Independence vote left 'positive legacy' - Swinney

The Scottish independence referendum left an "overwhelmingly positive legacy" on the country, First Minister John Swinney has said.

The SNP leader, speaking at an event in Edinburgh to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2014 vote, claimed Scotland was now closer to separating from the UK.

He also praised "gracious" leaders of the No campaign for their "understanding" in the aftermath of the result.

Opposition leaders have urged the SNP to move on from the "division" of the independence debate.

On 18 September 2014, Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55.3% to 44.7%.

Speaking to supporters in the capital a decade on, Swinney spoke of the excitement of the campaign turning to heartbreak for the Yes campaign.

He praised leading figures in the No campaign for being “gracious” and “understanding” in victory.

“If the result had gone the other way I know I would have extended the same courtesy to them,” the first minister said.

He said members of the Yes movement “picked themselves up, dusted themselves down, and looked to the future with a renewed determination” after the defeat.

The SNP leader, who was finance secretary at the time of the referendum, added: “And that’s why, even though I was devastated by the result, I am in no doubt that Scotland’s independence referendum has left an overwhelmingly positive legacy on our country.”

The Scottish Parliament gained powers over income tax and welfare spending after the referendum.

But Swinney said promises of a “partnership of equals” were not kept, and said Holyrood had seen its power “weakened and undermined” by Westminster.

However, he said the country could not “live in the past”.

The first minister added: “As a nation, we can’t just regret the things that we cannot do – it is time for us to start focusing again on the things that we can.”

Swinney said the country was now closer to achieving independence because the referendum led to Holyrood gaining more powers which have demonstrated its ability to have a “positive impact” on the lives of Scots.

He said he had “never been more convinced” of the case for independence, citing the “harsh reality of Westminster control”.

Successive UK governments have refused to countenance a second referendum, while the Supreme Court has ruled Holyrood ministers cannot hold a referendum without Westminster's consent.

The SNP lost 39 seats in this year's UK general election, with the party facing a battle with Labour to remain in power at Holyrood after the next Scottish Parliament election, which is due to be held in 2026.

Opinion polls have suggested that support for independence has not significantly increased over the past decade.

Asked for his plan to secure independence, Swinney said the SNP had to show it provided a solution to the major challenges Scotland faces - such as the NHS, schools, the cost of living and energy prices.

The first minister said independence had to be established as a “compelling and demonstrable” proposition.

“When we boost support for independence we will be able to deliver independence," he added.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the result of the referendum had not been respected by independence supporters and that “the bitterness and division” of the campaign had continued for a decade.

He told BBC Scotland News: “The last 10 years have seen the constitution dominate politics rather than the issues that really matter.”

Scottish Labour leader deputy leader Jackie Baillie said people had moved on from the referendum and were more concerned with other issues, such as the NHS, the economy and education.

She added that the country's constitutional future remained a "matter for the Scottish people" but said that the message had come "loud and clear" that Scots did not want another referendum any time soon.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The Scottish Greens will do everything we can to ensure that by the time the 20th anniversary of the day comes around, we are celebrating rather than thinking about what could have been, and are doing it in a fairer, greener and independent Scottish republic.”