A former Scottish Government Minister who served in Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet yesterday warned her to immediately withdraw her demand for an independence referendum or face further punishment from voters if there is a second General Election this year.

Alex Neil said the main lesson from a disastrous election for Ms Sturgeon is not to push for another vote on breaking up Britain unless there is more than 50 per cent support among Scots for independence itself.

He argued she should now instead focus on the Brexit deal, using the hung parliament at Westminster to insist on a place at the top table for the UK Government’s negotiations with Brussels.