NICOLA Sturgeon told the Tories vying to replace Theresa May not to stand in the way of Scots choosing their own future.
Taking to Twitter the First Minister said voters in Scotland – both independence supporters and Unionist – would not take kindly to being told by a Tory Prime Minister what that they were and were not “allowed” to do.
It came after some of the 11 MPs aiming to move into Number 10 lined up to rule out giving Sturgeon the Section 30 order necessary to hold a legally watertight vote.
Sajid Javid, one of the frontrunners, tweeted: “If I become PM, I won’t allow a second Scottish independence referendum.
“People stated views clearly in 2014, so there should be no second vote. Nicola Sturgeon should spend more time improving public services in Scotland, and less time grandstanding.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland must be able to choose independence
Esther McVey agreed. The Brexiteer and former Work and Pensions secretary told The National: "I won’t allow another referendum on Scottish independence if I become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
"Voters were told it was a once in a generation vote and therefore as far as I’m concerned it was.
"I know the SNP don’t like accepting the result of referendums but they can’t just keep voting time after time in the vain hope of getting the outcome they prefer."
Earlier in the day, Rory Stewart, who in 2014 launched the Hands Across The Border project to build a cairn "a testament to the Union", tweeted that the candidates jockeying for position should remember that “in everything we do and everything we say in this leadership race ... that the key is to unify the country and not divide the United Kingdom.”
James Cleverly tweeted: “I lived and worked in the Grampians and love Scotland. It is family, and I will do everything to stop the break up of the Union.”
He added: “Unsurprisingly I agree with Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Tories and completely disagree with Nicola Sturgeon.
“I don’t support 2nd referendums.”
Matt Hancock said: “The people have spoken. No way, Nicola.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon leads backlash as Tories vow to block indyref2
Responding directly to the men, the First Minister tweeted: “Memo to Tory leadership candidates: A majority of Scots - independence supporters and opponents alike - will not accept being told by a Tory PM that we are not ‘allowed’ to choose our own future (& PS, you have a lot to learn about good public service delivery from @theSNP gov)”.
The National also approached Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom, Kit Malthouse, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, and Dominic Raab for comment. None responded.
Speaking ahead of the statement in Parliament, the First Minister made clear she would seek a Section 30 order from the government in London before holding the independence vote.
“Throughout the Brexit process, Scotland has been treated with contempt by Westminster, and our efforts to find compromise and protect the interests of the people of Scotland, who voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, have been ignored,” she said.
But Sturgeon added the Scottish Government would “seek agreement to a transfer of power at an appropriate point to enable an independence referendum that is beyond challenge to be held later in this parliament”.
She continued: “It is essential the UK Government recognises that it would be a democratic outrage if it seeks to block such a referendum – indeed, any such stance would, in my view, prove to be utterly unsustainable.”
During her time in office, May repeatedly refused to grant Sturgeon a Section 30 order, saying now was not the time for a new vote.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson says she has had “multiple conversations” about the union with some of the candidates seeking to replace May.
Asked earlier this month if she would expect all candidates to rule out a Section 30 order, Davidson said: “To be honest I would probably expect them to do that. We’ve yet to see the manifestos from any of them, so in terms of what they bring forward let me judge it when it comes.
“But I can’t imagine there will be any of them that are running to grant it.
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