Swinney claims Scotland’s vote is ‘simply unimportant to Westminster’

Scotland’s vote “simply doesn’t count at Westminster,” First Minister John Swinney will explain.

The SNP leader will make the remarks at his campaign rally in Aberdeen on Monday, railing against Brexit one day after the eighth anniversary of the vote.

The decision to leave the EU has debunked the “myth of a union of equals”, Mr Swinney will say.

Scotland voted 68% to 32% to remain in the EU – a fact that the SNP has consistently used to point out the inequality between the north and south of the border.

The First Minister will say that the result of the 2016 referendum did not only affect relations with Europe.

“It also told us something fundamental about the United Kingdom,” he adds.

“It has shown that the United Kingdom is not a partnership of equal nations.

“The fact that Scotland ultimately voted to remain was completely irrelevant to Westminster.

“This is not equality – it’s a ‘know your place’ attitude.

“The way Scotland is being treated in the context of Brexit is symptomatic of a wider ‘Westminster knows best’ union, regardless of the cost to Scotland.

“Yesterday was the anniversary of the Brexit vote, today is the anniversary of the people of Scotland waking up to the new reality.

“The reality was not just that we were forced out of the EU against our will.

“But the reality is that Scotland’s voice simply doesn’t matter to the Westminster establishment.

“The myth of the Union of Equals was extinguished for so many people across Scotland on this day eight years ago.”

On the day both the Prime Minister and Shadow Chancellor visit Scotland, Mr Swinney will add: “We are seeing Westminster politicians making campaign trips north of the Border to dismiss the idea that Scotland could have any real influence in Westminster.

“This is the reality of this unequal union.

“That reality was clear on that day eight years ago – and that reality is what Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are reinforcing every single day of this election campaign.”

“That is why I am asking people to vote for the SNP if they believe that being back in the European Union is best for Scotland’s future.”

But Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: “We know the SNP never respects referendum results.

“They are pushing another point on independence – it’s on page one, line one of the SNP manifesto.

“In key constituencies across the country, only the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP and shift the focus from their obsession with breaking up Britain to people’s real priorities – like fixing our broken public services and creating good jobs.”