{
  "id": 8713720,
  "title": "Swinney calls on MSPs to unanimously back Scotland's 'right to decide'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/swinney-calls-on-msps-to-unanimously-back-scotlands-right-to-decide",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T00:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://aol.co.uk/articles/swinney-calls-msps-unanimously-back-230100000.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "First Minister John Swinney is urging all Scottish Members of Parliament (MSPs) to unanimously support a motion that affirms Scotland's right to decide its own future. Swinney asserts that the movement for Scottish self-determination is gaining traction, with growing international interest and a newfound recognition from the Prime Minister that Scotland deserves a referendum on independence. He argues that there is now widespread agreement that Westminster's veto on democracy is no longer tenable. The motion, to be debated in Parliament, would state that the Scottish Parliament agrees that Scotland is a nation with the right to decide its future. Despite differences in opinions on the specifics of the future, Swinney emphasizes that all MSPs, regardless of their stance on independence, should back the motion as a matter of principle. The call for a referendum comes after the first ministers of the UK's three devolved nations, Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru, and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin, signed a memorandum of understanding in Cardiff. This agreement aimed to pressure Prime Minister Andy Burnham into allowing independence referendums. Swinney, who campaigned for independence during the Holyrood election earlier this year, has previously pledged to push for independence if his party, the SNP, returns to power. In May, the SNP government was re-elected, and a motion to seek a section 30 order under the Scotland Act 1998 was passed by 72 votes to 55. The Scottish Government has since published draft legislation to hold a second independence referendum, which will be introduced in Holyrood once the necessary powers are secured. Swinney believes the momentum for self-determination is clear, with most opinion polls showing independence as the most popular option. He stresses that it is time for Scotland to decide its own future, a belief he hopes all MSPs will endorse.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}