John Swinney, Scotland’s deputy first minister and a leading figure in the Scottish National Party (SNP), is expected to face increased scrutiny over the party’s strategy for achieving Scottish independence at the SNP’s annual conference commencing this week in Aberdeen. The event comes amid growing pressure within the party to move beyond a gradualist approach to independence and clarify policies addressing key economic and constitutional questions.

Despite securing a majority in the Scottish Parliament in May, the SNP failed to obtain a clear mandate for a new independence referendum, reflecting ongoing divisions over the timing and feasibility of pursuing another vote. More than a decade after the 2014 referendum in which Scots voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, the party remains focused on making the case for sovereignty, though tensions over the particulars of a future independent Scotland continue to simmer.

Alex Kerr, the SNP’s national secretary, emphasized that this year’s conference should address the substantive reasons for independence rather than solely the procedural pathway. “We need to answer all the questions of what an independent Scotland could look like, which moves us on from the process argument,” he said, highlighting the importance of developing a comprehensive vision of Scotland’s future.

Key unresolved issues prior to the last referendum – such as the management of state pensions, the choice of currency, and trade arrangements with the rest of the UK – continue to generate skepticism among voters, complicating efforts to build broader support. A motion put forward by Young Scots for Independence will call for “clear” policy proposals and enhanced campaigning resources to better engage the wider “Yes movement” at a grassroots level. The SNP has allocated £400,000 toward a “hearts and minds” campaign, signaling a renewed push to shift public opinion.

One party member reflected the cautious mood within pro-independence circles, estimating that it could take up to a decade to grow support from around 50 percent to the approximately 60 percent threshold thought necessary to compel Westminster to permit a referendum. “The prospect of a referendum in two years’ time terrifies me. I don’t think we would win,” they said, citing persistent unanswered questions.

The prospect of a new referendum ultimately rests with the UK government. However, the political landscape could shift following the next general election, potentially providing the SNP leverage, particularly if a hung parliament results in a power-sharing arrangement with Labour. In a notable development, Labour leader Andy Burnham suggested in September that Scotland could occupy a comparable constitutional position to Northern Ireland — where a border poll is mandated if reunification support appears likely. Westminster formally rejected this parallel.

The recent Labour conference debate on the UK’s future relationship with the European Union has also lent indirect support to the SNP’s cause. Kerr noted that reopening discussion about Brexit challenges the argument previously used to delay another independence vote.

While the SNP seeks to refocus public attention on constitutional questions, the party is simultaneously working to distance itself from the fallout of the recent controversy involving former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is serving a prison sentence for embezzling party funds.

Within the party, there is mounting demand for a more assertive strategy. A motion from former SNP policy chief Toni Giugliano, though widely supported, was not selected for debate. It called for the next general election to serve as a “defining vote” on Scotland’s “right to choose” and recommended forming an “independence delivery unit” to coordinate efforts.

Voices external to the SNP, such as independence-supporting author Lesley Riddoch, advocate for a more activist approach beyond traditional party mechanisms. Alongside Giugliano, Riddoch will participate in a fringe event tomorrow organized by a grassroots group named “Independence,” which aims to pressure the SNP to intensify efforts to persuade undecided voters ahead of another referendum.

“We need strength building, and that is more than a meeting, more than a conference, and maybe more than the SNP is able to do alone,” Riddoch said, underscoring the challenges the party faces as it seeks to reinvigorate the independence movement.