NICOLA Sturgeon has been accused of “betrayal” and endangering Holyrood’s consensus on the European Union following the Brexit vote because of her continual focus on Scottish independence.

The charge against the First Minister is made today by Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and comes after SNP MEP Alyn Smith suggested his party should consider including EU membership in any future referendum question on independence.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon edges closer to new referendum and claims independence may offer 'greatest certainty'

While Mr Smith’s fellow contender for the SNP’s deputy leadership, Angus Robertson, has insisted Scotland is “truly on the brink of independence,” a poll has suggested that, post the Brexit vote, a majority of Scottish voters, 53 per cent, still opposes independence.

"The First Minister reached out to other parties to build a consensus and a joint effort following the result of the EU referendum. She put party divisions on other issues to one side so that the parliament could speak loudly and clearly. Yet now she risks wrecking that consensus,” declared Mr Rennie.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon edges closer to new referendum and claims independence may offer 'greatest certainty'

He explained how during the Scottish parliamentary debate in late June on the way forward following the Brexit vote, the SNP leader had made clear it was “’not about independence’”.

“Since then she has talked about little else,” insisted the Scottish Lib Dem leader. “Her Westminster leader says it is round the corner, her predecessor and shadow foreign secretary says it will happen in two years’ time. Her supporters are even touching up the peeling Yes stickers on the vandalised road signs of Scotland.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon edges closer to new referendum and claims independence may offer 'greatest certainty'

“Nicola Sturgeon is betraying all those who took her at her word when she said the vote in parliament was not about independence,” claimed the Fife MSP.

He said he did not expect the FM to give up on Scottish independence but warned that if she wanted to carry a broad consensus in Scotland, then she would “need to change her approach”.

“The First Minister is at risk of breaking her mandate from the Scottish Parliament to look at all options. She is risking the accusation that she is trying to fool us with talk of other options when the clear trajectory is her party’s dream of another independence referendum,” Mr Rennie added

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon edges closer to new referendum and claims independence may offer 'greatest certainty'

In response, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The people of Scotland voted by an overwhelming 24-point margin to remain in the European Union. The First Minister has made clear that she is determined to do everything she can to respect that result by protecting Scotland’s interests, place in and relationship with the EU and all options to achieve this must remain on the table.”