Nicola Sturgeon said a vote would only be held after "the Covid crisis has passed" but added the Scottish government intends to hold another independence referendum before the end of 2023. The government previously paused indyref2 plans due to the pandemic but the First Minister announced officials will resume work on a "detailed prospectus" in favour of independence.

       Ms Sturgeon added that the case for Scottish independence is a "strong one".

       But MSP Douglas Ross was quick to pick holes in the First Ministers speech, recalling a commitment made by Scottish politicians to put the country's recovery from the pandemic at the forefront of their political goals.

       Mr Ross pointed out that her Programme for Government speech to Holyrood mentioned Scottish independence "four paragraphs in" and accused her of getting her "priorities wrong".

       Hours after the announcement Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for a summit with Nicola Sturgeon and other government leaders.

       READ MORE: Boris throws out SNP's 'reckless' independence demand

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