First Minister eyes second independence referendum

JOHN

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Swinney has said there could be an independence referendum in 2028 if the SNP wins a majority in next month’s Holyrood elections.The Scottish first minister said he would want to press on with any such vote as quickly as possible.

He also insisted it would be achievable for Scotland to become an independent nation within 18 months if voters backed it in a referendum.

Mr Swinney, pictured below, told the Sunday Times this was based on the “experiences and timescales we had before”, citing the timetable set out by former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond in the run-up to the 2014 vote, which ended with a 55-45 per cent split in favour of the status quo.