The Scottish Greens co-convenor has said that the UK Government's opposition to a second independence referendum "can't hold for long".
Speaking after being returned to the Scottish Parliament as the joint leader of an eight-strong group of MSPs, Patrick Harvie said that Boris Johnson's Conservatives were relying on "legalisms" to block a second indyref, and had no "political credibility.
Mr Harvie, who did not rule out entering a formal coalition with the SNP, believes such an apporach is doomed to fail in the face of an election result which saw a pro-independence majority established at Holyrood, and said that the UK Government's position is "weak".
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon tells Boris Johnson: Indyref2 now 'a matter of when - not if'
Mr Harvie's comments come after Nicola Sturgeon told Boris Johnson a second independence referendum is "a matter of when not if” in the wake of the SNP’s landslide election win.
The First Minister made the assertion in a phone call with the Prime Minister, despite senior Tories questioning her mandate and the legality of her tactics.
Nicola Sturgeon has told Boris Johnson it's 'when not if' on Indyref
The Greens co-leader told the BBC: "The arguments that are playing out now are a little bit of positioning and shadow-play, at this early stage
"I think [this] exposes the fact that the UK Government looks likely to rely only on leagalisms and not on any sense of political credibility.
"This is a UK Government that has started routinely legislating in devolved areas, not just without the consent of the Scottish Parliament, but against the explicity refusal of consent."
He added: "So they have no resepect for the devolution settlement and the idea that they now only have this argument that one interpretatiomn of the Scotland Act would prevent a devolved parliament from deciding to have a referendum when the people of Scotland have decided to - it exposes how weak their position is.
"If all they have is legalisms and no political credibility then I think, very clearly, that can't hold for long."
READ MORE: SNP deputy leader Keith Brown calls for Indyref2 'at earliest possible opportunity'
Mr Harvie stood by the position that a second Indyref should take place within the next five years, but should wait until the Covid pandemic has eased.
However, he appeared to hint that he wanted to see an independent Scotland steer the economic recovery.
Patrick Harvie is co-leader of the Greens with Lorna Slater
He said: "There are areas where we simply come up against the fundamental limits of devolution.
"If we want to use this recovery phase as an incredible, historic opportunity to decide what kind of country we want to be - a fairer, more equal and greener country - then that has to involve the question where power lies and if Boris Johnson's Brexit Britian is the best context to be building that country."
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