# Swinney says ‘stars are aligning’ for Scottish independence as SNP meets

https://mins.news/en/video/104716

- Al Jazeera English, 2026-10-17 23:30 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUYQNJeI064

> Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said the prospects for seeking independence were “aligning” as the Scottish National Party gathered on Saturday. He said UK unionist parties were weaker than ever and called 2026 a turning point on Scotland’s path to statehood, with no return. He cited a record pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament, while noting the SNP fell short of an overall majority.

## Related coverage

- [Scottish Nationalists Seek to Put Independence Back on the UK Agenda](https://mins.news/en/item/104528) — Bloomberg News, 2026-10-17
