Dr Philippa Whitford told Independence Live that the SNP is being held back by the fact half of Scotland's adult population does not believe in Scottish independence. The SNP MP highlighted autumn 2022 as the preferred date for Nicola Sturgeon's party to target for Indyref2.

       Dr Whitford said: "I think we have to remember who it is we need to be talking to.

       "Everyone focuses on Boris Johnson's ability to stop us from doing what we want but actually, the thing that is holding us back is that half the adult population in Scotland don't yet believe in Scotland or do not believe in an independent Scotland.

       "I think all of us have a job to do.

       "It is not about convincing those who are already convinced, it is about convincing the 25 percent of people that are in the middle, that are utterly undecided or sort of no or sort of yes.

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       "All of us should be working on that all the time in our conversations."

       The SNP MP added: "It is not going to be this Autumn and we need a decent run-up to it.

       "I would love it to be the next Autumn so that we have got time to get on with it."

       The SNP won the 2021 Holyrood election falling just one short of an overall majority.

       The 2021 election victory was the SNP's fourth consecutive win in Scotland.

       Last month, former SNP leader Alex Salmond told LBC that Nicola Sturgeon risks handing the initiative to Westminster regarding Scottish independence if she continues to delay exercising her mandate from the 2021 Holyrood elections.

       He added that the SNP's victory in the Scottish Parliamentary elections makes the mandate for a second independence referendum absolutely clear.

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       Mr Salmond said: "I do not have the responsibility now, Nicola does.

       "My advice as far as it is worth would be to get on with it.

       "The longer this mandate is being delayed in being exercised the more the initiative will lie with Westminster."

       He added: "The mandate from this election for Nicola Sturgeon is absolutely clear."