FORMER Scottish secretary Michael Forsyth called the SNP the wrong name twice during a Question Time debate on Scottish independence.

The former Tory MP for Stirling insisted that Scotland should be focused entirely on its Covid-19 recovery rather than a new referendum on leaving the Union.

Appearing on the panel alongside Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, Labour’s last remaining MP in Scotland Ian Murray, businessman Stephen Fitzpatrick and commentator Angela Haggerty, with a virtual audience based in North East Scotland, Forsyth said: “I just find it utterly unbelievable and Scotland is not the Scottish Nationalist Party – and the Scottish Nationalist Party shouldn’t take the electorate for granted.”

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The peer was not immediately called out for his use of the phrase, which has seen Boris Johnson told off by the Speaker in the House of Commons.

SNP stands for “Scottish National Party” but Johnson and other Tories often say “nationalist” instead as a tactic to anger their opponents.

Later in the programme an audience member referenced Johnson’s repeated use of “Scottish Nationalist Party”.

READ MORE: WATCH: Speaker silences Boris Johnson for trying to mock the SNP

The participant told the panel: “I’m an SNP supporter and I voted for independence and I think if Boris doesn’t want the Scottish people to keep asking for independence, a good start would be to get the SNP’s name right, that would be a good start I think.”

Host Fiona Bruce then addressed Forsyth’s use of “Scottish Nationalist Party”.

“What, as opposed to calling it the Scottish – which you did as well Michael, the Scottish Nationalist Party?” she asked. “You know it’s the Scottish National Party. But you’re making a point with that.”

Freeman could then be heard saying: “It’s the Scottish National Party.”

Bruce moved on to ask Fitzpatrick for his contribution to the debate on independence from a business person’s perspective.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.

READ MORE: WATCH: Boris Johnson refuses to use correct name for the SNP

In the Commons the Tory leader has often wound up SNP representatives by using the incorrect name for the party.

This week Johnson was not able to finish his response to the party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford after he used the wrong name.

The National:

The Speaker intervened, stating: “We both know you’re only teasing [Blackford] and trying to wind up the [Westminster] leader of the SNP. Please, let’s drop it.”

Last month Blackford corrected the Prime Minister on the phrase, complaining that he had been told before and “really should get it right”.

And on December 30, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was forced to caution Johnson over the term.

"In fairness I have pointed it out in the past,” he said. “It is the Scottish National Party, Prime Minister."