The Scottish Government spent a quarter of a million pounds on its failed indyref2 legal case. Figures released by the Government show £251,728.69 was spent on the case which ended in November.
A panel of five justices ruled the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for an independence referendum without Westminster’s permission.
Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: “Taxpayers will be appalled that this significant sum of their money has been frittered away by the SNP.
“The fact legal experts said they were destined to lose makes it all the worse.
“It is a disgraceful waste of public money at a time when Scots are grappling with the cost-of-living crisis and our NHS is totally overwhelmed.”
“Households feeling the weight of the cost of living and patients suffering in pain as they wait for treatment will be absolutely baffled by this gross waste of public money.”
During the budget last week, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced £20million earmarked for a second referendum next year would instead go towards tackling fuel poverty.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “As the First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon) has previously set out, there has long been debate over whether the Scottish Parliament has the powers to legislate to hold a referendum.
“The Lord Advocate’s reference of this question to the Supreme Court was intended to achieve legal clarity on this point, which it has done so.
“In light of majority support within the Scottish Parliament for an independence referendum, Scottish ministers remain ready to engage with the UK Government at any point on delivering a referendum.
“In line with its Programme for Government commitments, the Scottish Government will continue to publish its Building a New Scotland prospectus series.”
The SNP’s depute leader, Keith Brown, said: “The only reason this case was necessary was because of the democracy-denying antics of the Tory Government at Westminster, egged on by their Labour and Lib Dem cheerleaders.
“The Westminster parties’ bid to block Scottish democracy is utterly unsustainable and will not prevail.”
News of the cost comes as the latest polling shows a second independence referendum would be close to call if it was held tomorrow with the No camp edging slightly ahead.
Of the 1,048 Scots interviewed by Savanta on behalf of the Scotsman newspaper, 46 percent would vote against independence, while 44 percent would vote in favour. Nine percent were undecided.
With undecided voters removed, the poll suggests the No vote would take a narrow lead with 51 percent, compared with 49 percent for Yes.
The results are unchanged since Savanta’s previous survey in October.
