THE incompetence of the UK Government in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic will increase support for Scottish independence, Kenny MacAskill has said.
Writing in the Scotsman, the MP and former Holyrood justice secretary stated that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been shown to be "utterly hapless".
He contrasted this with what he said was a "virtually flawless" performance of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The FM has sought to keep party politics out of her handling of the pandemic, but MacAskill argued the virus outbreak could boost the cause of independence.
And fellow SNP MP Joanna Cherry declared: "I am working towards one goal alone and that is the goal of independence which most of our movement shares."
READ MORE: Joanna Cherry hits out at 'minority who stifle debate in the SNP'
It comes after Johnson eased restrictions in England and ditched the core "stay at home" message – which has remained in place in Scotland.
MacAskill suggested the current crisis could give the SNP the opportunity to pursue a "more radical agenda that's wanted by the wider membership".
He says as Scots emerge from the epidemic, they will be looking for a "better way" forward than as part of the UK.
Criticising the PM, MacAskill commented: "A man who cannot even safely look after his own country can't restrict the forward march of another. The road to independence is open."
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has argued Scotland has benefited from the "financial strength" of the UK Treasury during the Covid-19 crisis.
He said: "We're a very powerful economic machine in the UK and I know it is a bit of a Unionist message, and I am not shying away from that, I am not embarrassed to say it.
"But because Scotland is part of the United Kingdom we have benefited enormously from that financial strength of the Treasury."
READ MORE: Joanna Cherry: SNP activists must not be allowed to stifle open debate
However, MacAskill argued the "hope, if not expectation, of leading Unionists was that the Bank of England's unlimited printing of money would show the bounty of being British and the utter dependency of Scotland" had not been the case.
He said: "Instead more and more it's showing up the incompetence of the UK Government and that actually Scotland can most certainly do better. Folk are deciding that there's got to be a better way and there lies the difficulty for the Union.
"With the Tories firmly in charge there's little sign of change or even moderation. It's full on for Brexit and ever closer links with the USA.
"The demands that there has to be a better way, and indeed a diverging way, from the UK path are only going to increase."
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