Inspired by Mark Carney’s acclaimed recent speech at Davos, Swinney gave us his own version. In the context of US aggression and self-interest, and the rise of a multipolar world, Scotland should embrace independence in order to rejoin the EU and seek security in its embrace. On top of this, Scotland would, in the short term at the very least, still be outside the EU, and would have to negotiate entry. “Scotland is a European nation, and I hope, soon, that Scotland will become the EU’s newest member state,” was Swinney’s closing line. This was probably the best speech he has made since becoming First Minister.