NICOLA Sturgeon has described media speculation that plans for a second independence referendum led to her party losing support at last week’s General Election as “nonsense”.

In a series of tweets, the First Minister went on the offensive suggesting reports blaming proposals for a second ballot on independence had led to a fall in support for the SNP were mistaken.

“Most of media speculation about #ScotRef is nonsense. I’ll set out way forward in due course after talking to people across @theSNP,” she posted on Twitter.

“I’ll take decisions in best interests, not just of @theSNP, but of Scotland...and not be dictated to by demands for quick headlines!”

And she added: “In meantime, @scotgov will focus on trying to influence Brexit talks — a Tory-led hard Brexit is simply not acceptable post #GE2017.”

Most newspapers and commentators have appeared to agree with the Unionist position that indyref2 led to the SNP losing 21 seats.The Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems all put opposition to a new vote at the heart of their General Election manifestos and have since called for it to be taken off the table.

In contrast, The National has suggested the reasons behind the loss of seats are more complex and include poor messaging from the SNP on the reasons why a second referendum was being put forward, after Brexit talks, and also on a lack of a positive case for independence being articulated.

It was being reported yesterday that the First Minister is in discussions with senior ministers and advisors on how to move forward with the independence ambition and gain more support for Scotland being an independent country.

It was reported yesterday that insiders have said the SNP leader is sticking to her guns but will “re-brand” indyRef2 as a vote on the finalised UK Brexit deal.

Meanwhile, Sturgeon yesterday wrote to the Prime Minister saying that new Brexit proposals are “urgently needed” with less than a week to go until talks with the European Union (EU) begin.

In a letter sent to Downing Street on Tuesday, the First Minister repeated her calls for the UK Government to adopt a “much more inclusive process” following the General Election.

She said people are “becoming increasingly worried about the confusion surrounding the UK’s position”, with Theresa May yet to appoint a negotiating team with a “stable mandate”.

Sturgeon wants a cross-party approach, with involvement from the devolved nations, centred on maintaining European single market membership.

She suggested the Scottish Government’s own document, produced before the election, could be used as a “blueprint” for such an approach.

In the letter, she states: “During the election you sought a mandate for your proposals to leave the European single market.

“That proposal failed to garner support, it is now clear that a new proposal is urgently needed to protect the economy and bring people together.

“The proposals contained in the Scottish Government document, ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’, provide a blueprint for this approach.

“Adopting these proposals for the UK as a whole will bring clarity, in place of the current confusion, and provide a coherent base for the UK’s future relationship with the EU.”

Sturgeon’s party won 35 seats in last week’s election, down 21 on the 56 MPs it returned in 2015.

However, with May failing to win a majority for the Conservatives, the SNP leader used a trip to London on Monday to call for a new Brexit strategy.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, she once again called for a cross-party advisory group to be set up, including representatives from the devolved governments, and for the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) of EU Negotiations to be reconvened.

The devolved nations must be represented in the Brexit negotiating team, she added.

Previous demands for a seat at the table and a call for a special deal to keep Scotland in the single market were rejected by the UK Government, prompting Ms Sturgeon to call for a second independence referendum.

The First Minister has admitted the issue of another independence ballot was a factor in the election and stated the party will reflect on its plans amid calls for it to be taken off the table.

She has insisted she will not be “dictated to by demands for quick headlines” in her decision-making, adding she will instead focus on trying to influence Brexit talks.

“I have said that I will reflect on the election result in Scotland, listen to voters and consider carefully the best way forward for Scotland,” she wrote in her letter.

“I hope that the UK Government, too, will reflect on what the election results mean for the importance of finding an outcome from Brexit that meets the needs and aspirations of all the people and nations of the UK.”

Sturgeon’s letter follows interventions from across the political spectrum, including her Welsh counterpart Carwyn Jones and former PM David Cameron. Jones wrote to May calling for the JMC to meet to establish a “broad-based consensus” on Brexit while Cameron has said the PM will have to change her approach following the election.