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Building a New Scotland
Building a New Scotland is a series of papers published by the Scottish Government between 2022 and 2025 under first ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney, that seeks to lay out a prospectus for Scottish independence. The Scottish Government had proposed holding an independence referendum on 19 October 2023.
On 7 September 2021, Nicola Sturgeon stated that she would resume the case for independence and restart work on a prospects for independence. On 13 June 2022, Nicola Sturgeon published the first independence paper. On 14 July 2022, Nicola Sturgeon published the second independence paper. The thirteenth paper in the series, Justice in an independent Scotland, was published in April 2024 ahead of John Swinney becoming first minister, succeeding Humza Yousaf following his resignation.
Under the Premiership of John Swinney, publication of the new Building a New Scotland series became less frequent. After becoming the First Minister, Swinney abolished the Minister for Independence, which was the ministerial post responsible for the publication. The Scottish Government said the post was not necessary and that publication of the papers would continue under the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution. In November 2024, Scottish Daily Express reported that the Yousaf government planned to publish two separate papers regarding Net Zero and Pensions before the collapse of the Bute House Agreement. Neither of the papers was published.
In the negotiations of the Scottish Budget 2025-26, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton declared that Liberal Democrats will vote against any budget that includes funds for promoting independence. On 5 December 2024, Scottish Government and Finance Secretary Shona Robison confirmed that the Scottish Government will publish a final overview independence paper and end publishing new papers in separate statements. After the negotiations, Liberal Democrats voted for the budget joining Scottish Greens and SNP.
In April 2025, a Freedom of Information request revealed that the Scottish Government unit (Constitutional Futures Division) that was responsible for the publication of papers was abolished in January 2025. On 4 September 2025, Scottish Government published a paper called Your Right to Decide. Although it is not a part of the Building a New Scotland series, the content of the paper is about arguments and a strategy for Scottish Independence. In October 2025, Swinney published the last paper in the series, A Fresh Start with Independence.
On 15 June 2022, Alyn Smith an SNP politician welcomed the release of the first independence paper as a breath of fresh air and stated that the paper proves that the UK does not work for Scotland.
On 16 June 2022, Douglas Ross the leader of the Scottish conservatives stated that Nicola Sturgeon had her priorities wrong and should concentrate on recovery instead of independence.
The first paper in the series examines other countries in Europe of similar size to Scotland and compares economic and social indicators with the United Kingdom.
Building a New Scotland
Building a New Scotland is a series of papers published by the Scottish Government between 2022 and 2025 under first ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney, that seeks to lay out a prospectus for Scottish independence. The Scottish Government had proposed holding an independence referendum on 19 October 2023.
On 7 September 2021, Nicola Sturgeon stated that she would resume the case for independence and restart work on a prospects for independence. On 13 June 2022, Nicola Sturgeon published the first independence paper. On 14 July 2022, Nicola Sturgeon published the second independence paper. The thirteenth paper in the series, Justice in an independent Scotland, was published in April 2024 ahead of John Swinney becoming first minister, succeeding Humza Yousaf following his resignation.
Under the Premiership of John Swinney, publication of the new Building a New Scotland series became less frequent. After becoming the First Minister, Swinney abolished the Minister for Independence, which was the ministerial post responsible for the publication. The Scottish Government said the post was not necessary and that publication of the papers would continue under the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution. In November 2024, Scottish Daily Express reported that the Yousaf government planned to publish two separate papers regarding Net Zero and Pensions before the collapse of the Bute House Agreement. Neither of the papers was published.
In the negotiations of the Scottish Budget 2025-26, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton declared that Liberal Democrats will vote against any budget that includes funds for promoting independence. On 5 December 2024, Scottish Government and Finance Secretary Shona Robison confirmed that the Scottish Government will publish a final overview independence paper and end publishing new papers in separate statements. After the negotiations, Liberal Democrats voted for the budget joining Scottish Greens and SNP.
In April 2025, a Freedom of Information request revealed that the Scottish Government unit (Constitutional Futures Division) that was responsible for the publication of papers was abolished in January 2025. On 4 September 2025, Scottish Government published a paper called Your Right to Decide. Although it is not a part of the Building a New Scotland series, the content of the paper is about arguments and a strategy for Scottish Independence. In October 2025, Swinney published the last paper in the series, A Fresh Start with Independence.
On 15 June 2022, Alyn Smith an SNP politician welcomed the release of the first independence paper as a breath of fresh air and stated that the paper proves that the UK does not work for Scotland.
On 16 June 2022, Douglas Ross the leader of the Scottish conservatives stated that Nicola Sturgeon had her priorities wrong and should concentrate on recovery instead of independence.
The first paper in the series examines other countries in Europe of similar size to Scotland and compares economic and social indicators with the United Kingdom.
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