AN MP has called for the process of a second independence referendum to be sped up.

Angus MacNeil, SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar – formerly known as the Western Isles constituency – said that in the absence of a people's vote on any Brexit deal, which he says appears to be "going nowhere", the focus should instead be on Scotland leaving the UK.

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"The #PeoplesVote will go nowhere in the House of Commons as the Tories DUP & bulk of Labour will vote against ... In Scotland we have to get our heads round that fact and all move on to #IndyRef2," he tweeted during last night's Question Time.

Then, in response to a Twitter user, who said that she is "not in favour of a people's vote" and that it was time for Scotland to "move in our own direction", MacNeil said: "The #PeoplesVote won't happen but that doesn't mean we can't support it.

"Actually supporting it or not makes not a jot of difference ... but it is not mutually exclusive to indyref2 – but that needs to be progressed pronto."

During her conference speech at the beginning of the month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave no specifics in relation to when a second independence referendum would take place.