THERESA May has rejected the First Minster's call for a new independence referendum - provoking a furious response from Nicola Sturgeon who said such a move would be "undemocratic".
On Monday, Sturgeon said a new vote on Scotland's future should take place between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019, once the terms of Brexit would known and before the UK had left the EU.
But in a television interview at lunchtime today May said: "Right now we should be working together, not pulling apart.
"We should be working together to get that right deal for Scotland, that right deal for the UK as I say that's my job as Prime Minister and so for that reason I say to the SNP: now is not the time."
Speaking to ITV News's Robert Peston, the Prime Minister said that the focus of the entire UK should be on the forthcoming Brexit negotiations and a new vote on Scottish independence would make it more difficult to get a "good deal" with the remaining 27 member states.
"So when the SNP Government say that it's the time to start talking about a second independence referendum I say that just at this point all our energies should be focused on our negotiations with the European Union about our future relationship," she said.
"And to be talking about an independence referendum will, I think, make it more difficult for us to be able to get the right deal for Scotland, and the right deal for the UK.
"More than that I think it wouldn't be fair to the people of Scotland because they'd be asked to make a crucial decision without the necessary information without knowing what the future partnership will be or what the alternative for an independent Scotland would look like.
The First Minister responded angrily with a series of posting on Twitter.
"ScotGov is not proposing #scotref now...but when the terms of Brexit clear and before it is too late to choose an alternative path."
In further messages, she added: "A section 30 order must be discussed and agreed now to enable that timescale."
Before continuing: "If the Tories refuse to do so, they would effectively be blocking Scotland's right to choose when the Brexit terms clear...
"This would be undemocratic given @scotgov clear mandate and also proof positive that the Tories fear the verdict of the Scottish people."
In the Commons, the SNP's Pete Wishart warned ministers that any attempt to block a referendum would simply backfire.
"Surely there can be no case for standing in the way of democracy and defying the will of the democratically elected parliament in Scotland." he said.
"If this Government are thinking for one minute of standing in the way of Scottish democracy, it will be the biggest recruiting sergeant possible for the cause of Scottish independence."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel