TORY ministers are setting out their anti-indyref2 positions, with Environment Secretary George Eustice saying granting a vote would be "irresponsible".
Voting is again underway to determine the size of the pro-independence majority at Holyrood.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to plough ahead with plans for a follow-up poll, as her party’s chances of taking more than 65 seats in the Scottish Parliament remained in the balance.
With the SNP leader’s strategy putting her on a collision course with the Prime Minister, who has insisted he would not support an “irresponsible” referendum, senior minister George Eustice said it was the wrong time to be considering another plebiscite.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon to push on with indyref2 if Boris Johnson refuses new vote
“We think this is a complete distraction,” Eustice told Times Radio.
“It would be irresponsible to have another divisive referendum and another bout of constitutional debate at a time when we are charting our way out of this pandemic and when we’ve got to really focus on economic recovery.
“We think it’s completely the wrong thing to be doing.
“We had a referendum just a little over five years ago and that settled the issue.”
His comments come after Boris Johnson told the Daily Telegraph another referendum would be “irresponsible and reckless” in the “current context” as Britain emerges from the coronavirus crisis.
The Environment Secretary looked to shift the conversation away from there being a clash in the courts between No 10 and the SNP over the issue.
Asked whether the UK Government would fight any bid for a second Scottish referendum in the courts, he told BBC Breakfast: “Look, I’m not a lawyer – lawyers will look at these things and I think it is getting ahead of ourselves.
“There is a question at the moment over whether the SNP will get a majority or not – we’ll have to wait and see until the results come through.”
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