Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney says he will urge the UK government to grant Scotland the powers needed to hold an independence referendum. Reporting across outlets, Swinney frames the push as part of ongoing negotiations over the constitutional settlement and the ability for Scottish voters to decide on independence. He also comments on the political outlook in London, indicating that the successor to Labour leader Keir Starmer—named as Sir Keir Starmer’s successor—could provide an opportunity for improved relations between the Scottish and UK governments. The coverage links the push for referendums to wider discussions about devolved competence and the level of authority the Scottish Parliament has in making decisions of this kind. While the articles differ slightly in emphasis, they broadly agree on Swinney’s stated intention to press for referendum-holding powers and on his view that a change in UK leadership could reopen dialogue between the two governments. No specific timetable or formal proposal for granting powers is included in the provided excerpts.