Jackson Carlaw has been forced to apologise on Twitter for falsely accusing Richard Leonard of abstaining from the Referendums (Scotland) Bill vote today. 

The Bill, which seeks to lay out a framework for how future votes in Scotland are carried out, passed by 68 votes to 54 with two Labour MSPs abstaining. 

In a now-deleted tweet, Carlaw claimed that Richard Leonard had been one of the members who had abstained but has since retracted the comment and issued an apology. 

READ MORE: MSPs pass referendum Bill in paving the way for independence

He tweeted: "Correction & apology to Richard Leonard. He voted against the Bill today. The Labour abstentions were from Monica Lennon & Neil Findlay."

The passing of the Bill has been criticised by Unionist MSPs and celebrated by the pro-indy cohort for paving the way to another Scottish independence referendum. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is advocating another vote because of a "material change of circumstances", namely Scotland voting against Brexit.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley said his party could not support the Bill, adding: "The Bill we are debating today is a Bill to pave the way for an independence referendum to take place next year."

READ MORE: Ex-First Minister urges Labour to support indyref2

However, two Labour MSPs rebelled against their party and abstained. This is part of a recent trend where the General Election result cast doubt in some Labour politicians, some of whom are now crossing the line to support a second referendum.