DOUGLAS Ross has been labelled a hypocrite after accusing Nicola Sturgeon of not devoting her full attention to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Tory leader attacked the First Minister because she refused to abandon hopes of securing a second independence referendum in the aftermath of May’s Holyrood election.

Sturgeon has rejected any suggestions that contemplating an independent future during the pandemic was a “distraction”, stating that it’s only natural that countries consider a different way forward during a crisis.

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But in response to her comments, and a continued surge in Covid-19 cases, Ross reacted angrily on social media.

He posted: “Today we have been reminded that the virus is sadly not yet behind us.

“But at the time when all our focus should be on defeating covid-19 & building Scotland back better, Nicola Sturgeon's mind is on another divisive referendum.”

The Moray MP’s claims that the First Minister had taken her eye off the ball were countered by the SNP’s Stewart McDonald.

He pointed out that the Scottish Tory leader has been repeatedly criticised for missing important political dates to carry out his second job as a football linesman.

Ross has, on separate occasions, missed a Commons vote, an immigration debate, a coronavirus meeting and a veterans memorial service to run the line at football matches.

McDonald, highlighting the various examples, tweeted: “The First Minister is focused on the pandemic and the policy platform she was elected on. You, on the other hand...”

READ MORE: Douglas Ross missed Covid lockdown meeting to be linesman at Ibrox

Speaking to The National, the SNP MP added: “In a crowded field, the man has some brass neck to have a go at anybody when it comes to focusing on the job in front of them.”

The First Minister dismissed claims that she was being distracted from the pandemic by her support of Scottish independence during an interview on Channel 4 News.

She pointed that out the official campaign was paused in March when the virus hit.

“Literally every day between now and then I have rightly, as is my duty to the Scottish people, been focused on trying to deal with and tackle the Covid pandemic,” Sturgeon said. “That will remain the case for as long as we are in the grip of this pandemic.”

She explained: “As we start to recover from this, all societies, all countries are asking themselves: What country do we want to recover to? What changes do we want? What kind of countries do we want to be?

“It’s an opportunity to tackle some of the deep-seated problems like inequality and poverty. And for Scotland that involves the consideration of who holds the levers? Where do the powers lie?

“And that of course brings to the fore the question of independence – being in charge of our own future. Part of that becoming again part of the European family of nations.”

The FM continued: “And that’s not a distraction from that process of recovery, that’s part and parcel of making sure we are deciding as a country in Scotland what we recover to, and that’s not being driven by a UK Government that’s values are very different to the majority of Scotland.

“But right now, my focus as First Minister every single day, literally every hour of every single day, is making sure that I am steering this country as safely as possible through this pandemic.”