KEIR Starmer has sought to quash any talk of a second independence referendum during his visit to Scotland.
The Labour leader insisted that even a deal between the Greens and the SNP would not strengthen the argument for indyref2.
He urged politicians north of the Border to focus on the "really pressing priorities" of coronavirus and climate change – not the constitution.
Pro-independence politicians, however, have argued that independence provides Scotland with the best chance of recovering well from the pandemic and tackling the climate crisis.
Starmer's trip comes amid reports that talks between the SNP and the Greens over a possible co-operation agreement are progressing well.
Any deal between the two parties would further strengthen the pro-independence majority that exists within the Scottish Parliament – but Starmer insisted this would not give Sturgeon a mandate to hold another vote on the future of the UK.
Sources earlier this week claimed an agreement between the two parties could be announced within days, however the Labour leader reiterated this "doesn't change my thinking one bit on what the priorities are at the moment".
He said: "We're still dealing with the pandemic, we're talking about vaccination, and hopefully we will succeed in getting the virus under control, then we have got the recovery to deal with, that is the number one priority, coupled with climate change. We've got Cop26 here in Glasgow in November."
The Labour leader insisted these key issues should be the priority for politicians at the moment. The First Minister should "stick to it, and get on with and deliver it", he declared.
Starmer was speaking as he visited Whitelee wind farm – the UK's largest onshore wind farm – outside Glasgow.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson tells Scots a second referendum is not in their interest
Starmer hailed the site, where 215 turbines can generate up to 539 megawatts of electricity, as an example of "what investment in the next generation of energy can bring".
He said he was visiting the facility to "urge the Scottish Government and the UK Government to take their heads of out the sand and make the necessary investment and commitment in next generation energy".
He added: "We've got a UK Prime Minister who bundles around with a cabaret of soundbites, with targets about climate change but doesn't put in place the action.
"We all know that hydrogen and wind are part of the future, we haven't got an industrial strategy, we haven't got a hydrogen strategy.
"Get your head out of the sand, stop the soundbites, let's have some action."
His comments came as the Prime Minister visited the Moray East offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth with business minister Kwasi Kwarteng.
Meanwhile, Starmer claimed the SNP had only delivered one in 20 of the jobs that were hoped for in the offshore renewables sector – claiming this was a "massive missed opportunity".
He said: "We're facing a future which is obviously about wind, and solar and hydrogen, you need a strategy and you need targets to be matched.
"One in 20 jobs being created in the offshore wind sector, when we know that that is central to Scotland, that is unforgiveable."
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