JOHN Swinney has said the SNP must work “very, very hard” to win back independence supporters.
The first minister-elect gave a speech in Glasgow on Monday as he marked being made SNP leader after running unopposed to replace Humza Yousaf.
Swinney said he believed there needed to be “greater levels of support for independence” before it could become a reality, while noting that Yes support was higher than it was in 2014.
His comments contrasted with those of Humza Yousaf's, who in his resignation speech described independence as "frustratingly close".
He suggested voters were turning their backs on the SNP, with polling predicting they would perform worse than at the last General Election, because the party “lacked cohesion”.
Swinney added: “I think that’s come across to members of the public and they’re worried about where we are as a party.”
READ MORE: John Swinney hits back at 'controversy' over lack of SNP leadership contest
But he said he wanted to win voters back, adding: “I want to and I need to earn those votes back, if there’s some disaffection between people who support independence, who previously voted for the SNP I will be working very, very hard to win those people back.”
And he said as a renowned “persuader” he had the skills to do so.
Swinney said: “I believe in engaged persuasion and dialogue in Scotland and that’s why I think I’ve got the strengths and the capabilities to do it. But there’s also something else. At this moment the SNP needs to be brought back together.”
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