Ruth Davidson: Indyref2 calls 'unjustified and irresponsible'
Ruth Davidson visits No 10 ahead of speech on Indyref2
(35 minutes later)
SNP calls for a second independence referendum in the wake of the Brexit vote are "unjustified and irresponsible", the Scottish Conservative Party leader will say.
Scotland's Conservative Party leader has visited Downing Street ahead of a speech in which she is expected to say that a second independence referendum would be "irresponsible".
Ruth Davidson will challenge the SNP to "put the national interest before its own Nationalist vision for once".
Ruth Davidson was in London on the final day of David Cameron's premiership.
She will deliver her speech to journalists at Westminster later.
She is expected to call on the SNP to put the national interest before its "Nationalist vision".
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was the "irresponsibility" of the Tories that had led to the referendum.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dismissed Ms Davidson's criticism.
Responding to Ms Davidson's comments, the SNP leader said: "Contrition from Ruth Davidson would be more apt. The irresponsibility of her party put Scotland in this position."
She said it was the "irresponsibility" of the Tories that had led to the EU referendum which resulted in the UK electorate voting by 52% to 48% to leave the union.
'Democratic reality'
In Scotland people voted by 62% to 38% for Britain to retain membership.
Although Ms Davidson has said a second independence referendum is "not in the best interests of Scotland", earlier this month she said a possible second Scottish independence referendum should not be blocked by the UK government.
In light of the UK Brexit vote, Mr Cameron tendered his resignation as Conservative Party leader and prime minister.
Nicola Sturgeon has already said the European referendum result and Scotland's vote to stay in make another ballot on Scotland leaving the UK "highly likely".
Theresa May will take over both of those roles on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson has said that a second independence referendum is "exactly what we will do" if Scotland is not permitted to remain in Europe.
Ms Davidson entered Downing Street on Tuesday morning where it is understood Mr Cameron will be hosting his final Cabinet meeting.
However, Angela Eagle, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the UK Labour Party, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that Scottish independence was not the answer.
'No groundswell for Indyref2'
She said: "I think that we need to ensure that we can move forward as a country. I understand the problems that the EU referendum vote caused both in Scotland and Northern Ireland but I believe that we are better if we stick together.
Later she will address journalists at Westminster in which she will say that a second independence referendum is "not in the best interests of Scotland".
"The people have voted. We've now got to see what we can do to create the best possible circumstances when we leave the EU that do the least damage. I fought very hard on the Remain side of the argument, but unfortunately that has been lost and we have to recognise that democratic reality."
Ms Sturgeon has already said the European referendum result and Scotland's vote to stay in make another ballot on Scotland leaving the UK "highly likely".
'Divisiveness and toxicity'
Ms Davidson will say: "The SNP is, as usual, trying to seize on a moment of doubt and uncertainty to declare that the shining star of independence is the answer.
In her speech, Ms Davidson will accuse the Nationalists of seeking to make gains from the current turbulent times.
She will also insist that memories of the "divisiveness and toxicity" of the 2014 referendum campaign mean that most Scots do not currently support staging another vote on the issue.
She will say: "The SNP is, as usual, trying to seize on a moment of doubt and uncertainty to declare that the shining star of independence is the answer.
"And it's trying to claim that, as a result of Brexit, there is now a massive groundswell for a second independence referendum.
"And it's trying to claim that, as a result of Brexit, there is now a massive groundswell for a second independence referendum.
"This is simply not true. Even after the EU vote, only four in 10 people in Scotland say there should be an independence referendum."
"This is simply not true. Even after the EU vote, only four in 10 people in Scotland say there should be an independence referendum."
Ms Davidson will point out that less than two years ago people in Scotland voted "quite clearly" to stay part of the UK.
"Indeed two million people voted to do so, more than the 1.6 million in Scotland who voted to remain within the EU," she will say.
"And it is also because people's memories of the divisiveness and toxicity of that independence referendum campaign are still fresh - and many people don't want to revive them."
'Stability and security'
The Tory MSP will claim that "bluster" from senior SNP MPs that a second referendum will now happen is "utterly unjustified and it is completely irresponsible".
The Tory MSP will claim that "bluster" from senior SNP MPs that a second referendum will now happen is "utterly unjustified and it is completely irresponsible".
She will say: "Unjustified because our decision to remain part of the United Kingdom less than two years ago must be respected - as the SNP promised it would do.
However, Ms Sturgeon believed that "words of contrition and apology" from Ms Davidson would be "more appropriate".
"And irresponsible because it only piles uncertainty on top of uncertainty. It is time the SNP put the national interest before its own Nationalist vision for once.
She added: "It is the selfish and reckless irresponsibility of the Tories which has brought Scotland to the brink of being taken out of EU against our will, with all the damage and upheaval which that would entail for many years to come for our economy, society, rights and place in the world."
"You cannot uphold the EU referendum result in Scotland as sacrosanct while trashing the Independence referendum vote we held just 22 months ago.
Angela Eagle, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the UK Labour Party, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that Scottish independence was not the answer.
"And you don't solve the questions around leaving one union by walking out on an even more important one."
She said: "I think that we need to ensure that we can move forward as a country. I understand the problems that the EU referendum vote caused both in Scotland and Northern Ireland but I believe that we are better if we stick together.
The first minister accused Ruth Davidson of being "out of touch" and said the Tories had "brought Scotland to the brink of being taken out of the EU".
"The people have voted. We've now got to see what we can do to create the best possible circumstances when we leave the EU that do the least damage. I fought very hard on the Remain side of the argument, but unfortunately that has been lost and we have to recognise that democratic reality."
Ms Sturgeon said: "Some words of contrition and apology from Ruth Davidson would be more appropriate than trying to lay down the law in an out of touch lecture, given it is the irresponsibility of her own party which has put Scotland in this position.
"It is the selfish and reckless irresponsibility of the Tories which has brought Scotland to the brink of being taken out of EU against our will, with all the damage and upheaval which that would entail for many years to come for our economy, society, rights and place in the world."
