Next Prime Minister should continue to refuse referendum, says Davidson

The next Prime Minister should continue to say no to another referendum on Scottish independence, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said.

Ms Davidson, who returns to work from maternity leave this week, said the majority of people in Scotland do not want another poll on the issue.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week said another independence referendum should be held before the next Holyrood elections in 2021.

Westminster has repeatedly refused to countenance such a vote but Ms Sturgeon said “surging” support for independence could help to bring about a change.

Ms Davidson was asked about the UK government agreeing to a new referendum in a BBC Scotland interview and said: “I’ll say no and this Prime Minister and the next Prime Minister should say so too.”

The Scottish Conservative leader will return to work on Thursday ahead of her party’s conference in Aberdeen at the weekend.

Her deputy, Jackson Carlaw, has been leading the party in her absence.

Ms Davidson said she does not agree with re-running a referendum the result of which the First Minister said would last for a generation.