Scottish First Minister John Swinney says the Scottish National Party (SNP) is “within touching distance” of winning a majority in Holyrood ahead of Thursday’s Scottish election. Both outlets report the statement as Swinney’s assessment of the party’s prospects for forming government after the vote. The reporting does not provide detailed figures, polling data, or the conditions under which an SNP majority would be secured, but it frames the claim as part of the campaign period leading into the election. The articles present the remarks as an attempt to convey confidence in the SNP’s ability to gain sufficient seats to command a governing majority in the Scottish Parliament. No additional policy changes, campaign pledges, or reactions from other political parties are included in the supplied excerpts. Overall, the two sources align on the timing—immediately ahead of Thursday’s election—and on the central message: Swinney believes the SNP is close to achieving a majority at Holyrood.