Swinney will call vote on referendum powers after Scottish elections

Top aide says SNP leader will seek approval to press for independence even if he fails to win majority on 7 May

John Swinney will call a vote seeking independence powers on the first day of the next Scottish parliament even if he fails to win an overall majority, his aides have said.

The Scottish National Party leader’s senior adviser indicated that if necessary, he would rely on support from the pro-independence Scottish Greens to win that vote in order to demand the UK government gives Holyrood the legal powers to hold a second referendum.