Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats have rebuffed a Conservative invite to work together to defeat the independence movement.
The offer was launched in the wake of Friday’s announcement of the formation of the new Alba Party, to be led by fomer First Minister Alex Salmond.
The new party aims to deliver a ‘supermajority’ for independence in May’s Holyrood elections.
The Scottish Conservatives said: “Labour have refused our offer to work with pro-UK parties against the new threat of an independence super-majority. They’re in coalition with the SNP in six councils. They abstained in the vote against Nicola Sturgeon. They supported the SNP’s Hate Crime Bill.
“You can’t trust them to stand up to the nationalists anymore.”
Rejecting the Tory offer, Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “We deserve better than your desperate attempts to take us back to old arguments and the politics of the past.
“In case you hadn’t noticed Scotland is in the middle of a pandemic.
“This election is not some kind of game, it is about focussing on a national recovery.
“This election cannot be about an SNP psychodrama. It cannot be about Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond settling old scores. And it cannot be about your petty agenda of game playing.
This election must be about the people of Scotland, their families and a national recovery.
“As you have recognised yourself, one of the largest threats to the Union is the leader of your own party.
“Scotland has had enough of divisive politics which you and Nicola Sturgeon share. Both you and the SNP want to waste time and energy on the imagined conflicts that divide us.
“But in Scotland, child poverty has risen – and was rising before the pandemic hit.
“This is among countless issues where the blame lies at the feet of both your party in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood.
“A heartbreaking example of how the obsession with past disagreements fails people today.
“Rather than entertain your latest desperate plea for attention, I am focusing our energy on what matters – guaranteeing a fairer recovery and a stronger Scotland.
“Scotland deserves a better government and – as your letter demonstrates – it deserves a better opposition.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat campaign chair Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Lib Dems will work with others to deliver a constructive and ambitious plan for recovery but Douglas Ross’s politics are far too dark and divisive.
“We will focus on winning seats and ensuring that the next government is focused on putting the recovery first, not independence.
“As a football referee Douglas Ross has a knack for uniting the fans of opposing teams. As a party leader he seems to do the exact opposite.”