SNP conference renews independence push as Burnham visits Scotland

John Swinney will close the SNP conference in Aberdeen with a keynote promoting a second Scottish independence referendum while Labour PM Andy Burnham visits Scotland.

• Flynn urged prime minister Burnham to "bring it on" over an independence referendum, saying there is "no shortcut" to achieving independence.
• Swinney said he wants to hold a second independence referendum by 2031.
• Burnham is expected to visit Scotland on Friday to make the case for the union, overshadowing the SNP gathering.
• SNP MP Lara Bird said the union continuing in its current form is "absolutely farcical."