SNP politicians have clashed over the party’s potential route to a referendum on independence.
The row spilled over between elected members and supporters as they discussed the leadership’s new 11-point plan for a second vote on leaving the UK.
Splits appeared between those backing Nicola Sturgeon’s push and those arguing for a much quicker “Plan B”.
On social media, Glasgow MSP James Dornan criticised - and blocked - Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil who has argued Sturgeon was too cautious against Boris Johnson’s blanket refusal.
Writing on Twitter, Dornan claimed: “Angus is in fact an MP who is only in Westminster because he stood on an SNP ticket. I appreciate this may come as some surprise to some of you.”
It led to a backlash from some independence supporters, including claims he was “sanctimonious” and showing “disdain”.
MSP Tom Arthur also responded on social media after criticism from supporters claiming he was moving to slow on independence.
He had earlier appealed to activists to stop saying Scotland is a “colony” and claimed campaigners would look “unhinged” if they pushed ahead with a protest outside the UK Government’s new Scotland Office HQ in Edinburgh during a pandemic.
Arthur claimed: “Underlying many of these attacks is, I presume, genuine frustration and a sense of alienation from the political process. However, there also seemed to be a brittleness and strong aversion to having views challenged - particularly from an elected politician.”
SNP councillor Chris McEleny - who backs the Plan B approach to push on with a referendum regardless of the PM’s resistance - meanwhile exposed another fault line in the party linked to hostility between Sturgeon and former leader Alex Salmond.
“It bitterly disappoints me to see our MSPs bickering online with the grassroots of the movement,” he said.
“Sadly I fear, and I hope I am wrong about this, but with so much leadership time getting spent in the mess they’ve created in regards to the inquiry into the the unlawful behaviour of the government, keeping their junior MSPs focused and in harmony with the wider independence movement has slipped off the radar.”
Mike Russell, the Scottish Government’s Constitution Secretary, presented the new 11-point document to the party’s national assembly on Sunday.
It says a “legal referendum” will be held after the pandemic if there is a pro-independence majority following May’s election.
The roadmap states any attempt by the UK Government to challenge the legality of the referendum in the courts will be “vigorously opposed”.
A Section 30 order – part of the Scotland Act 1998 which allows Holyrood to pass laws normally reserved to Westminster – was granted by the UK Government ahead of the 2014 independence referendum.
Russell said the UK Government could either agree that Holyrood already has the power to hold a second referendum or agree to a Section 30 order – something he said would put the question of legality “beyond any doubt”.
SNP campaign director Keith Brown MSP said: “The SNP National Assembly was a great success and I would like to thank the 1,000-strong members who took part.
“We had positive contributions from a wide range of members and constructive debate on the future of the SNP and independence.
"It was extremely encouraging to also see so many young members of the party taking part in the breakout conversations we had and summing up those in the main stage room at the end.
"This is their future and I am delighted to see so many of them engaged in such an important issue.
“It was also a great exercise to discuss a wide range of topics within the independence campaign, such as engaging with the international community and dealing with disinformation.
“The contributions made today at the National Assembly show we are ready to move forward into May’s election energised and give the people of Scotland the right to choose their independent future.”
