Theresa May: Plans to trigger second Scottish independence referendum 'deeply regrettable'
Video report by ITV News Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith
Theresa May has strongly condemned Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that she will seek approval next week for a second referendum on Scottish independence.
The Prime Minister said Scotland's First Minister's decision was "deeply regrettable" and branded it "tunnel vision".
And she warned the move was setting Scotland on a course for "more uncertainty and division".
Speaking earlier on Monday the SNP leader said the "conditions have been met" to make a formal application for the referendum.
Ms Sturgeon argued Scotland's interests had been ignored by the Conservative Government ahead of the imminent Brexit negotiations.
Responding to Ms Sturgeon's comments, Ms May said she would negotiate a Brexit deal which worked for "the whole of the UK - that includes the Scottish people".
Ms May then went on to warn that "politics is not a game".
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said the Government is "100% clear" that there should not be a second Scottish independence referendum.
They continued that the SNP's call for a second referendum had not affected the deadline of the end of March for Article 50 to be triggered.
If another referendum were to take place, it could be held as early as autumn 2018 - just four years on from when Scots voted by 55% to 45% to stay part of the United Kingdom.