DOWNING Street has responded to announcements from Scottish Government ministers that it has restarted work preparing for a second independence referendum.

On Monday, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said that now Scotland is in a "much improved situation” in terms of the coronavirus pandemic, work has once again begun on securing a vote on Scotland's future.

Also the Covid Recovery Secretary, Swinney told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: "We took the sensible decision back in March 2020 to pause all preparations for an independence referendum despite having a mandate to do so.

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"We now find ourselves in a position where we are in a much improved situation. We have very modest measure left in place to protect against Covid.”

Monday, January 24 saw the easing of most of Scotland's Covid restrictions apart from baseline measures such as wearing of face coverings in indoor public spaces and on public transport.

It follows Nicola Sturgeon saying over the weekend that the Government would decide "within weeks" when it would introduce legislation to pave the way for indyref2.

Downing Street has responded to the assertions by the SNP Scottish Government that is making plans on a manifesto commitment.

Boris Johnson's official spokesperson has said that the focus of both governments should be "on the most pressing challenges facing the United Kingdom".

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The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said: “People in Scotland rightly expect focus of both their governments and energy to be squarely on recovering from the effects of the pandemic and working together to achieve that.”

The official added: “There are going to be long-standing challenges caused by this global pandemic. I think certainly it’s what is at the forefront of the public’s mind.

“They want the full focus to be on the most pressing challenges facing the United Kingdom, these issues that make a real difference to them and their families, whether these are issues facing the health service on catching up with hours lost in education.”