Arabic version: سويني يتعهد بالسيطرة العامة على الحافلات وحملة للاستقلال

According to BBC News, First Minister John Swinney told the SNP conference in Aberdeen that Scotland was “no city” and “no region” as he said it would soon be an independent nation. In a speech that did not name Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Swinney said: “Some think we should just be like Manchester. Well I’m afraid I disagree.”

Swinney said “the stars are aligning” for supporters of Scottish independence, pointing to the SNP’s election victory in May and a record number of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood. The proportion of pro-independence votes fell from about 50% in 2021 to about 41% this year. The Scottish government hopes to hold a second referendum by 2031, but Burnham has said such a vote remains “off limits”.

The SNP leader said the party would launch its “most sophisticated” independence campaign, called Choose Scotland, supported by a six-figure war chest. Plans include a national day of action, digital and broadcast advertising, and an independence survey to be delivered to almost 1.5m people.

He also announced that Scotland’s bus network would be brought under public control by the end of the parliamentary term in 2031 through franchising and regulation. A £2 single-fare cap will extend to north east Scotland from April; fares are already capped at £2 in the west of Scotland and the Highlands, with a national rollout promised by 2031.

Other pledges included a £30m fund for community groups to help combat racism, legislation making harassment and abuse based on misogyny a specific criminal offence, and a £1m respect fund for schools to tackle misogyny.