NICOLA Sturgeon has warned Douglas Ross he’s at risk of making himself “look silly” after challenging the First Minister to a debate on indyref2.
The Scottish Tory leader, who has repeatedly lambasted the SNP chief for speaking about independence during the pandemic, called for a one-on-one discussion later this month.
In a speech earlier, he said: “The SNP are not holding back. They’ve taken the gloves off and they’re going full-throttle for indyref2 right now.
“Which is why I am challenging Nicola Surgeon to a debate this month on Scotland’s future.”
The First Minister was asked about the comments during the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing.
She responded: "I'm not going to spend too much time on a political question, except to say I'm a little bit confused.
"The leader of the Conservatives appears on one hand to not want me to talk about politics and focus on the pandemic which is exactly what I have been doing and will continue to do, my only focus right now is on the pandemic, and on the other hand he's challenging me to a debate on politics.
"You know I think he might be in danger of making himself look a bit silly.”
She added: "I think I'll leave others to play games on politics I've got a real job to do. And people can decide for themselves whether I'm doing it well or not, but I am absolutely 100% focused on leading this country through a pandemic.
"That's what I've done since this time last year and that is what I'm going to continue to do for absolutely, as long as necessary."
READ MORE: Douglas Ross wants debate with Nicola Sturgeon on indyref2 this month
Last month, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell published an 11-point roadmap to indyref2 if Westminster continues to reject a Section 30 order request.
Part of the plan involved pushing ahead with legislation in Holyrood to hold a new vote.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said such a vote would be illegal while Ross today compared it to the referendum in Catalonia.
Sturgeon last week said the situation was not comparable to Catalonia and the vote could bring about independence. She challenged Johnson to take legal action to stop the Holyrood bill saying such a move would be not worthy of a democratic leader.
Some 20 successive polls have recorded majority support for independence.
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