John Swinney says he wants to ‘press on’ with independence referendum in 2028

Despite the SNP having lost the four election campaigns fought while Mr Swinney has been leader – for Westminster in 2001, Holyrood in 2003, the European Parliament in 2004 and the 2024 general election – the First Minister stressed that “obviously I want to go into this election with the objective of winning it”, adding that his party is “in a very strong position to do so”.