Support for independence is about the same as 10 years ago and support for the SNP is projected to fall, one journalist puts to Swinney.

He is asked: Why have you not brought voters with you?

Swinney notes the SNP has had a "tough time for the last wee while", adding that he is here to address that.

He argues that people are "absolutely desperate" to get rid of "this awful, awful" Tory government - and are considering voting Labour to see that through.

But, he adds, voters should be "careful what [they] wish for" because Labour will "pick up where the Tories left off with spending cuts".

Swinney pressed on independence - but insists he won't predict election outcomepublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 19 June

11:42 BST 19 June

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent, reporting from the manifesto launch

John Swinney is taking questions from journalists. And a key point has come up a few times.

The manifesto says a majority of seats means the SNP is “empowered” to push forward with independence.

He’s been asked a number of times what will happen if the SNP doesn’t win those 29 seats. Does independence go on the back burner?

The stock response from Swinney is that he won’t predict the outcome of the election.

But he says it’s a “basic democratic point” that a majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament back independence, and he thinks that means the issue has to be revisited.

But opponents will try very hard to cast the SNP falling below 29 Westminster seats as a rejection of independence.

Image source, Reuters

The next question comes from a reporter from ITV, who asks how can people express their view that they do not want to be an independent country in the way that will be listened to?

Swinney says the "wishes of the people of Scotland are clear" - the 2021 Scottish parliament election saw a majority for the SNP which stood on a platform committed to a referendum on the issue of independence.

He adds that he is working hard to go around the country to make sure his party's case is heard.

For context: the SNP has 63 out of 129 MSPs at Holyrood. The next largest party, the Conservative Party, has 31.

The first question is from the BBC's Scotland editor James Cook, who asks Swinney if he's suggesting that not even with a majority of votes but with just a majority of seats that Scotland could become independent

Swinney says if the SNP wins a majority of seats, it will embark on negotiations with the UK government to turn the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland into a reality, adding that they expressed these wishes in the 2021 Scottish parliamentary election in which there was a majority in favour of independence.

He says that the best way to secure independence is through a democratic referendum.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent, reporting from Fife

The SNP has called for more investment in the NHS, arguing that nurses in Liverpool shouldn’t be paid less than nurses in Livingston.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who is on a visit to a trial hydrogen heating project in Fife, responded by saying the SNP thinks nurses in Edinburgh should pay more tax while oil giants who are making record profits should pay less tax.

He claims that with one-in-six Scots on a waiting list for treatment, it’s the Labour Party which will fund an additional 160,000 appointments in Scotland.

It’s worth remembering though that health is a Holyrood responsibility and it will be for the Scottish government to choose how to target any budget consequentials that come from additional health spending in England.

Image source, PA Media

Swinney admits that an independent Scotland, like all countries, will face challenges and "success is not guaranteed".

But he says when looking at comparable independent European countries - like Denmark and Ireland, which he says are fairer, have lower poverty and more productivity - there are "grounds for hope".

"Why not Scotland?" he asks.

"Never let anyone tell you that independence is separate from your lives," he says, adding it is central to the economy, health and living standards of the people.

Swinney continues that the SNP's plans for the economy will be the key to Scottish independence.

But most economic powers still lie with Westminster, he says, adding that the UK economy is failing far too many people.

He says an independent Scotland would re-join the EU and lists what he sees as the benefits of EU membership to an independent Scotland.

Scotland's first minister says "Westminster system is broken".

Swinney explains that the ambition of the SNP is to transfer power from Westminster and into the hands of the people of Scotland.

"Taking decisions in Scotland for Scotland works," he adds.

We will always put the interests of people in Scotland first, he pledges.

With independence people in Scotland would always get the government they vote for, he says.

Swinney says what he describes as an "outrageous Westminster power grab" has been designed to reduce the choices Scotland can make for itself.

He says Westminster keeps passing laws in devolved areas without the consent of Scotland and tells his manifesto launch that this must end.

He adds that for Scotland's workers, his party would scrap zero-hour contracts, fire and rehire, and the so-called minimum service act - which he says is an attack on the right to strike.

Image source, PA Media

Swinney calls for an end to what he calls the "waste" of billions of pounds spent on a "new generation of weapons of mass destruction".

"Bairns, not bombs, investments, not cuts," is his pitch to voters - a mantra he says represents Scottish values.

He also says that the SNP will demand the House of Lords is abolished.

The SNP leader continues that the focus of his government at Holyrood will be to eradicate child poverty.

He says the two-child benefit cap makes things much worse, and is the "exact opposite" of what the UK government should be doing.

Swinney says the cap was introduced by an "uncaring" Conservative government and that it was "beyond him" that a prospective Labour government planned to keep the cap.

SNP MSPs will press for this cap to be scrapped, he says.

Swinney continues: "Our choice to abolish the cap is obvious and it is driven by our values, and we will assert that in the Commons after this election."

Swinney insists the SNP is the only party arguing for an end to spending cuts.

The SNP, he says, will invest in public services starting with the NHS.

To do this, he says his party will join with progressive politicians south of the border.

There will be an extra £1.6bn for the NHS in Scotland and he says the SNP would introduce a "keep the NHS in public hands" bill.

This would provide "a legal guarantee for a publicly-owned operated health service".

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent, reporting from the manifesto launch

We’ve got the SNP manifesto now. It’s got a big picture of John Swinney on the front page, with the title “a future made in Scotland”.

The SNP leader is now addressing the launch, promising it’s a “left wing” document that will appeal to most Scots.

As promised, independence is "page one, line one". It says “vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country”.

On page seven, they restate their policy that winning a majority of Scottish seats at this election would “empower” negotiations with the UK government regarding independence.

Two big questions remain here, however: Can the SNP win that many seats? And what if the UK government won’t engage?

Independence, Swinney continues, will help build a fair and prosperous economy.

He says independence is not just for independence's sake but to help build a stronger future for Scotland.

He adds that these are the values that guide his party's approach to governance.

Swinney begins his pitch to voters by outlining what he sees as the major challenges facing communities.

He says the Covid pandemic has "left scars among our people" and the cost of living crisis has people "worried about the future" - a future which is seeing rapid change with new technology, a climate emergency and an ageing population.

He says the SNP has a set of values from which to respond to those challenges and people are calling out for principled leadership.

The SNP's values, he argues, are rooted in "inclusion and internationalism".

Making his expected case for independence, he says decisions about Scotland should be made by people who live in Scotland.

We're now hearing from SNP leader John Swinney who is taking to the stage to launch his party's manifesto - which has just been published., external

Before he started speaking, we heard from SNP candidate Hannah Bardell who said the manifesto was "the most left-wing manifesto" in this election.

She says the SNP platform is about hope, and "there's been precious little hope coming out of the UK establishment" in the last few years.

She accuses Labour of a "conspiracy of silence" about the cuts they will bring in if elected to government - echoing the Green Party's comments levelled about both main parties.

We'll be bringing you all the latest on what Swinney says here - including plenty of analysis from our correspondents. You can also watch live by tapping Play at the top of this page.

With just minutes to go until John Swinney arrives on stage, the SNP has published its manifesto on its website.

You can have a read here, external, and our correspondents will be bringing you analysis on what it says.

Is John Swinney steadying the ship?published at 10:54 British Summer Time 19 June

10:54 BST 19 June

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The SNP has been an electoral winning machine – rolling on, crushing opponents.

Scottish Labour have been the biggest victims of this success.

For SNP supporters, the change of fortunes must be hard to take after the success of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

After Sturgeon’s departure from the first minister’s job in early 2023, things changed.

The police investigation into the SNP became headlines and voters noticed it – tarnishing the brand.

New leader Humza Yousaf had an almost impossible task on his hands but shot himself in the foot as he kicked the Greens unceremoniously out of government.

He ended up out of government too.

John Swinney’s now in - with the party hoping that he will get things back on track, to some extent at least.

But with laws of political gravity - what goes up must, come down.

They had 43 out of the 59 seats in the 2019 parliament.

The SNP have been stratospheric in Scotland so there are fears of a significant fall - with one former SNP insider saying today that keeping 20 seats would be a good night for the party.

Good morning to those joining us for the SNP manifesto launch - and, of course, to those who have stuck it out with us across the morning.

So - how are we planning to cover this?

The manifesto is due to be published at 11:00 BST on the SNP website. As soon as that lands, we'll start combing through it and bring you the main pledges.

We've also got a team of correspondents on hand in Edinburgh, Glasgow and across the BBC who will provide analysis on those pledges.

Meanwhile, our own team of writers will fire out text updates from the launch event and any incoming reaction to the manifesto.

You will also be able to follow the launch live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

We've got 10 minutes to go, so hang tight and stick with us.