Theresa May braced for a second Scottish independence referendum

The First Minister is expected to call another vote on on Scottish independence at the same time the British Government triggers Article 50 next month.

The Prime Minister could reject the demand or accept it and risk the future of the United Kingdom, the Times report.

enior Tory sources have argued that blocking another referendum would provoke a massive public backlash in Scotland that could drive up support for separation, which polls have suggested has fallen back slightly in recent months.

Since the UK voted to leave the EU and Scotland voted to remain, there has been speculation that Ms Sturgeon would hold another vote. 

Ms Sturgeon has warned that Mrs May’s plans for a hard Brexit “undoubtedly” made a second referendum a more likely prospect.

It came as Mrs May has urged voters across Scotland to use upcoming local government elections to send a “clear message” to Nicola Sturgeon that they do not want another independence referendum.

She argued that Scots should back the Conservatives on May 4 to demonstrate their opposition to a rerun of the 2014 vote and rejected Ms Sturgeon’s claim that the Brexit vote shows the Union is not a partnership of equals.

espite 62 per cent of Scots backing Remain in the EU referendum, she argued that every voter across the UK “had an equal say and the collective answer was final.”

Ms Sturgeon’s ministers have accused Mrs May of ignoring them as she prepares her negotiating stance for the Brexit negotiations with Brussels but she said there was “considerable common ground” on issues such as wanting the widest possible free trade agreement.

An SNP spokesman said: “There is already a cast-iron democratic mandate for an independence referendum – that was delivered in last year’s Holyrood election, however much the Tories might try to deny it.

“That mandate also stems from the EU referendum, which saw Scotland vote by a 24-point margin to stay in Europe – and Theresa May’s reckless pursuit of an economically ruinous hard Brexit will only strengthen opinion in Scotland against leaving Europe.”