NICOLA Sturgeon has made it clear she will not accept a deal Theresa May is considering to allow a second independence referendum if it takes place after Brexit.

A spokesman for the First Minister said she had underlined any new vote would be before the UK leaves the European Union and blocking it would be counterproductive for her.

“We have made it clear that Scotland must have the opportunity to vote on independence before the UK leaves the EU, if it becomes clear that is the best or only way to protect our national interests and any Tory plotting to block that would only succeed in boosting support for independence,” a spokesman for the First Minister told The National.

“Indeed, so counterproductive would such an attempted stitch-up like this be that people would be left wondering if they secretly support independence after all.”

The tough response came after it was reported yesterday UK ministers were considering offering a deal with Sturgeon that would give her power to have a new referendum but only after the whole UK had left the EU.

Scottish ministers are exploring ways of keeping Scotland in the UK and protecting its place in the European single market.

But Sturgeon has indicated she will seek to hold a new independence referendum if it is the best way of protecting Scotland’s interests.

Last week she told European Green politicians in Glasgow she hoped when they returned to the city “in the not too distant future” it would be to a city in an independent country.

She also hit back in the same speech on Friday at Chancellor Philip Hammond who ruled out a separate Brexit deal for Scotland when he visited Edinburgh the day before.

The Scottish Government needs to get agreement from the UK Government to hold a referendum and did so ahead of the September 2014 vote in the Edinburgh Agreement.

The draft Referendum Bill acknowledges that a so-called section 30 order – which is voted on by Westminster and Holyrood – would be required.

Ross Greer MSP, External Affairs spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said: “The Tories appear determined to drive us all over a cliff with their Brexit mess. Scotland didn’t vote for this and it seems they want to trap us in as an unwilling passenger, rather than allowing us the choice to get out before it plummets. If the Westminster Government tries this, it will be a blatant attempt to deny Scotland our right to self-determination.

“We were told in 2014 that voting No to independence was the only way to stay in the EU; for that alone they should be embarrassed enough not to stand in the way of a new vote. Let’s hope the Supreme Court grants Holyrood legislative consent powers over the Brexit process, so we can stop the Tories’ attempts to tie Scotland’s hands. This whole misadventure will only grow support for independence.” According to a report in The Times yesterday, May is looking at making the timing of any second vote a “red line” issue.

UK ministers would argue the deal has to be secured first so that Scots know what they are deciding on in an independence referendum.

But the SNP and Greens want a referendum to be held before Brexit as it would mean that Scotland could continue to remain a EU member – reflecting the majority of voters in Scotland who backed Remain.

Senior European politicians have indicated that an independent Scotland would remain in the bloc, taking on the UK’s membership mantle.

Last night a Scottish Government source said: “The people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, yet we face being dragged out of Europe against our will by the hard right of the Tory party – that is a democratic outrage.

“The very fact that people within the UK government are already seemingly dreaming up ways to thwart a bid for Scottish independence – and even to block the people having their say until after Brexit – suggests that they are losing confidence in whatever Brexit deal that their own government will come up with.

“Of course, the Tories tried this trick the last time – dictating the terms of the independence referendum – and it backfired badly for them.

“Maybe they should devote more of their energies to trying to sort out the Brexit shambles that their government has created – starting with ensuring that the UK remains in the single market, whatever else happens.”

Last week a YouGov poll indicated support for independence had fallen by one per cent since the 2014 vote, to 44 per cent, However it showed that 9 per cent of people who had voted No had switched to Yes; a further 13 per cent of Yes voters had moved to No, but commentators suggested they were soft No voters who could switch back to support independence in the event of a new vote.