FIRST Minister John Swinney used the first debate of the new Scottish Parliament to call for powers to hold a second referendum on independence.

Setting out his argument for the British government to grant a Section 30 order devolving the power, he put rejoining the EU at the centre of his case, telling MSPs: “We as a government have a vision that can truly transform our nation and its prospects.

“The one real change that can take us from this decade and more of political chaos and economic stagnation within the UK to greater security and prosperity as an independent member state of the EU.

“That’s the fresh start that Scotland so badly needs and, presiding officer, it is the future this parliament can endorse this afternoon.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar remained unmoved on the constitutional question, moving an amendment dropping calls for a Section 30 order. 

“If you look at the balance of the motion we’re being asked to vote on today, it’s overwhelmingly about one issue and one issue alone, and that is the SNP First Minister’s only ambition and only obsession, and that is the issue of independence,” he said.

“To hear someone that has been in 20 years to plead for some kind of fresh start, frankly people will not believe it. 

“This is a government and this is a first minister that has spent more time in the last 20 years telling Scotland what he can’t do rather than what he can do. 

“We need a different kind of government. Not more gimmicks, not more grievance, but actually getting things done.”

Amendments from the Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens having fallen, the SNP government motion passed.