A second referendum on Scottish independence could take place as soon as 2021, a senior SNP MSP has said.
Mike Russell, the government's constitution secretary, said he was "quite sure" a potential IndyRef2 could take place by the end of next year.
The veteran Nationalist said legislation paving the way for another referendum would be published before the next Holyrood election in May.
But the UK Government has already made it clear it will not loan the Scottish Government the powers required to make any referendum legally-binding.
Russell said if a majority of Scots endorsed SNP plans at next year's election another vote on independence "must happen".
Speaking on BBC Scotland, he said: "I'm not going to do anything other than assume that it will happen.
"If the Scottish people speak then they have to be heard."
He added: "In that case there will have to be a referendum and that could take place before the end of next year."
But pro-Union campaigners said Russell's comments were "irresponsible" as the country was still fighting a global health pandemic.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: "These are reckless and irresponsible comments from an SNP minister.
“We are in the midst of a devastating pandemic that is costing lives and it will take years for our NHS and economy to recover.
“The last referendum campaign paralysed politics, and to go through that again at this time would be devastating for Scotland.
“Rather than seek to divide Scotland like this, we have a brighter future as part of the UK.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “This crisis is far from over. Around 100,000 jobs are at risk and businesses are closing right now, some of them for good.
“The immediate priority of people across Scotland is fighting this pandemic and saving jobs.
“Unbelievably, the architect of the SNP’s Referendum Bill is calling for another independence referendum as early as next year.
“It’s staggering that they would even contemplate dragging the country through that at the moment. In less than 14 months’ time, they would have Scotland divided and distracted from the huge challenges we’re facing."
