ALISTER Jack has been urged to get his facts straight after refusing to accept the Scottish Government has a mandate for a second independence referendum.

The Scottish Secretary insisted indyref2 should not go ahead because Nicola Sturgeon has “gamed” the electoral system.

But that assertion was based on the false claim that the pro-Yes Scottish Greens – who have signed up to a co-operation deal with the SNP – did not put up candidates in constituency votes in this years’ Holyrood election.

Asked why he believes the First Minister does not have a mandate, Jack told STV it was because she did not secure an outright majority, despite the SNP and Greens forming a pro-independence majority.

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He added: “When Alex Salmond came forward with the Alba Party, she [Sturgeon] said he was gaming the system. She said he wasn’t standing on the first part the post list, it was just on the regional lists. And that she called gaming the system.

“Well the Greens didn’t stand first past the post, so by her own definition she’s gaming the system.”

However, the Greens did in fact contest first past the post votes in May, fielding candidates in a dozen constituencies.

Scottish Green activist Guy Ingerson commented: “The Scottish Secretary isn’t very well informed about Scottish politics it seems… @ScottishGreens stood in 12 constituencies. I should know, I stood in one of them. No ‘gaming’ of the system involved.”

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson added: "Eh hud on a minute, you’re proper clutching now Secretary of State.

"I quite clearly remember [Greens co-leader] @lornaslater standing in the Edinburgh Northern & Leith constituency for the @scottishgreens in the [Scottish Parliament] election … By the way, she came 3rd – your party was 4th!"

Jack went on to rule out another referendum for at least 25 years, which he deemed to be a “generation”.

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Setting out in the circumstances in which he believes a second vote should go ahead, the Tory minister said: “The trigger in my mind, and I look to the situation in Northern Ireland for instance, if 60% of people wanted a referendum and that position was sustained for over 12 months, if 60% of people wanted independence and that position was sustained for over 12 months, then I can see there would be a desire for a referendum.

“But [referendums] can’t come every five or six or seven years. The SNP would only have to win once if we just keep asking the question.” The Scottish Government has stated that it intends to hold indyref2 by the end of 2023, Covid permitting.