John Swinney tells the SNP conference in Aberdeen that "soon Scotland will be an independent nation"

John Swinney has taken aim at those who think Scotland "should be just like Manchester" as he vowed Scotland would soon be an independent nation.

In a closing speech at the SNP conference that did not mention Prime Minister Andy Burnham by name, Swinney issued a veiled retort to the former Greater Manchester mayor after he visited Scotland.

The first minister, speaking in Aberdeen, also announced that the country's bus network would be brought under public control by the end of the parliamentary term in 2031.

Swinney made further pledges to extend a £2 bus fare cap to the north east of Scotland, launch an independence campaign, fund anti-racism initiatives and tackle misogyny in schools.

John Swinney's 2026 SNP conference speech - look back on what he said

Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'

Swinney began and ended his speech by talking about the constitution, saying that "the stars are aligning" for supporters of Scottish independence.

He pointed to the SNP's election victory in May. The result delivered a record number of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood - though the proportion of pro-independence votes decreased from about 50% in 2021 to about 41% this year.

The Scottish government is hoping to hold a second referendum by 2031.

Burnham, who would need to agree to a vote, has told Swinney such a move was "off limits".

Taking aim at the Labour leader, the first minister said: "Some think we should just be like Manchester. Well I'm afraid I disagree

"Scotland is no city. We are no region. We are a nation

Swinney cited the signing of a non-binding agreement between the nationalist first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland last month vowing that no Westminster government had the right to "block democracy".

He also said the SNP would launch its "most sophisticated" independence campaign yet, backed by the party's "six-figure war chest".

The SNP leader said the campaign, called Choose Scotland, is to include a national day of action, digital and broadcast adverts, and an independence survey delivered to almost 1.5m people.

Swinney told party members it would offer hope and ambition and that independence would deliver "the best possible future" for Scots.

Ending his speech, the SNP leader told the audience that his youngest son Matthew served as his inspiration to make Scotland "future fit for our children".

Andy Burnham has called for greater devolution in Scotland

Swinney's address to the SNP conference came the day after Burnham made his first major speech in Scotland since moving into Downing Street.

The prime minister insisted he wanted to work together on giving more power to local communities.

Speaking in Motherwell, the Labour leader said he wanted to "move beyond the old politics of conflict" as he offered to work with the SNP to deepen devolution in Scotland.

Burnham told MPs earlier this year that referendums would be considered in both Scotland and Northern Ireland if there was a clear consensus and public opinion had changed.

However, he told Swinney at a subsequent meeting in Glasgow that a second Scottish independence referendum remained "off limits".

Scotland voted against becoming an independent country by 55% to 45% in 2014.

In 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that any further vote would require the agreement of the UK government - something successive prime ministers have refused to countenance.

Earlier in his speech, Swinney announced that a £2 bus fare cap would be extended to the north east of Scotland from April.

Swinney told SNP members that "cheaper bus travel is only one part of the story".

"We need more buses and we need more frequent buses," he said. "It's good for commuters. And it's good for the climate.

"I can therefore announce today that by the end of this parliament, through franchising and regulation, the SNP will bring the bus network back into public control."

Bus fares are currently capped at £2 in the west of Scotland and the Highlands, with a national rollout promised by 2031.

Bus operators are given government subsidies to participate.

Swinney also announced a £30m fund for community groups to help "combat the rise of the racists", and a new bill to make harassment and abuse based on misogyny a specific criminal offence.

He added that the government would launch a £1m "respect fund giving every school the resources they need to tackle misogyny".

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum

Westminster's time is coming to an end, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish leaders say