Patrick Harvie has argued that votes for the Scottish Greens at the next general election should be counted as part of Nicola Sturgeon's mandate for independence.
The First Minister wants a referendum to take place on October 19 next year but many experts believe Supreme Court judges will rule her government lacks the powers to stage such a vote.
The SNP leader last week announced her Plan B would be to use the next UK general election as a "de facto" referendum where her party would campaign on the single issue of independence.
