DOUGLAS Ross wants to form a Unionist coalition with the new Scottish Labour leader.

Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon, the two contenders in the race to succeed Richard Leonard, were approached on Twitter about forming a Better Together partnership.

The Scottish Tory leader has been branded "desperate" by the SNP. 

READ MORE: Ruth Wishart: Is Douglas Ross on to something with attempt to get Better Together going again?

He wrote: “If it means stopping the SNP and their push for indyref2, I would be part of a unionist coalition.

“The last Scottish Labour leader wouldn’t work with us.

“Will you @AnasSarwar @MonicaLennon7?”

READ MORE: Anas Sarwar emerges as early frontrunner for next Scottish Labour leader

The response from the Labour MSPs was unequivocal.

Sarwar wrote: “No, I won't. A quarter of Scottish kids are growing up in poverty while you and the SNP divide our country.

“Instead I will focus on bringing people together and rebuilding our country - not a return to the divisive politics of old.”

Lennon replied: “That’s very flattering Douglas … but it’s a red card from me.

“See you on the campaign trail where we’ll be fighting for radical social and economic change, not a political agenda that looks after the wealthy few.”

Hitting back, Ross wrote: "It’s taken the Scottish Labour candidates less than half an hour to rule out working with unionists against the SNP. They’ll always put tribal loyalties before the future of the United Kingdom."

READ MORE: What Scottish Labour's leadership candidates have said about independence

Voting in the Scottish Labour leadership contest will open on February 9, and run until February 26, with the winner announced at a special online event on Saturday, February 27.

Online hustings are expected to take place before the ballot opens.

Sarwar, the early frontrunner in the race, has vowed to block indyref2 for at least five years.

Lennon has argued that the party should not block a second independence referendum, but push to have far greater devolution included on the ballot as a third option.

The National: Monica Lennon

Commenting on Ross's request, SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said: “This is really desperate stuff from Douglas Ross as he tries to dust off the remnants of Better Together to form an anti-independence coalition in the Scottish Parliament.

“A majority of people in Scotland want an independence referendum in the next parliamentary term, so it is no wonder the Tories and Labour are fighting it out over an ever-dwindling number of votes.

“There are no depths the Tories won’t stoop to deny the people of Scotland their democratic right to choose a better future.”

He added: “Scottish Labour should think long and hard about whether they want to enter this toxic partnership as around one in 3 of their supporters are in favour of independence. Going into coalition with the Tories would sound the final death knell for Labour in Scotland.

“Ultimately, the decision on the future of Scotland will be in the hands of the people of Scotland, not the Tories or the Labour party.”