26/10/2026
🏴 Five and a half years as an MSP, and one thing has become clearer to me than ever. Scotland needs its independence.
As I head back to the Scottish Parliament after our October recess, I’ve been reflecting on John Swinney’s speech at SNP conference, and what I hope the next four and a half years will bring for our country.
💬 John spoke so powerfully about Scotland’s growing confidence. We are a nation with extraordinary talent, natural resources, industries and opportunities. A country more than capable of shaping its own future. And independence isn’t about turning our backs on anyone. As John said, “Independence is about walking beside each other”. Working with our neighbours, as equals, making our own choices and taking our place in the world.
⚓ After five and a half years representing Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I cannot tell you how often I’ve come up against hurdles, blockages and decisions being made elsewhere that hold us back. Whether it’s international fishing agreements, trade, immigration or energy policy, so many decisions affecting our communities are simply not ours to make. We can achieve so much with the powers of our Scottish Parliament, but imagine what more we could do with the full powers of independence!
❤️ But it was when John spoke about his son, and the country he wants to leave behind for him, that his words really struck me. “We build the future on the dreams of those who come next.” As a mum and granny, I feel that deeply. What kind of Scotland do we want our children and grandchildren to inherit? One where we’re forever asking permission to make decisions about our own future, or one where we have the confidence and freedom to shape it ourselves?
🌍 John also spoke about the possibilities of an independent Scotland. A country able to make its own decisions on the economy, tackle poverty, protect its public services, have its own voice in Europe and build international relationships based on cooperation and equality. Not simply accepting the limitations of today, but having the ambition to create something better.
💪🏼 “Scotland is ready to be independent.” Those were John’s words, and I share that belief. As I look ahead to the next four and a half years, my hope is that we will see Scotland become an independent country within that time. I’ll certainly never stop fighting for our right to decide.
💙 Because ultimately, this is about trusting the people who live here, work here, raise their families here and care about this country to make the decisions about its future.
Scotland’s future should be in Scotland’s hands.
I choose Scotland. I choose independence.
