Swinney raised considerations over Sturgeon's indyref2 technique

John Swinney raised considerations with Nicola Sturgeon about her push for a second independence referendum within the wake of the Brexit vote, he has revealed in a brand new documentary.

Ms Sturgeon mentioned a contemporary poll on independence was “extremely doubtless” after the UK voted to go away the EU in 2016.

However Mr Swinney says he was “nervous” about how the SNP may encourage individuals to assist the transfer so quickly after the vote in 2014.

The occasion in the end misplaced 21 seats within the snap election of 2017, with Mr Swinney saying the referendum pledge went down “very badly” with voters.

Ms Sturgeon admitted that it was “out of step with the general public temper”.

Mr Swinney now leads the SNP, and has mentioned the occasion must replicate on the way it approaches the independence marketing campaign in gentle of additional losses in July’s common election.

The 2-part documentary charts the fortunes of the SNP below the management of Ms Sturgeon and her predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, and the disintegration of their private relationship.

In it, Mr Swinney reveals that he raised considerations along with his then-boss, Ms Sturgeon, about her response to the EU referendum in 2016.

A majority of Scottish voters backed Stay whereas the UK as an entire voted to Depart, which Ms Sturgeon mentioned meant a fresh contest on independence was “on the table”.

Mr Swinney mentioned: “I bear in mind saying to Nicola as she was formulating the message she was going to convey within the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, was she positive she wished to say so firmly that she was opening up dialogue a couple of additional referendum?

“I’ve to say I used to be nervous as a result of I used to be nonetheless involved by how we have been in a position to encourage individuals in Scotland once we had simply had one in 2014.”

Ms Sturgeon mentioned the SNP had “very intentionally” cited Brexit in its 2016 Scottish Parliament election manifesto as one thing which may create a “materials change of circumstances” that might justify returning to the difficulty of independence.

She mentioned there was “lots of debate” inside her core crew about it – together with “a variety of events” the place she spoke to her predecessor, Mr Salmond, who had urged her to “decide up the tempo and be extra decisive”.

Nevertheless, she added: “My confidence ranges going into the 2017 election weren’t at their highest.

“I used to be fairly assured I had set us on the suitable course, nevertheless it was a course that was at that time out of step with the general public temper.”

Mr Swinney mentioned that throughout the snap election referred to as by Theresa Could, “the referendum query was taking part in very badly for us politically, and it was eroding assist”.

The SNP in the end lost 21 seats in the contest – with the most important scalp being that of Mr Salmond, who was defeated by the Conservatives.

And Ms Sturgeon’s name for a referendum was rejected by a collection of Tory prime ministers, on the idea that the difficulty was lately settled in 2014.

Following Mr Salmond’s exit from Westminster, the connection along with his successor as first minister deteriorated.

The documentary notes that there had already been pressure after Mr Salmond urged Ms Sturgeon to drop her husband, Peter Murrell, because the SNP’s chief govt.

Ms Sturgeon mentioned she had tried to name her former mentor on a number of events within the weeks after the he misplaced his seat, however that he had not replied.

Mr Salmond – who now leads the rival Alba Occasion – advised the documentary that he didn’t price Ms Sturgeon’s crew or the recommendation she was getting.

He mentioned: “Nicola began out by demanding a referendum, by taking the troops as much as the highest of the hill, after which when that didn’t appear to fulfill with public approval she marched them again down once more.

“It’s one factor to not assume you possibly can obtain the referendum that had been promised in successive polls, it’s one other to maintain saying you’re going to do it after which not doing it, and that has a demoralising impact.”

The problem stays a topical one with Mr Swinney now accountable for the SNP’s independence marketing campaign, having suffered one other damaging electoral reverse.

After the SNP lost 39 seats in July’s UK ballot, he mentioned the occasion had “didn’t persuade individuals of the urgency of independence”, and that it should “take time to contemplate and replicate”.

And at its Autumn convention, he was recorded telling delegates that the SNP had spent too lengthy focusing on the “process of independence”.

The primary episode of “Salmond and Sturgeon – A Troubled Union” will air at 22:00 on Tuesday, 10 September, on the BBC Scotland channel.