NICOLA Sturgeon has led a backlash against Conservative Party leadership candidates who have vowed to block a second Scottish independence referendum.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart have both taken to Twitter to state that they would oppose a Section 30 order if elected prime minister.

The announcements have been met with a barrage of criticism from Scots on social media.

Responding to reports that Nicola Sturgeon had published a bill for a second Scottish independence referendum, Javid said: “If I become PM, I won’t allow a second Scottish independence referendum. People stated views clearly in 2014, so there should be no second vote.

“Nicola Sturgeon should spend more time improving public services in Scotland, and less time grandstanding.”

Sturgeon responded to Javid’s threat and criticism of the SNP’s record while in office.

She tweeted: “Memo to Tory leadership candidates: A majority of Scots – independence supporters and opponents alike – will not accept being told by a Tory PM that we are not ‘allowed’ to choose our own future (& PS, you have a lot to learn about good public service delivery from @theSNP gov)”

The First Minister made the comments as the Referendums (Scotland) Bill was introduced at Holyrood, setting out the rules and regulations for any future vote.

The second half of 2020 has already been earmarked as a possible time for another Scottish referendum.

Sturgeon had earlier said that it would be a "democratic outrage" if Westminster were to block Scotland from holding a second referendum.

Tory leadership hopeful Stewart, meanwhile, said on Twitter that candidates must remember that “the key is to unify the country and not divide the United Kingdom”.

Later asked about the prospect of another independence vote, Stewart added: “It is a No.”

Outraged Scots made their thoughts known on Twitter.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead quoted renowned Irish nationalist poet Charles Parnell Stewart to get his point across.

Holyrood colleague Chrstina McKelvie said that Javid’s comments destroyed the argument that the UK was an equal partnership.

SNP MP Angus MacNeil added: 

The party's Westminster leader said: 

Joanna Cherry also hit out at criticism of the SNP's management of public services.

Activists and independence supporters also had their say ...