Scottish First Minister John Swinney (SNP) tabled a motion urging the UK government to devolve powers to allow a second independence referendum [1].

The move signals a renewed push by the Scottish National Party to secure a legal pathway for secession from the United Kingdom. By requesting specific powers from Westminster, the SNP aims to bypass previous legal roadblocks that have prevented the Scottish Parliament from unilaterally calling a vote.

Swinney filed the motion on April 27, 2026 [2]. The timing of the request was strategic, occurring shortly before the Scottish parliamentary election held on May 7, 2026 [1]. The motion seeks a formal agreement from the UK government to transfer the necessary authority to Holyrood in Edinburgh [3].

SNP leaders said that a new democratic mandate is required to determine the country's future [4]. The party maintains that the current constitutional arrangement does not sufficiently reflect the will of the Scottish people, a point of contention that has defined Scottish politics for years.

While the motion represents a formal legislative step, it requires cooperation from the UK government. Historically, Westminster has resisted granting such powers, citing the 2014 referendum as a definitive decision for a generation [4].

Supporters of the motion believe that the recent election cycle provides the necessary political momentum to force a conversation on sovereignty. Opponents said that the request is a political maneuver designed to energize the SNP base rather than a viable legal strategy [3].

The Scottish Parliament now faces a vote on whether to back Swinney's request. If passed, the motion would serve as an official request from the devolved government to the central government in London [3].

“John Swinney tabled a motion urging the UK government to devolve powers to allow a second independence referendum.”

This motion attempts to shift the legal burden of a referendum from a unilateral Scottish decision to a negotiated devolution of power. By tying the request to the democratic mandate of the May 7 election, the SNP is attempting to frame the independence debate as a matter of electoral legitimacy rather than just legal jurisdiction.