SCOTTISH Tories are trying to “gerrymander” a second Scottish independence referendum “everyone knows is coming”, Michael Russel has said.

Writing in his column for The Scotsman, Scotland’s Constitutional Affairs Secretary referred to a Twitter conversation between Conservative MSP, Murdo Fraser and Adam Tomkins.

During that exchange, Tomkins tweeted: “That sound you can hear are Nats scrambling in panic to pour cold water on the notion that any future indyref2 could be “leave/remain” rather than “yes/no”. Happy 5th anniversary, by the way.”

His Tory colleague responded: “Leave/Remain and a Two-thirds majority required. Bring it on,” adding a winking emoji.

Russell said the exchange showed that Unionists are determined to rig the question in an “almost comically leading” way.

He added: “So there we have it. The current Tory focus on the issue of the question for indyref2 has nothing whatsoever to do with the high-minded ideals their MSPs publicly proclaim.

“It has everything to do with a transparently calculated attempt to rig the question in a way that they believe favours their preferred outcome.”

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday raised concerns that pro-Union parties were trying to rig indyref2 by changing the question.

The National:

READ MORE: Sturgeon raises fears over Unionists' bid to ‘rig’ indyref2 plans

The First Minister was responding to question from Richard Leonard who asked during First Minister’s Questions if Russell Russell or the Electoral Commission was more neutral in setting the rules of a future independence referendum.

Russell had earlier said that the question did not need to be tested by the Electoral Commission because the body had already tested it in 2014.

Sturgeon echoed the words of Russell in her response to the Scottish Labour leader: “The question was tested by the Electoral Commission.

“And more than that, the question was tested in the reality of a referendum. And I don’t know anybody in Scotland who say anything other than that question was clear, comprehensible and completely transparent.

“It seems to me that Labour and the Tories have now realised that they will not be able to block the right of the Scottish people to choose their own future, so they are now wondering how they can rig the whole process.”

Russell also pointed out in his column that the Yes/No question had been used in almost 60 opinion polls since the 2014 referendum.

He went on to point out that while the tone of the exchange between Fraser and Tomkins “was superficially jocular, the underlying intent was anything but”.

He added: “Murdo Fraser took to the pages of this newspaper earlier this week, accusing the pro-independence side of trying to skew the terms of indyref2.

“The Scottish Tories, not for the first time, are guilty of projecting their own internal calculations and of a decided lack of irony and self-awareness.

“Loading the dice, stacking the deck, or just gerrymandering – call it what you like, the pattern in clear; Scottish Tories are witnessing the near disintegration of UK democracy under their party at Westminster and are so fearful of rising support for independence that they are openly resorting to the kind of suggestions which should be laughed out of the room.”