Scottish independence 'within reach' - Swinney

SCOTTISH independence is "within reach", John Swinney has said.

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The First Minister and SNP leader made his prediction after a poll projection put his party just one seat short of a majority at this year's Holyrood election.

A survey by More in Common this week projected that the SNP would win 64 seats after May, with Reform and Labour battling it out for second place and the Tories potentially falling to joint fourth with the Lib Dems.

The First Minister has set the bar for another vote on independence at the SNP winning a majority of seats, though the UK Government has rejected even discussing granting another vote.