NICOLA STURGEON’S support for two referendums in Scotland next year was called into question at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) today after her opponents sought clarification of the timing. 

Addressing the First Minister, interim Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said: “I’m just not sure the First Minister has thought through her big double referendum promise. 

“First Minister, clarify for me a simple question on timetabling: when is all this supposed to happen?

“Both referendums on the one day or on different days? Which vote would come first: indy ref, Euro ref, which?”

Dodging the question, Ms Sturgeon replied: “My priority is to give the people of Scotland the opportunity to choose independence next year.

“The people of Scotland voted to Remain by 62 per cent. That’s the referendum result I want to see honoured. 

“The question for Jackson Carlaw is: why is he so willing to ignore how the people of Scotland voted on that question?”

The scrutiny of Ms Sturgeon’s support for both referendums in one year comes amid growing confusion about the order of the votes and the impact each referendum result could have on the other.

Also at FMQs, Labour’s Richard Leonard highlighted a “growing crisis of mental health” causing teachers and social workers to leave work, asking the First Minister what the Scottish government intended to do in response.

Ms Sturgeon said both sectors had grown and that her government had increased investment in them.