John Swinney: Scottish independence vote left ‘positive legacy’

On 18 September 2014, Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55.3% to 44.7%.

Speaking to supporters in the capital a decade on, Swinney spoke of the excitement of the campaign turning to heartbreak for the Yes campaign.

He praised leading figures in the No campaign for being “gracious” and “understanding” in victory.

“If the result had gone the other way I know I would have extended the same courtesy to them,” the first minister said.

He said members of the Yes movement “picked themselves up, dusted themselves down, and looked to the future with a renewed determination” after the defeat.

The SNP leader, who was finance secretary at the time of the referendum, added: “And that’s why, even though I was devastated by the result, I am in no doubt that Scotland’s independence referendum has left an overwhelmingly positive legacy on our country.”

The Scottish Parliament gained powers over income tax and welfare spending after the referendum.

But Swinney said promises of a “partnership of equals” were not kept, and said Holyrood had seen its power “weakened and undermined” by Westminster.

However, he said the country could not “live in the past”.

The first minister added: “As a nation, we can’t just regret the things that we cannot do – it is time for us to start focusing again on the things that we can.”