Humza Yousaf has defended appointing a minister for Scottish independence as part of his new-look government.
The recently appointed SNP leader, who succeeded Nicola Sturgeon this week, was grilled by MSPs today at his first session of FMQs.
It followed the announcement of his Cabinet team yesterday - which included a junior ministerial role for Jamie Hepburn focused on independence.
Douglas Ross accused Yousaf of not governing in the name of all Scots following his decision to use taxpayers' cash to fund the position.
But the Scottish Conservatives leader struggled to get his point across as proceedings in parliament were repeatedly interrupted by climate protesters.
When he was finally back on his feet, Ross said: "This is the largest government since devolution, with more ministers than ever before.
"But key ministerial posts relating to social security and tourism were abolished, yet a new minister for independence was created.
"Does the First Minister really believe that appointing a taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner is governing for all of Scotland?”
Yousaf hit back: “Yes, I make no apology whatsoever for having a minister for independence because my goodness, we need independence now more than ever before.
"We need it now more than ever before because in energy-rich Scotland, we have Scots who are fuel poor because of the UK Government’s policies.
"We need independence now more than ever before because we have more foodbanks in this country than at any other time than ever before because of over a decade of austerity.”
The new First Minister had earlier this week pledged to immediately request a Section 30 order from the UK Government to allow a second referendum on independence to take place.
But the move was immediately rebuffed by Westminster.
Ross said: “He has stuffed his Cabinet full of his predecessor’s lackeys, ministers with almost as poor a track record in Government as he has.
“He squeaked a win and then forced the former finance secretary Kate Forbes and her supporters out of Government in an act of petty vengeance.
“And now to shore up his position in his feuding party, he is back pushing independence because it is the only thing that unites the SNP.
“In these difficult times, Scotland needs a Government focused on the real priorities of people across Scotland and the big challenges we face.
“Yet we have one that is at war with itself and focused upon engineering further division.”
Yousaf however said he was “delighted to have appointed a Cabinet and a ministerial team that will build upon the legacy” of Ms Sturgeon and her deputy first minister John Swinney.
He dismissed Ross as being a “third rate politician leading a third rate party".
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