Swinney's emotional explanation for his commitment to independence

By

Scotland political editor

This was a more emotional speech than we are used to from John Swinney.

His voice quivered as he explained that his personal commitment to the cause is for the future of his 15-year-old son, Matthew.

Then the autocue stalled and the SNP leader is heard saying under his breath "oh, come on".

A period of silence was broken by the conference crowd who came to his rescue with a standing ovation.

Without the prime minister's name being mentioned, this section of the speech seemed to be a response to Andy Burnham's emotional appeal for the union in memory of his father at the Labour conference in Liverpool.

There was a more obvious dig at the prime minister, who visited Motherwell this week to promote regional devolution within Scotland and drew on his experience as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Again, without mentioning Andy Burnham by name, 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 and soon we will be an independent nation."

That went down well in the conference hall - even if the first minister is perfectly prepared to work with the prime minister on plans to create a regional level of government in Scotland, with powers transferred from both Westminster and Holyrood.

Swinney also claimed that independence is "very close" in the full knowledge that there will not be another referendum unless there is a sustained surge in public support for Scottish statehood.

Pledges on buses and misogyny

Part of his strategy for achieving that is to demonstrate delivery in devolved government on issues of everyday concern.

That's why he highlighted the roll out of the Scottish government's £2 bus fare cap as an example of cost of living support.

It is already in place in the Highlands and across west central Scotland, and now he has confirmed its extension across north east Scotland from April.

It should be available everywhere in Scotland by the end of this parliamentary term, by which time he said the Scottish government would, through franchising and regulation, have taken the bus network under public control.

Announcements on making misogyny a specific criminal offence and new funding for community groups to fight racism are also designed to demonstrate a sense of immediate purpose.

His speech seemed to energise those in the hall who are already with him. He also hopes it will engage those across Scotland who might be open to considering independence.

Earlier this week, Swinney told me he is loving being first minister and intends to lead the SNP into the next Scottish Parliament election in 2031.

However long he stays in office, this will always be a special conference for him - his first since leading his party through a successful Holyrood campaign and the one where he put the personal into his political commitment to independence.