Alex Salmond has urged the Scottish Government to start the "firing gun" on holding another independence referendum.
The former First Minister insisted there will be "no problem with unity" during a future vote on Scotland's future despite his disagreements with the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has committed her SNP/Green government to a second referendum by the end of 2023 and preparatory work is already being undertaken.
The SNP leader is looking for a joint agreement with the UK Government to underpin a vote, however Prime Minister Boris Johnson's refusal means she may opt for a Holyrood-only Bill.
With Sturgeon committed to holding a vote by the end of next year Salmond is calling for the campaign to get underway as soon as possible.
Sturgeon is expected to set out her vision for an independent Scotland next week in a document which will be the first in a series of papers around the subject.
Speaking on the BBC's The Sunday Show Salmond urged the Scottish Government to get the campaign underway.
He said: "Presumably the Scottish Government are worried that Boris Johnson is going to say no.
"I mean, if you know he's going to say no you have to let him say no then do something about it. It's not really a strategy by just not asking the question.
"You have to ask the question if you're to mobilise a political campaign, a legal campaign, a diplomatic campaign to change his mind.
"I would have thought that this is rather a good time to put pressure on a Westminster Government."
Host Gary Robertson asked Salmond if Sturgeon should lead any future campaign.
He said: "Nicola has been elected as the head of the Scottish Government, inevitably she will lead the independence campaign.
"There will be no problem with unity in the independence campaign once the starting gun is fired.
"The elements of disagreement in the independence campaign are people's doubts and question marks as if we're going to have that referendum or that electoral test next year.
"That's been promised, no ifs, no buts. Let's go forward on that basis. Once that starting gun is fired then the independence campaign will unite."
Robertson asked: "Do you see a roll for yourself?"
"I've been fighting for independence all my life and I'll continue to argue for it and I look forward to a referendum campaign where I'll be able to argue a bit more."
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