STURGEON’S WARNING: First Minister declares second independence referendum is ‘LOOMING’

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Nicola Sturgeon today declared that a second independence referendum is 'looming'

The First Minister stepped up threats of another poll in the wake of Theresa May's pledge to take Britain out the EU single market.

Earlier this week the Prime Minister give her clearest signal yet she will reject SNP demands for a bespoke deal allowing Scotland to stay in the trading zone.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell later poured cold water on the plan insisting the country "cannot be a member of the single market".

He has also rejected calls for new powers over immigration to be devolved to Holyrood.

Ms Sturgeon's latest threat came as Scottish Government's proposals were discussed at a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC).

Her Brexit Minister Mike Russell emerged from talks in London insisting Scotland "should not be treated with contempt" and that the "clock is ticking".

But Mr Mundell insisted UK Government plans for access to the single would deliver "exactly what Scotland's businesses are looking for".

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Nicola Sturgeon's remarks come after Theresa May's pledge to take the Uk out of the EU single market

Yesterday amid angry clashes with Tory leader Ruth Davidson over the country's ailing economy Ms Sturgeon attacked Conservatives of putting its "obsession with immigration" ahead of financial interests.

I am determined to save Scotland from Brexit

Nicola Stugeon

But Ms Davidson hit back: "Whenever the First Minister is under pressure, she runs to Brexit."

Ms Sturgeon said: "I am determined to save Scotland from Brexit.

"It's not just the case that the Tories are running towards Brexit, they want to drag Scotland kicking and screaming over that Brexit cliff-edge and I'm determined they are not going to get away with this."

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Ruth Davidson and Ms Sturgeon recently clashed with the First Minister over the ailing economy

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She was later pressed by Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie, whose party back indepedence, to ensure there "will be no delay" on introducing a Bill that could pave the way for another poll.

Ms Sturgeon claimed "time is fast running out" for the UK Government to show "it cares one jot about Scotland’s interests".

Challenged over her draft Budget she said her government was taking action to mitigate the impact of "wrongheaded" decisions at Westminster.

She added: "However, sooner or later, there comes a fundamental choice. Do we want to continue, as a Parliament and as a country, always having to mitigate the impacts of decisions that are out of our hands and made by a Tory Government at Westminster that a majority in this country do not vote for, or do we want to take into our own hands control of our country’s future?

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Ms Sturgeon says she is 'determined to save Scotland from Brexit'

"That is the choice that is looming for the people of Scotland."

Last month Ms Sturgeon published a 50-page report with three options: that Britain remains in the single market; Scotland gets a separate deal retaining single market membership even if the UK leaves; or there is an independence referendum.

But Mr Mundell yesterday again he did not "have any evidence to suggest that Scotland would benefit from a differentiated arrangement".

He added: "If we can get that access to the single market, without barriers and without tariffs, then that's exactly what Scotland's businesses are looking for. That's what Scotland's economy needs."

Meanwhile, Mrs May insisted Scots who backed staying in the EU do not want another poll on the country's futuer.

Writing in the Times she added: "While I respect the views of all those in Scotland who wanted the UK to remain in the EU, I do not believe that their votes represent a wish to separate Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom or rerun the independence referendum."

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