Nicola Sturgeon has promised to hold a second independence referendum in the next Scottish Parliament term, if she is re-elected.
The First Minister revealed her plans for a second vote on Scotland's future during the SNP 's manifesto launch earlier today.
The SNP says it is seeking permission from the Scottish people to hold indyref2 following the devastating coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 10,000 Scots.
Sturgeon said it would be a "dereliction of my duty" to hold a second vote while the country is fight Covid-19.
During the launch, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I do not propose holding an independence referendum while we are still grappling with the COVID crisis.
"That would be a dereliction of my duty as First Minister to dedicate all of my energies to leading us through the crisis.
"But it would also be a dereliction of my duty as First Minister - my duty to this and future generations - to let Westminster take Scotland so far in the wrong direction that we no longer have the option to change course.
"So it is my judgment that the people of Scotland should decide Scotland’s future through an independence referendum in the next term of Parliament.
"It should take place only when the crisis has passed, but in time then to equip our Parliament with the full powers it needs to drive our long term recovery.
"And after this election, if there is a simple, democratic majority in the Scottish Parliament for an independence referendum, there will be no democratic, electoral or moral justification whatsoever for Boris Johnson or anyone else to block the right of people in Scotland to decide their own future.
"I believe passionately that with the powers of independence we can do so much more for Scotland."
Scots will head to the polls on May 6 in what is expected to be one of the most important election campaign since Devolution in 1999.
The SNP manifesto states: "We are seeking the permission of the Scottish people in this election for an independence referendum to take place after the crisis.
"This would be within the next parliamentary term on a specific date to be determined by our democratically elected parliament.
"If the covid crisis has passed, the SNP intention is for the referendum to be within the first half of the five year term - once the crisis is over but in time to equip our Parliament with the full powers it needs to drive our long term recovery from Covid and build a better, fairer nation."
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