SCOTTISH Conservative leader Douglas Ross has challenged Nicola Sturgeon to a debate this month on a second independence referendum.
Speaking today, Ross said voters need to have a Covid-election but not a "Covid-referendum".
“The SNP are not holding back. They’ve taken the gloves off and they’re going full-throttle for indyref2 right now," he said.
“Which is why I am challenging Nicola Surgeon to a debate this month on Scotland’s future.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon outlines 'Plan B' to European newspaper readers
“If she believes that this referendum plan is an essential part of Scotland’s economic recovery from coronavirus, then she should explain it to the Scottish people.
“So let’s not wait for the election. Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader, let’s you and I debate our respective positions right now.
“If she thinks that now is the time to talk about a referendum, then there should be scrutiny of her plan."
WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon exposes Douglas Ross' hypocrisy over indyref2 debate
Nicola Sturgeon pictured at the National's independence rally in 2019. Photo: Colin Mearns
He added: “If she wants to return to party politics, then this is how political leaders put their ideas across, not in government press conferences.
“I won’t allow the SNP’s plan, to wreck our recovery, to go unchallenged and my side of the argument unheard.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross: Scots must boycott indyref2 if held without UK consent
“So, if she is not prepared to disown this plan, then she should be prepared to defend it."
Scottish Constitution Secretary Michael Russell last month published an 11-point plan to progress a referendum if Boris Johnson continued to fail to agree to one.
Part of the plan involved pushing ahead with legislation in Holyrood to hold a new vote.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said such a vote would be illegal while Ross today compared it to the referendum in Catalonia.
Sturgeon last week said the situation was not comparable to Catalonia and the vote could bring about independence.
She challenged Johnson to take legal action to stop the Holyrood bill saying such a move would be not worthy of a democratic leader.
The First Minister was asked about Ross's request to have a debate over a second independence when she headed the Scottish Government's briefing on the pandemic this afternoon.
She said: "I'm not going to spend too much time on a political question, except to say I'm a little bit confused.
"The leader of the Conservatives appears on one hand to not want me to talk about politics and focus on the pandemic which is exactly what I have been doing and will continue to do, my only focus right now is on the pandemic, and on the other hand he's challenging me to a debate on politics.
"You know I think he might be in danger of making himself look a bit silly.
"I think I'll leave others to play games on politics I've got a real job to do. And people can decide for themselves whether I'm doing it well or not, but I am absolutely 100% focused on leading this country through a pandemic.
"That's what I've done since this time last year and that is what I'm going to continue to do for absolutely, as long as necessary."
Some 20 successive polls have recorded majority support for independence.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel