# SNP conference: Swinney relaunches independence campaign > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/scottish-independence-and-snp-political-developments > Updated: 2026-10-16T23:00:10.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2. At the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen, First Minister John Swinney officially relaunched the campaign for Scottish independence. Declaring that ‘Scotland is ready to be independent,’ Swinney framed the movement as the primary mechanism for the nation to rejoin the European Union and move past the effects of Brexit. To support this effort, Swinney announced the ‘Choose Scotland’ nationwide campaign, backed by a six-figure budget. He reiterated his belief that 2026 serves as a turning point in the ‘journey towards statehood,’ noting that nationalist leaders in Wales and Northern Ireland have signaled support for the right to self-determination. During his keynote address, Swinney shared a personal commitment to the cause, citing his desire to build a better nation for his teenage son. In addition to constitutional goals, the First Minister pledged to introduce legislation making misogyny-based harassment and abuse a specific criminal offence before the summer recess. He also outlined social and transport priorities, including maintaining the £2 bus fare cap and a plan to bring the Scottish bus network under public control by 2031. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-16: John Swinney relaunches Scottish independence campaign at SNP conference Scottish First Minister John Swinney has relaunched the SNP's independence campaign, pledging a sophisticated new drive to secure a referendum and rejoin the EU. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/john-swinney-to-advocate-for-scottish-independence-at-snp-conference ### 2026-10-11: John Swinney faces pressure over SNP conference and independence claims First Minister John Swinney faces calls to bar the Scottish Greens from the SNP conference following controversial remarks on Zionism, while also claiming the independence movement has ‘turned a corner’. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/john-swinney-faces-pressure-over-snp-conference-and-independence-claims --- Cite as: SNP conference: Swinney relaunches independence campaign. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/scottish-independence-and-snp-political-developments