NATS veteran Kenny MacAskill used his first day as an MP to tell Nicola Sturgeon to forget IndyRef2 for now — and focus on her day job.

In an astonishing swipe, he urged the First Minister to make “protecting public services” her priority.

2 Nicola Sturgeon sets out her case for a second referendum Credit: AFP

2 Kenny MacAskill said it was hard to see another indy vote any time soon Credit: Alamy Live News

And despite the party chief’s vow to hold an independence ballot next year, Mr MacAskill insisted it was hard to see that vote “coming any time soon”.

The ex-Justice Secretary, axed by Ms Sturgeon in 2014, said: “For the SNP, calling for IndyRef2 is fine but it’s protecting public services that will be the issue for the voter.”

He insisted Scots “put their faith” in the SNP to act as a “bulwark to England voting Tory” at last week’s election — in which he was elected MP for East Lothian.

Mr MacAskill, a close pal of ex-First Minister Alex Salmond, has been a vocal critic of Ms Sturgeon.

Earlier this year he claimed she had no plans to try again for a UK split before the Holyrood elections in 2021.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton hit out: “Even a former SNP minister can see his party’s record on public services is poor.

“They should be focusing on tackling crises in health and education.”

It comes after Ms Sturgeon called on Boris Johnson to transfer powers to Holyrood for a second independence referendum.

The SNP said they are now a "step closer" to IndyRef2 after the Scottish Parliament passed the Referendums (Scotland) Bill tonight.

christine.lavelle@the-sun.co.uk

Nicola Sturgeon manically fist bumps the air on hearing that Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has lost her seat to the SNP

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