NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Douglas Ross of arrogance and questioned his commitment to democracy following his refusal to accept Scotland has a legitimate route to independence.

The First Minister hit out after the Scottish Tory leader repeatedly rejected opportunities to set out a democratic path to separation from the Union.

The Moray MP also declined to confirm that he would accept the result of the Holyrood election after being asked if a pro-independence majority would represent a mandate for indyref2.

Responding to the comments, made during an interview with Channel 4 News, Sturgeon tweeted: “At stake here is a simple democratic principle that can unite those for and against independence – it is Scotland’s right to decide.

“The arrogant assertion that the Tories get to decide for us – no matter how Scotland votes – should be given short shrift by every democrat.”

Outgoing Scottish Conservative Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson dismissed the criticism.

She replied: “Scotland did decide. We voted to stay in the UK.”

But the reply prompted further criticism from online observers.

READ MORE: Douglas Ross refuses six chances to accept there is democratic path to independence

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Later commented: “Quite a lot of water under the bridge since then [2014]. If we believe in governing by consent, we should see if people have changed their minds.

“Surely if the union is so wonderful, you'd look forward to campaigning for it? This position just looks like you're afraid you'll lose.”

Law professor Paul Bernal added: "Scotland also decided to stay in the EU. Oh."

In the pre-election grilling on Channel 4 News, Ross was asked to spell out the democratic path to an independence referendum

He said: "People in Scotland can decide on May 6 to get a parliament that is laser-focused on our recovery on rebuilding Scotland, we do that by stopping an SNP majority.

“And the tried and tested method to stop the SNP is to vote for the Scottish Conservatives because we’ve got the strength across the country to stand up to the SNP to challenge them and to stop their plans to divide our country with another independence referendum."

He was pressed by the interviewer several more times, but refused to budge from that stance.

The Moray MP was also asked – as Donald Trump was ahead of the US election – if he would accept the result of the vote. Specifically, Ross was quizzed on whether he would acknowledge a pro-independence majority would represent a mandate for indyref2.

He replied: "I’m not going to speculate on the outcome of an election that’s not been held yet.”

Again, the Scottish Tory refused to reconsider his stance when pressed further by the reporter.