Scottish First Minister John Swinney announced the upcoming publication of a new independence paper titled 'A Fresh Start with Independence,' emphasizing that Scotland's resources and potential can only be fully utilized if the country becomes independent.

Overall, the Scottish government remains committed to independence, citing increased public support and the belief that Scotland's future should be decided by Scots themselves.

Swinney's government has made some progress through devolved powers, such as expanding early learning and social welfare, but believes full potential can only be realized through independence.

Critics also questioned the credibility of the independence paper and accused Swinney of mismanagement, highlighting the ongoing political controversy surrounding the SNP.

Swinney highlighted that despite low trust in the Scottish Government, support for independence has increased to 47%, up from 27% in 1999, and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve Scots' lives through free prescriptions and tuition fees.

He dismissed opposition arguments as outdated, asserting that the case against independence has collapsed since 2014 and that Scotland is heading toward independence.

He argued that Scotland's ability to improve living standards and build a more inclusive economy is limited by the UK's economic performance and inequalities, and plans to pursue a second referendum if the SNP wins a majority in next year's election.

Opponents, including Findlay, criticized Swinney for involvement in SNP scandals and questioned his record on economic and social issues, citing issues like ferries, gender self-ID, exams, and the named persons scheme, which have contributed to low public trust.

Swinney emphasized that the direction of travel in Scotland is toward independence, reflecting increased public support and the belief that Scots are best suited to decide their future.

An amendment at the SNP conference proposes treating the May 2024 election as a de-facto referendum, which would give the SNP a mandate for independence without a separate public vote, similar to the 2014 referendum.

Swinney dismissed opposition arguments and emphasized that Scotland's push for independence has gained momentum since 2014, with the country heading toward a new chapter.

The 91-page independence paper, titled 'A Fresh Start for Scotland,' was criticized by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay for lacking solutions, being superficial, costly, and a waste of taxpayers' money, with concerns over the use of civil servants in its production.