New generation of Scots deserve fresh vote on independence, says Swinney

Giving Scots a fresh vote on the country’s place in the UK in a second independence referendum “has never been more important, more urgent or more necessary”, John Swinney has said.

The Scottish First Minister said to achieve another vote he is “determined” to see the SNP win a majority of seats at next May’s Holyrood election.

That would repeat the party’s success in 2011, which led to the 2014 independence referendum.

That ballot, in which a majority of Scots voted to remain part of the UK, was described at the time as being a “once in a generation” opportunity.

Responding to opponents who say it is too soon for another ballot, Swinney said: “By 2030, there will be one million young Scots eligible to vote who were too young in 2014.

“Some of them will not even have been born then.