‘My mission to make sure the Union can survive’

THE SNP must honour its ‘once in a generation’ promise and abandon plans for a second referendum on independence, Theresa May has demanded.

The Prime Minister also spoke of the enduring importance of the Union and her personal determination to help it survive.

She stressed that ‘we may be four nations, but we are one people’.

Nicola Sturgeon has said she will decide in the autumn whether or not to push for a second vote on independence, when the implications of Brexit become clearer.

But Mrs May said: ‘Everybody was clear when the 2014 referendum happened that it was a once-in-a-generation decision and once-in-a-generation vote – and that people would abide by the result.

‘Yet ever since we’ve seen the SNP with this tunnel vision just focusing on when they can have a second referendum.

‘What I say to the SNP is, actually, it’s time for them to take this off the table and just get on with the day job and the issues that matter to people in Scotland.’

The Prime Minister added: ‘It [the Union] is very important to me. I made that point

‘Get on with the day job and issues that matter to Scots’

when I first became Prime Minister in my speech in Downing Street outside No10.

‘We are genuinely stronger as a United Kingdom... we may be four nations but we are one people, and that holds us together and brings us together.’

Mrs May went on: ‘My paternal grandmother was Scottish but came down from Scotland and met my paternal grandfather.

‘Even if people have no personal links to Scotland at all, or to Wales or to Northern Ireland – and, likewise, for people in Scotland who may have no personal links to England – as I say, we are one people.

‘The UK can hold its head high in the world and plays a great role. Once we’re outside the European Union, we will be out there, a more outward-looking country.’

In response, a Scottish Government source said: ‘Theresa May is in no position to lecture Scotland – she has lost her majority, lost her authority and is rapidly losing what remains of her credibility.

‘She is caving in to Right-wing Tories to impose the most extreme Brexit possible on Scotland, doing massive damage to jobs, investment and living standards. In those circumstances, many more people across the country will see the benefits of taking decisions for ourselves with independence.’