FIRST Minister John Swinney has said recent polling indicating Holyrood would have a pro-independence majority in 2026 shows “all you need to know” about the public's opinion.
The SNP leader said the poll showing his party winning by an “absolute country mile” shows his vision of Scotland’s future is “connecting” with the public, but added he intends to build on it further.
On Wednesday Survation research, conducted for public affairs agency Quantum Communications, predicted that the SNP would win 34% of the constituency share and 29% on the regional vote.
According to calculations by the Diffley Partnership, the results would see 55 seats for the SNP, 19 for Labour, 17 for the Conservatives, 14 for Reform UK, 13 for the LibDems, 10 for the Greens, and one for Alba, if replicated in 2026.
Meaning Holyrood would have a narrow majority of pro-independence MSPs at 66 out of 129.
Swinney welcomed the polling that showed his party winning by a “significant margin” despite his own admission that the SNP has faced their share of difficulties.
He said: “After all of the challenges that we face politically, the SNP is in a commanding position in the opinion polls, and that gives me great encouragement about how we can build on that in advance of the 2026 elections.
“The poll also shows that after the 2026 elections, a majority in the Scottish Parliament in favor of Scottish independence, so I think that tells us all we need to know about where Scottish public opinion is at the present moment.”
Swinney also commented that some people had predicted the Scottish Parliamentary election would have been this year if he was unable to pass the Scottish Budget.
There had been concerns that the SNP would have been able to pass this year's budget after other political parties said they would not back it unless the Scottish Government gave into key demands.
However, the SNP were able to pass the budget after gaining support from the Scottish Greens, LibDems and Alba.
Swinney added he intends to continue what he has been doing by building on Scotland’s economic and social future.
“The fact that we are still in a commanding lead in Scottish public opinion, and that we would have the largest number of seats in the Scottish parliament by a country mile is a strong base upon which I intend to build and the election,” he said.
“Lots of people predicted we'd be having an election around about now because they didn't think I could get a budget through the Scottish Parliament, but I have got a budget through the Scottish Parliament with wide support.
“I intend to continue what I'm doing of building the economic and social future of Scotland, tackling child poverty and building public confidence in my party so we can win the election.”
