BORIS Johnson has been accused of trying to "block democracy" after he knocked back Nicola Sturgeon's request to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

After last month's election, where the SNP won 47 of Scotland''s 59 seats, the First Minister published a document outlining "Scotland's right to choose", making the case for the powers to hold a legally watertight referendum devolved to Holyrood permanently.

In his response to the First Minister, the Tory leader said he had "carefully considered and noted the arguments set out for a transfer of power from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament to allow for further independence referendums".

READ MORE: Boris Johnson's reply to Nicola Sturgeon's Section 30 request in full

But, he added, given that Sturgeon and Alex Salmond had made a "personal promise that the 2014 independence referendum was a 'once in a generation vote'" he could not agree to her request.

Johnson said the UK Government would "continue to uphold the democratic decision of the Scottish people and the promise that you made them. For that reason I cannot agree to any request for a transfer of power that would lead to further independence referendums".

He claimed another vote on the constitution would "continue the political stagnation that Scotland has seen for the last decade, with Scottish schools, hospitals and jobs again left behind because of a campaign to separate the UK".

The Prime Minister urged the SNP chief to work with him to "bring the whole of the United Kingdom together and unleash the potential of this great country".

Johnson's response is not surprising. Over the weekend his Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, had said the vote shouldn't happen in the lifetime of the First Minister.

Responding, Sturgeon said the Prime Minister's response had been anticipated, but she accused Johnson of trying to deny democracy.

The SNP leader said MSPs would be asked to "again endorse Scotland’s right to choose" before the end of the month. 

READ MORE: First Minister responds to Boris Johnson's Section 30 rejection

In a statement, the First Minister said: “The Tories are terrified of Scotland having the right to choose our own future. They know that given the choice the overwhelming likelihood is that people will choose the positive option of independence. The Tories – and their allies in the leaderships of Labour and the Lib Dems – lack any positive case for the Union, so all they can do is try to block democracy. It shows utter contempt for the votes, views and interests of the people of Scotland and it is a strategy that is doomed to failure. 

“While today’s response is not surprising – indeed we anticipated it – it will not stand. It is not politically sustainable for any Westminster government to stand in the way of the right of the people of Scotland to decide their own future and to seek to block the clear democratic mandate for an independence referendum. 

“The problem for the UK Government is that the longer they try to block a referendum, the more they demonstrate that the Westminster union is not a partnership of equals and the more support for independence will grow. It will also mean for the Tories that the loss of half of their seats suffered at the recent general election – fought by them on the sole issue of opposition to an independence referendum – will be only the start of their road back to political oblivion in Scotland.

“In short, as well as being unsustainable, the position set out today by the UK Government is also an entirely self-defeating one."