It was reported today that ministers spent the day contacting companies and trade bodies to discuss the new break-up plans.
This is despite the SNP saying it is focused on the day job, and that areas like education and health are its “priority”.
According to reports, one recipient of a phone call said the minister in question was keen to “allay fears” surrounding a new vote, and that it might not happen until after Brexit was concluded.
On the same day, it emerged a school in education secretary John Swinney’s local area was appealing to parents to come in and help with maths tuition, such was the shortage of teachers.
And today, figures have revealed accident and emergency departments across the country – including at Scotland’s newest flagship hospital – continue to miss targets.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said:
“This is a farcical use of government ministers’ time when they are supposed to be focused on the day job.
“Schools are having to ask parents to come in and fill teaching gaps, people are waiting too long at A&E and Police Scotland is in crisis.
“Yet the SNP thinks the best use of senior ministers’ time is to embark on a ludicrous ring around of businesses to put down a marker on independence – surely more appropriately a job for SNP party apparatchiks?
“Nicola Sturgeon’s statement that her government’s priority is matters such as education is now exposed as a lie.
“The SNP should reveal exactly who spent time on these calls, who they were to, what was said, and exactly what the nationalists thought would be achieved by making them.”