Independence vote left 'positive legacy' - Swinney

The Scottish independency referendum near an "overwhelmingly affirmative legacy" connected the country, First Minister John Swinney has claimed.

The SNP leader, speaking astatine an lawsuit successful Edinburgh to people the 10th day of the 2014 vote, claimed Scotland was present person to separating from the UK.

He besides praised "gracious" leaders of the No run for their "understanding" successful the aftermath of the result.

Opposition leaders person urged the SNP to determination connected from the "division" of the independency debate.

On 18 September 2014, Scots voted by 55.3% to 44.7% successful favour of remaining successful the UK.

Speaking to supporters successful the superior a decennary on, Swinney spoke of the excitement of the run turning to “heartbreak”.

He said praised starring figures successful the No run for being “gracious” and “understanding” successful victory.

“If the effect had gone the different mode I cognize I would person extended the aforesaid courtesy to me,” the archetypal curate said.

He said members of the Yes question “picked themselves up, dusted themselves down, and looked to the aboriginal with a renewed determination” aft the defeat.

The SNP leader, who was concern caput astatine the clip of the referendum, added: “And that’s why, adjacent though I was devastated by the result, I americium successful nary uncertainty that Scotland’s independency referendum has near an overwhelmingly affirmative bequest connected our country.”

In the decennary since, helium claimed promises of a “partnership of equals” were not kept, and said Holyrood had seen its powerfulness “weakened and undermined” by Westminster.

However, Swinney insisted the state could not “live successful the past”.

He added: “As a nation, we can’t conscionable regret the things that we cannot bash – it is clip for america to commencement focusing again connected the things that we can.”

Swinney said the state was present person to achieving independency due to the fact that the referendum led to Holyrood gaining much powers which person demonstrated its quality to person a “positive impact” connected the lives of Scots.

He said helium had “never been much convinced” of the lawsuit for independence, citing the “harsh world of Westminster control”.

Successive UK governments person refused to countenance a 2nd referendum, portion the Supreme Court has ruled Holyrood ministers cannot clasp a referendum without Westminster's consent.

Asked for his program to unafraid independence, Swinney said the SNP had to amusement it provided a solution to the large challenges Scotland faces - citing the NHS, schools, the outgo of surviving and vigor prices.

The archetypal curate said independency had to beryllium established arsenic a “compelling and demonstrable” proposition.

“When we boost enactment for independency we volition beryllium capable to present independence," helium added.

Scottish Conservative president Craig Hoy said: “On the 10th day of the independency referendum, it’s clip for the SNP to extremity a decennary of part and yet fto Scotland heal."

He added: “Scotland has been stuck successful a authorities of paralysis for 10 years precisely due to the fact that the SNP person refused to judge the result. They person failed to determination connected and absorption connected the time job."

Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar said the radical of Scotland had lived done a "decade of turbulence, part and diminution successful our politics" since the 2014 ballot to enactment successful the UK.

Looking up to the Holyrood predetermination successful 2026, the Scottish Labour person said the state could "begin the enactment of clearing up the messiness near by the SNP" aft the vote.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The Scottish Greens volition bash everything we tin to guarantee that by the clip the 20th day of the time comes around, we are celebrating alternatively than reasoning astir what could person been, and are doing it successful a fairer, greener and autarkic Scottish republic.”