Scotland wants to be free – concerns about Reform

TT

Updated 21.03 | Published 18.45

 

Scotland's First Minister, also leader of the SNP, John Swinney after Friday's local elections in Britain where the right-wing populist Reform Party achieved great successes. Photo: Jane Barlow/Pa Via AP/TT

Scottish First Minister John Swinney wants Scotland to become independent.

He sees a danger that the right-wing populist Reform Party will gain power in the next British parliamentary election.

Swinney, who leads the Scottish nationalist party SNP, demanded that independence from London be achieved before the next election, which is likely to be held in 2029.

– (Reform Party leader) Nigel Farage is galloping towards Downing Street, and the prospect of a Reform-led government coming to power is highly likely, Swinney said in a speech after the British local elections in which the nationalist Reform Party has reaped great successes.

The party managed to win 17 seats in the Scottish Parliament for the first time and 34 seats in the Welsh Parliament, where the Plaid Cymru party became the largest with 43 seats.

The SNP became the largest party in Scotland again, but without its own majority.

Correction: In an earlier text there was an incorrect statement about the Reform Party in Wales.

 

Den skotske försteministern John Swinney vill att Skottland blir självständigt.

Han ser en fara med att det högerpopulistiska Reformpartiet får makten i nästa brittiska parlamentsval.

Swinney, som leder det skotska nationalistpartiet SNP, krävde att självständigheten från London sker före nästa val, som troligen hålls 2029.

– (Reformpartiets ledare) Nigel Farage galopperar mot Downing Street, och utsikten att en Reform-ledd regering får makten är högst sannolik, sade Swinney i ett tal efter de brittiska lokalvalen där det nationalistiska Reformpartiet skördat stora framgångar.

Partiet lyckades för första gången få 17 platser i det skotska parlamentet och 34 platser i det walesiska parlamentet, där partiet Plaid Cymru blev störst med 43 platser.

SNP blev åter det största i Skottland, men utan egen majoritet.

Rättad: I en tidigare text fanns en felaktig uppgift om Reformpartiet i Wales.