Swinney's Independence Push: 2028 Referendum, 18-Month Independence

0:00It's April 5th. Welcome in. This is Europe News Today, where European headlines meet AI. Scottish First Minister John Swinney just dropped a big update on Independence plans. He says if the SNP grabs a majority in next month's Holy Root elections, they could push for a referendum as early as 2028. And get this, he claims Scotland could actually become independent within 18 months. A voter say yes. He's basing that timeline on past experience, like the run-up to the 2014 vote. Back then, after the 2011 election, the goal was independence by 2016. Swinney wants to move fast on this if they win big. Scottish Labour's Neil Finley is firing back hard. He calls it Swinney's life-long obsession and worries a majority SNP would force UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cave on referendum demands. Labour leaders have shut down these calls before. The Finley fears a weak response. Swinney's brushing off his track record of four losses since taking SIP leadership

1:01from Westminster in 2001 to the recent general election. He points out polls flipped under him way behind when he started in May 2024, now leading strong. He says they're primed to win. With Holy Root votes looming, this independence talk is front and center, setting up a real clash on Scotland's future path.