THE new deputy leader of the SNP group at Westminster Mhairi Black has demanded that the Prime Minister set out a democratic route for Scots to choose if they want independence.

In her first major intervention in her new role Ms Black challenged Rishi Sunak to clarify if he agrees with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove that “if an independence referendum is the settled will of the Scottish people, one will occur”. 

In a letter to Mr Sunak today - and in a move which suggests that the SNP at Westminster plan a more assertive approach on independence with UK ministers - the SNP MP asked the Prime Minister if he too stands by the policy suggested by his ministerial colleagues.

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Ms Black asked: “I now ask if you stand by the above policy?”

In a statement, the SNP MP said previous questions to him by fellow SNP MP Philippa Whitford had gone unanswered, prompting her own entreaties.

“On two separate occasions, my colleague Dr Philippa Whitford MP asked the Prime Minister what the democratic route for Scotland to choose her independence is," Ms Black wrote.

“And on both occasions, he failed to answer. That is why I’m challenging the Prime Minister to confirm whether or not he agrees with his ministerial colleagues that an independence referendum will occur if it is the settled will of the Scottish people." 

She added: “This time, instead of helplessly hiding behind the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister could actually show leadership and outline exactly how Scotland can choose to exercise its democratic right in this so-called ‘voluntary union’.

“However, the Prime Minister must be in no doubt that for every day Scotland’s democracy is denied, the stronger our case will grow.”

She added: “And this time, instead of helplessly hiding behind the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister could actually show leadership and outline exactly how Scotland can choose to exercise its democratic right in this so-called ‘voluntary Union’. 

“However, the Prime Minister must be in no doubt that for every day Scotland’s democracy is denied, the stronger our case will grow.”

Responding to Ms Whitford at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Sunak said: “We fully respect the decision of the Supreme Court and believe strongly in the United Kingdom and as I said to (Philippa Whitford) last time, we will work constructively with the Scottish Government to deliver for the people of Scotland.”

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Ms Black's letter to the Prime Minister comes two days after a poll put support for independence rising to 56 per cent - and support for the SNP at Westminster reaching 51 per cent.

The survey was carried out by Ipsos Mori in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision in London on November 23 that Holyrood could not hold an independence referendum without the UK Government consent.

Mr Jack told MPs on November 28 that there will be another independence referendum when there is a “sustained majority” in favour of a vote. 

Speaking to the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee, the Tory minister said people would “know when they’ve reached that point.”

The MP was asked by the committee’s chair if it was possible for Scotland to “secure an independence referendum”.

He said “of course” it was, but that it would take a “sustained majority and a clear consensus between the [UK and Scottish] governments, between the political parties, across civic society”.

“There would have to be that sustained majority for there to be another referendum,” Mr Jack added.

He told the committee: “It’s the duck test. If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck and it waddles like a duck then it’s probably a duck. People know when they’ve reached that point.

“They knew back then [in 2014] that they’d reached it. We don’t believe we’ve reached it now.”

Following the Supreme Court ruling, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she would push ahead with plans to use the next general election as a “de facto” referendum. 

Mr Jack told the committee that the SNP could not “have a mandate for something that we now know legally that you don’t have any power over."

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Former SNP Westminster group leader Ian Blackford pressed Mr Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions hours after the Supreme Court ruling on whether the Union was voluntary given the judgement.

Mr Blackford said: "The Prime Minister has every right to oppose independence; he has no right to deny democracy to the people of Scotland.

"If the Prime Minister keeps blocking that referendum, will he at least be honest and confirm that the very idea that the United Kingdom is a voluntary Union of nations is now dead and buried?"

Mr Sunak replied: “We respect the clear and definitive ruling of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

“I think that the people of Scotland want us working on fixing the major challenges that collectively we face, whether that is the economy, supporting the NHS or indeed supporting Ukraine. Now is the time for politicians to work together, and that is what this Government will do.”

Following the Supreme Court ruling Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross was also asked what the democratic route to independence was if Holyrood could not hold a referendum unilaterally and the UK Government refused to consent to one.

Speaking on the BBC Mr Ross said it was not up to him to outline the route as the leader of a party opposed to independence.