Nicola Sturgeon tells PM independence referendum is a 'matter of when – not if'

Nicola Sturgeon has told the Prime Minister that a second independence referendum is a "matter of when – not if".

The First Minister spoke to Boris Johnson on the phone on Sunday, following the SNP's fourth consecutive victory in the Scottish Parliament election. 

The party picked up 64 seats, just short of an overall majority, but with the Scottish Greens securing eight seats, once again there is a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament. 

A spokesperson for Sturgeon said on Sunday: "The First Minister spoke to the Prime Minister this afternoon, and thanked him for his congratulations on her re-election.

"The First Minister made clear that her immediate focus was on steering the country through COVID and into recovery, and that a newly elected Scottish Government would work with the UK government as far as possible on that aim.

"They also agreed the importance of the two governments working together closely and constructively to achieve a successful hosting of and outcome from COP26.

"The FM also re-iterated her intention to ensure that the people of Scotland can choose our own future when the crisis is over, and made clear that the question of a referendum is now a matter of when – not if."

In her victory speech on Saturday, Sturgeon said the election result showed that another referendum was the "will of the country". 

She added: "And given that outcome, there is simply no democratic justification whatsoever for Boris Johnson, or indeed for anyone else, seeking to block the right of the people of Scotland to choose our own future."

Elsewhere the Scottish Conservatives won 31 seats, no change from 2016, while Scottish Labour lost two MSPs to take 22 seats. 

The Scottish Liberal Democrats finished on four, losing one seat. 

All 129 MSPs will take an oath later this week.