SCOTS LibDem leader Willie Rennie yesterday launched an attack on the body that represents Scotland's charities, describing the SCVO as a "front organisation" for the SNP Government.
He accused Martin Sime, chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, of allowing the umbrella body to be used in a behind-the-scenes Government bid to ensure a second question on greater devolution was included in the SNP's planned independence referendum.
Mr Rennie also said Mr Sime should "consider his position".
He spoke out after The Herald revealed a private email between Alex Bell, an adviser to Alex Salmond, and Mr Sime.
The email drew Mr Sime's attention to a poll showing a majority of members of the Unite trade union favoured a 'more powers' question.
Pro-UK parties accused the SNP Government of helping build the case for a second question while publicly voicing support for a straightforward Yes/No vote on independence.
Mr Rennie said: "Martin Sime's behaviour is threatening the independence and credibility of the SCVO.
"I have suspected for some time that he was working closely with the SNP Government on the referendum but now we have hard evidence.
"Voluntary organisations will be alarmed that Mr Sime is allowing the SNP Government to use SCVO as a front organisation to make its case on the referendum."
Mr Sime said: "This statement is ludicrous. The whole story does not amount to a hill of beans as far as I'm concerned and the idea I'm being manipulated is completely laughable."
It came as the SNP's strategy minister Bruce Crawford met Scotland Office minister David Mundell in a bid to end the stalemate between the Scottish and UK governments over the referendum.
The UK Government said both sides had agreed a deal must be in place by October if a referendum in the autumn of 2014 is to be made legally watertight by a Section 30 Order.
However the SNP Government emerged from the Edinburgh meeting saying "no final conclusions were reached" on the timetable.
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