Scotland faces a "stark choice" between independence or remaining part of the UK, an SNP minister has claimed.
Angus Robertson said the Scottish Government would continue setting out its case ending the Union despite plans for an IndyRef2 being quashed by the Supreme Court.
He spoke after a decision to use Holyrood's first parliamentary debate of 2023 to discuss independence was branded "completely bonkers" by Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross.
But Robertson insisted that while it is “barely one week into the 2023”, the “stark choice facing people in Scotland is already clear”.
His comments came as he told how the Scottish Government would continue to make the case for independence despite the UK Supreme Court ruling in November that another referendum could not be held without Westminster’s consent.
Since then, polls have shown a rise in support for independence – with several surveys finding a majority for this.
Robertson said: "If the Westminster parties were hoping that in 2023 they can just put Scotland back in its box, then they have another thing coming.
"The stakes for Scotland have never been higher – the SNP will never give up on Scottish democracy and we will never stop fighting for a better future for the people of Scotland as an independent European nation."
Tuesday’s debate at Holyrood will see MSPs asked to reaffirm the belief “that the people of Scotland have the right to determine the form of government best-suited to our needs”, Robertson said.
The Constitution Secretary said: "We are barely one week into 2023 but the stark choice facing people in Scotland is already clear.
"On the one hand, the Westminster parties increasingly agree on issues such as austerity and Brexit – any change at Westminster will change little for Scotland.”
With the UK Government currently planning legislation to enforce minimum service levels in several sectors, including the health service, rail, education, fire and border security, Robertson said "draconian changes" to workers’ rights should "set alarm bells ringing".
He added that the proposals "make plain how limited this devolution settlement is, who is actually in charge of it and how determined the Tories are to dismantle it".
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