British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon he will not support her plan for a second independence referendum.
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Sturgeon had earlier demanded another referendum after her Scottish National Party (SNP) won a better-than-expected 48 out of Scotland's 59 seats in the UK parliament in London.
Johnson, whose Conservatives won a resounding victory in Thursday's election, spoke to Sturgeon later on Friday and said he would not agree to another independence vote.
Scottish voters had backed remaining in the UK in a 2014 vote.
"The prime minister made clear how he remained opposed to a second independence referendum, standing with the majority of people in Scotland who do not want to return to division and uncertainty," Johnson's office said in a statement.
"He added how the result of the 2014 referendum was decisive and should be respected."
Sturgeon responded shortly after on Twitter, saying she had told the prime minister that her political mandate to give people a choice must be respected, "just as he expects his mandate to be respected".
Australian Associated Press