DOUGLAS Ross has challenged Nicola Sturgeon to a debate this month on a second independence referendum.
In a speech yesterday, the Scottish Conservative leader attacked the SNP push for a new vote on the country’s future as the party prepares for the forthcoming Holyrood elections.
Ross said voters need to have a Covid-election but not a “Covid-referendum” as he also criticised the Scottish Government’s strategy to push ahead with a second vote despite the Prime Minister’s veto.
The First Minister was asked about Ross’s request to have a debate over a second independence referendum when she headed the Scottish Government’s briefing on the pandemic yesterday afternoon.
She did not agree to one and underlined her focus was on the pandemic, suggesting Ross’s intervention was hypocritical.
“I’m not going to spend too much time on a political question, except to say I’m a little bit confused,” she said.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross: Scots must boycott indyref2 if held without UK consent
“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.”
“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.”
Some 20 successive polls have recorded majority support for independence and ahead of the SNP’s conference last year the First Minister said she wanted a new vote in the early part of the next parliament.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross wants debate with Nicola Sturgeon on indyref2 this month
Other senior SNP figures including Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Constitution Affairs Secretary Michael Russell have said a second referendum could be held this year should the SNP win the Holyrood election and a record fourth term in government.
During his speech, Ross, MP for Moray, also said the Lord Advocate and Holyrood’s presiding officer should block a Holyrood bill to hold a second referendum, claiming the legislation would be outwith the competency of the Scottish Parliament.
He described it as an illegal referendum similar to that held in Catalonia.
“The SNP are not holding back. They’ve taken the gloves off and they’re going full-throttle for indyref2 right now,” he said.
“Which is why I am challenging Nicola Surgeon to a debate this month on Scotland’s future. If she believes that this referendum plan is an essential part of Scotland’s economic recovery from coronavirus, then she should explain it to the Scottish people.
“So let’s not wait for the election. Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader, let’s you and I debate our respective positions right now. If she thinks that now is the time to talk about a referendum, then there should be scrutiny of her plan.”
WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon hits back at Douglas Ross over indyref2 claims
He added: “So, if she is not prepared to disown this plan, then she should be prepared to defend it.”
Asked about the SNP’s new strategy to achieve independence and overcome the PM’s refusal to agree a new vote, 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 action would be not worthy of a democratic leader.
But Johnson has insisted a second vote should not take place until some 40 years after the 2014 referendum.
Former chancellor George Osborne has advised him to keeping saying no to a new vote.
The First Minister compared him last month to a “tim’rous beastie” afraid of losing a second vote.
Asked about Ross’s demand that the Presiding Office rule out a bill to stage a new vote as incompetent, Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “The Presiding Officer must issue a statement containing his view on whether or not a bill would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
“That function is exercised only at the point where a bill is presented for introduction.”
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