The Scottish Government has published a draft independence referendum Bill

It will be presented to Holyrood after the Election in May and if passed would push for a second referendum after the covid pandemic and in the first half of the next parliament.

The proposed question would be the same as in the 2014 referendum “should Scotland be an independent country? With the option to vote Yes or No.

Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said it would be for a future Scottish Government after May to formally introduce it to Parliament as a Bill

Russell said: “Our top priority will continue to be dealing with the pandemic and keeping the country safe, but we are optimistic that because of the incredible efforts of people across Scotland better times lie ahead.

“The Scottish Government believes it should be the people living in Scotland who have the right to decide how we recover from the pandemic and what sort of country we wish to build after the crisis.”

He added: “If there is a majority in the Scottish Parliament after the forthcoming election for an independence referendum there can be no democratic justification whatsoever for any Westminster government to seek to block a post-pandemic referendum.”

Opposition parties said the pandemic and then recovery must be the priority instead of a referendum.

Scottish Labour constitution spokesperson, Colin Smyth, said: “The focus for all of Scotland’s politicians should be on bringing the country together, and an independence referendum is not a priority at this time.

“Scottish Labour will focus on what unites us, not what divides us.

“In contrast to the SNP and Boris Johnson’s Tories, Scottish Labour will put our national recovery first.

“At this election, Scottish Labour is putting forward a National Recovery plan that will put the national interest before the nationalist interest.”

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: "It is beyond the comprehension of most Scots that Nicola Sturgeon considers this to be a priority.

"Scotland continues to be gripped by the gobal pandemic and even once normality slowly returns, the shockwaves will be felt for years to come.

"The SNP Government is mired in sleaze with nothing left to offer except yet more division and grievance.

“The motivation for this is as much to do with distracting people from the Sturgeon-Salmond scandal."

Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie said: "Holy moly, they've had people working on the referendum instead of dealing with the pandemic.

"Dozens of civil servants could have been planning to get cancer services running full speed but they've been ordered to do this instead.”

The Greens meanwhile backed the Bill being published.

Scottish Greens, co-leader Lorna Slater, said: “Scotland’s future must be in the hands of those who live and work in Scotland, and the Scottish Greens are asking people to vote like our future depends on it this May. Our manifesto will support a referendum on our shared future, and polls show we may be crucial in ensuring this bill passes.”