NIGEL Farage has called for a second referendum on EU membership to “kill off the issue for a generation once and for all.”

The former Ukip leader made the suggestion yesterday, saying he wanted to put an end to “whinging and whining” by opponents of Brexit.

Appearing on a television show, he said: “What is for certain is that the Cleggs, the Blairs, the Adonises will never, ever, ever give up. They will go on whinging and whining and moaning all the way through this process.

“So maybe, just maybe, I’m reaching the point of thinking that we should have a second referendum on EU membership – unless you want to have a multiple-choice referendum which would confuse people.

“I think that if we had a second referendum on EU membership we would kill it off for a generation.

“The percentage that would vote to leave next time would be very much bigger than it was last time round. And we may just finish the whole thing off. And Blair can disappear off into total obscurity.”

During last year’s snap General Election, Ukip made opposing a second referendum on Scottish independence a top priority.

“The Scottish economy will not grow while there is the uncertainty of a second independence referendum,” the party warned in their manifesto, adding that there was no point in “arguing about referendums past”.

Later on the manifesto Ukip added it would be wrong to “fall into the neverendum trap”.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith suggested there was something fishy about the Eurosceptic’s call: “I’m wary of letting Farage make the news.

“He knows that the Brexit promises are empty and will be found wanting, so it may well suit him to rerun the debate before the chickens have come home to roost and he can blame the Tories as patsies.

“But Scotland’s position is already clear and has been from the start. We did not buy his snake oil and it is clear that Brexit – any sort of Brexit – is against Scotland’s best interests.”

Tom Harris, who ran the Leave campaign in Scotland, argued that there was no need for a new vote.

He said: “Suddenly a lot of Remainers seem to think Nigel Farage is someone worth listening to.

“I would oppose such a vote. The decision to Leave has been taken. Now it’s a question of terms.”