John Swinney: SNP would work with Labour to boost migration to Scotland

On Scottish independence, he was asked if a victory in Scotland for Labour – which opposes another referendum – would be a signal that the matter should not be pursued for the next five years.

Mr Swinney said it was a “complex question” because he believes the result of the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, which returned a majority of pro-independence MSPs, provided a mandate that “should be honoured”.

Mr Swinney also denied that the launch of the SNP campaign bus in just the final week of the campaign was a sign of the party’s declining fortunes.

He said he had taken a decision to deliver a final push for votes and it would have been a “waste of money” to have a campaign bus for the whole six weeks.

He acknowledged that the SNP had been through a “tough time” recently but said he had succeeded in bringing the party back together since he took over from Humza Yousaf shortly before the general election was called.

“In that time I’ve united the Scottish National Party, I’ve got the party focused outwards on a positive election campaign about providing hope and an alternative to the straitjacket of Westminster control in Scotland,” he said.

The Scottish Conservatives said the election was a chance for voters to end the SNP’s ongoing pursuit of Scottish independence.

Deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: “John Swinney can try to dupe voters all he wants, but independence is ‘page one, line one one’ of the SNP manifesto for a reason.

“He will use every SNP MP elected on Thursday to try to split up the UK.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the SNP had failed to take responsibility for the state of public services after 17 years in power.

“This interview showed the SNP have been in power for too long and have nothing to say for those waiting for a GP or a dentist,” he said.

“They have nothing to say for those concerned about schools slipping down the rankings, and nothing to say about the Scottish government-owned water company dumping sewage in our rivers.”