Jennifer McKiernan

A second independence referendum must be taken off the table immediately, Ruth Davidson demanded after spearheading a stunning Scottish Conservative revival.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged the prospect of another vote on leaving the UK had “undoubtedly” been a factor in her party’s losses.

The SNP leader – who saw her party lose 21 of the 56 Westminster seats it won in 2015 – said she would “listen to voters” and find “a way forward that is in the best interests of Scotland”.

But Ms Davison, hailing a historic result for her party in Scotland, including a sweep of every north-east seat bar one, Ms Davidson said the people had clearly spoken.

The Scottish Tories campaigned on opposition to a fresh referendum and were rewarded by snatching the seats of former first minister Alex Salmond and Westminster leader Angus Robertson, who were at the heart of the first referendum and backed Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign for a second following Brexit.

Ms Davidson said:

“We have heard SNP figures acknowledge that the referendum demands were behind its bad result.

“We have heard the First Minister say she will ‘reflect’ on the matter.

“I’m afraid that’s not enough.

“Let me be clear: nobody, not me, not anyone, is expecting the SNP to give up on independence.

“That is what it believes in and it is a perfectly honourable position to take.

“What people do expect is that, right now, the SNP gives Scotland a break. Simply put, Scotland has had its fill.”

Ms Sturgeon has yet to drop her calls, but has backed away from her initial plan for a referendum as early as next year.

Ms Davidson urged immediate action and said she wanted to see the Holyrood agenda refocused on education and health reform.

She said: “Nobody will condemn the First Minister if she now decides to re-set her course.

“This is her opportunity to do so – and I urge her to take it immediately. She must take it off the table.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “The damage the Tories have done to the stability and the reputation of the UK cannot be underestimated — in less than a year they have caused chaos on an industrial scale.

“They recklessly forced through an EU referendum and embarked on a disastrous Brexit strategy to remove Scotland and the UK from the single market with no idea and no plan for what would come next.

“They then called an election knowing the results would be declared just 11 days before the most important negotiations in the UK’s modern history were about to start.

“Now they’re planning to cobble together an unstable administration, causing more damaging uncertainty.

“Most breathtaking of all is this is the party with the temerity to accuse others of causing division and uncertainty.

“There must now be an attempt to find consensus.”