THE SNP is "poised" and in a "state of campaign readiness" to fight a second independence referendum, according to its deputy leader Angus Robertson.
In the event of a snap vote being called the party would be in a strong enough position whenever that came, he claimed.
Robertson issued the rallying cry to independence supporters in an interview with the Sunday Herald after he was overwhelmingly elected as the SNP's deputy leader at the party's annual conference in Glasgow.
He said the SNP's campaign HQ was "gearing up for all eventualities" in the coming months as the Brexit process continues and Scotland faces the prospect of being dragged out of Europe against its will.
Robertson, who is also the SNP leader at Westminster, is one of the party's most influential figures and ran its successful Holyrood election campaigns in 2007 and 2011.
The Moray MP has been widely tipped as a likely candidate to be placed in charge of 'Indy Ref 2', although Robertson said he was "not aware of any decisions having been made" by Nicola Sturgeon about this.
However, Robertson hinted that he would be prepared to take up such a role on top of his position as deputy leader, which he won after taking more than 50 per cent of the vote in a ballot of SNP members.
He said: "I will be happy to contribute and support all our campaigning efforts. And I do have significant experience having been campaign director for the Scottish parliament election in 2007, 2011 and the independence referendum and will be happy to contribute again."
The deputy leader said the SNP was already in constant campaign mode after the 2015 UK General Election and 2016 Holyrood Election that are to be followed by the 2017 elections for Scotland's local councils.
However, he suggested the party's machinery was also focussed on preparing to campaign for a Yes vote in the event that the First Minister called a second independence referendum to seek to preserve Scotland's place in the EU.
Speaking about the party's strategy, he said: "You could characterise this campaign footing as being part of a growing capacity which would be really important in the event of another independence referendum.
"SNP members and grassroots members of the wider Yes movement are poised to take part in a campaign if that is that is what is required to protect Scotland's place in Europe and we're already going the length and breadth of Scotland speaking with voters.
"I am very confident that if it comes to another independence referendum that we will be well prepared but also with a prospectus that will provide the best future opportunities for Scotland economically, socially and as an outward nation."
Robertson underlined: "The SNP needs to be in a state of permanent state of campaign readiness.
"We have local government elections next year, so one of the reasons for the SNP being so successful in recent years is that we are campaigning constantly."
When asked if the SNP had a contingency campaign plan if a swift independence referendum was called in order to seek to preserve Scotland's EU status, he said: "We are gearing up for all eventualities in the months and years ahead."
He added: "We have a big job to do, not least because we need to reach out to the 55 per cent who voted No in 2014. If the UK Government is not prepared to respect the clear majority of votes in Scotland then we will reserve our position to hold a second referendum and secure Scotland's independence and continuing membership of the EU."
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