UNIONISTS have reacted furiously to Pete Wishart’s independence “route map”.

The long-serving SNP MP put forward his ideas in a blog post on Tuesday, in which he suggested Scotland should consider turning to the EU to sanction a referendum.

Wishart said that in an ideal situation, once support for independence has been built up, stage two of the process would be “winning a majority and securing an irrefutable mandate” and then moving “quickly to a referendum in agreement with, and participation of, the UK”.

He went on: “If the UK continues to block us then this is when we should be prepared to move beyond the Section 30 process. This is when we move into stage 3 and into the territory of ‘all options’ as suggested by the First Minister.”

He said that should this happen, it should be presumed that the rest of the UK has “decided to exempt themselves from their obligations and responsibilities as a partner in the Union”, thereby giving Scotland “the grounds to seek to secure our independence without their participation”.

“This should involve a referendum designed in Scotland where a last invitation is offered to the UK to participate to put the case to remain in the Union,” Wishart added. “A request to the EU to sanction this referendum should be made and every attempt to involve them in the designing of that referendum should be pursued.”

READ MORE: Pete Wishart: We should ask EU to sanction indyref2 if Tories refuse

The MP for Perth and North Perthshire was met with a mixed reaction – though Unionists made their views quite clear. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser simply tweeted “This is deranged” in response to a news article on Wishart’s proposals.

Pamela Nash of Scotland in Union said: “It tells you everything about the SNP that Pete Wishart’s priority is a route map to separation, rather than a route map to economic recovery for the people of Scotland.”

And some were left unsure on the plan, with Kirsty Hughes adding: “Will EU recognise an independent Scotland if there isn’t agreement between London and Edinburgh – key question, unlikely and [very] tricky. EU won’t negotiate accession with a substate.

“But any Plan B debate needs to consider impact on/how to engage in dialogue with EU as this starts to.”

For the most part, however, the MP’s route map was welcomed, with many applauding it for being “concrete” and coherent.

James Proctor, convenor of SNP Edinburgh Central, said: “Great work @PeteWishart.

“The most concrete thing I have seen on the subject in a while, and crucially, a plan that focuses on the need to convince undecideds as opposed to using loopholes or shortcuts.”

READ MORE: Wishart calls for EU-backed independence referendum if Tories say no

Aberdeen Independence Movement also got behind Wishart, stating that they are “100% behind this plan”.

They went on: “A coherent and workable plan that the vast majority of the movement can get behind and those that can’t need left behind. While groups like ours get on with reaching out beyond the indy bubble.”

And writer Rupert Goodwins tweeted: “If you don’t like this road map to independence, then come up with a better one.

“It will still have to have a solid, abiding majority support, it will still have to exhaust the existing mechanisms, it will still have to be done in impeccable good faith.”

Wishart’s blog post came as calls for considerations towards a “Plan B” for independence have been increasing as of late, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the UK Government refusing an extension to the Brexit deadline.