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Swinney predicts SNP majority at Holyrood election
TL;DR
First Minister John Swinney is confident the SNP will secure a majority in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, aiming for 65 seats. This victory would support a mandate for a second independence referendum.
Key points
- John Swinney is confident about SNP's majority win
- SNP aims for 65 seats in the election
- A majority would mandate a second independence referendum
- Other parties are urging voters to prevent SNP majority
Mentioned in this story
SNPJohn SwinneyScotland
First Minister John Swinney has told BBC News he is "confident" that the SNP will win a majority at next month's Scottish Parliament election.
Recent polling suggests that the party is on track to retain its status as Holyrood's largest party, having been in power for almost 20 years.
In an interview for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Swinney made his boldest prediction yet - claiming the SNP will win the 65 seats it needs for a majority. Such a result, he insists, would provide a mandate for a second independence referendum.
Scotland's other largest parties have urged voters to back them to prevent an SNP majority, or accused the first minister of bluffing.
Looking ahead to the 7 May election, Swinney told Kuenssberg: "I think we will get a majority."
He added: "I'm confident to predict it and that's what I'm focused on achieving."
The Holyrood voting system is a mix of first-past-the-post and proportional representation - making it harder for a party to secure a majority than in a Westminster election, for instance.
Yet the SNP have proved it can be done - winning a majority in 2011 that paved the way for the 2014 independence referendum.
The party also came just one seat short of a majority in the last Holyrood election, in 2021.
Scotland voted by 55% to 45% to remain in the UK in 2014, but the SNP insists another majority would again open the door to a referendum.
Such a vote would have to be signed off by the UK government, though Labour ministers have repeatedly ruled out a vote in the foreseeable future.
Asked last week about the prospect of a referendum, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "We're not having one."
- A simple guide to the Scottish election
- Who are the candidates in my area?
- Tell us about the issues affecting you
- How to follow BBC Scotland's election coverage
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie accused Swinney of arrogance.
Q&A
What did John Swinney predict about the SNP's performance in the May election?
John Swinney predicted that the SNP will win a majority in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election.
How many seats does the SNP need for a majority in the Scottish Parliament?
The SNP needs to win 65 seats to achieve a majority in the Scottish Parliament.
What would an SNP majority mean for Scottish independence?
An SNP majority would provide a mandate for a second independence referendum in Scotland.
What are other parties saying about the SNP's chances in the election?
Other major parties have urged voters to support them to prevent an SNP majority and have accused Swinney of bluffing.
