fare cap, currently in the Highlands, Islands and West of Scotland, will be extended to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire from April.
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said the government will work with operators to address concerns and emphasized that the fare-cap expansion aims to protect Scots facing route closures. The Scottish Secretary described the Prime Minister’s offer to collaborate as a chance to achieve “no limit” for the Scottish people.
Criticism & Opposition
Transport entrepreneur Sandy Easdale of McGill’s likened Swinney’s bus-control plan to policies of former dictators, arguing it would “bankrupt” the country. McGill’s chairman Ralph Roberts warned franchising could cost an additional £400 million each year and called the proposal “business confiscation.”
Conservative leader Russell Findlay called Swinney “a broken record” obsessed with breaking up the UK, while Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie criticized the speech as “thin and threadbare,” urging concrete plans for the NHS and education. Former SNP leader Alex Salmond warned the campaign “has no credible plan” and is “stuck in limbo.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Poll results on independence diverge sharply, with no consensus on public support. The financial impact of bus franchising remains uncertain: SPT’s £15 million estimate contrasts with McGill’s claim of £400 million annual costs, and the timeline for full public control is unclear beyond the 2031 target. No specific threshold for independence support has been disclosed by the SNP.
What’s Next
The SNP plans to begin the franchising process for bus services next year, with full public control targeted for 2031. Legislation to criminalise misogyny-based harassment is slated for introduction before the summer recess of the following year. No timetable has been set for a second independence referendum, and the party has not disclosed a required level of public backing.