Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, has insisted the UK Government will not enter into any negotiations about another independence referendum “until the Brexit process is complete”.
As Holyrood backed Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a second poll, the Tory frontbencher suggested ministers may not give the go-ahead for years.
He said now was the time to work together to secure the best possible exit deal for the UK, adding it would not be appropriate to have a vote while people did not know what the future EU-UK relationship would be.
But the first minister responded that the Scottish Parliament’s will must be respected.
And she said a formal request for the legal power to hold another referendum would be issued in the next few days.
Mr Mundell made clear last night a section 30 order would be denied, which will force Ms Sturgeon to rethink her plans.
During yesterday’s debate, she indicated that – should such a situation arise – she would set out her next steps after the Easter recess.
Speaking afterwards, Ms Sturgeon said the mandate for a referendum was “beyond question”.
She added: “It would be democratically indefensible – and utterly unsustainable – to attempt to stand in the way of it.
“This is, first and foremost, about giving the people of Scotland a choice on this country’s future.
“It is up to the UK Government to now make clear when they consider a referendum would be appropriate.”
The SNP leader’s motion was passed by 69 votes to 59, with support from the Scottish Greens.
The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted against it at the end of a second day of debate, which had been rescheduled after the Westminster terror attack last week.
Ms Sturgeon wants to hold a referendum between the autumn of next year and spring, 2019, but Theresa May has already told her “now is not the time”.
Reacting to the Holyrood vote, Mr Mundell said: “We won’t be entering into any negotiations until the Brexit process is complete.
“Now’s the time for the Scottish Government to come together with the UK Government, to work together to get the best possible deal for the UK, and that will mean for Scotland, as we leave the EU.
“We don’t have a crystal ball as to how long that process will take.
“It will be a journey that will involve the negotiations with the EU, it may be a journey that involves transitional measures; it may be a journey that will involve significant implementation time.
“It’s not appropriate to have a referendum whilst people do not know what the future relationship between the UK and EU is going to be.”
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called the decision to press ahead with an “unwanted” second referendum “deeply regrettable” and said it would only add to the uncertainty which was facing Scotland.
She added: “Nicola Sturgeon has surrendered the position of first minister of all of Scotland and, instead, has chosen simply to lead the independence campaign.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale called on Ms Sturgeon to “get on with the job of governing”.
She insisted the party under her leadership would never support independence, but added: “If, after Brexit, the people of Scotland want a referendum on leaving the UK, it isn’t the job of the UK Government to stand in the way of that.”
Liberal Democrat Northern Isles MP, Alistair Carmichael, said the debate had shown the case for a second independence referendum was “increasingly feeble”.
