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Boris Johnson has reiterated his opposition to a second Scottish independence vote during a call with Nicola Sturgeon.
The First Minister confirmed she will formally request the powers for Holyrood to hold a ballot after the SNP’s election victory in Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would “publish the detailed democratic case for a transfer of power to enable a referendum to be put beyond legal challenge”.
However, during a call on Friday the Prime Minister continued to play down such a move and said the result of the original vote five years ago “should be respected”.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon earlier this evening, where he reiterated his unwavering commitment to strengthening the union.
“On Brexit, the Prime Minister said that he is now in a position to get this done in a way that allows the whole of the UK to move forward together, providing certainty for Scottish businesses and improving the lives of people right across Scotland.
“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.
“He added how the result of the 2014 referendum was decisive and should be respected.”
In a prompt response on social media, Ms Sturgeon tweeted: “And I made clear that @theSNP mandate to give people a choice must be respected – just as he expects his mandate to be respected.”
The SNP increased its tally of MPs to 48 as the Conservatives lost more than half the seats they had held north of the border.
Earlier on Friday Ms Sturgeon said Scotland had chosen a different future than the rest of the UK, adding the “stunning” result “renews, reinforces and strengthens” the mandate for a fresh vote on independence.
Mr Johnson has previously stated he is not prepared to grant a Section 30 order – which would transfer the power to Holyrood to hold a referendum.
Speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said: “This is not about asking Boris Johnson or any other Westminster politician for permission.
“It is an assertion of the democratic right of the people of Scotland to determine their own future.”
General Election Night: December 2019 – In pictures
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
3/45
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
4/45
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
5/45
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
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Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
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Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
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Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
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REUTERS
11/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
12/45
Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
13/45
A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
14/45
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
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DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
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A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
17/45
Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
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Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
19/45
Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
20/45
Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
21/45
A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
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Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
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Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
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Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
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Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
26/45
Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
27/45
Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
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Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
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Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
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Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
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Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
32/45
Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
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Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
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Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
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Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
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The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
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Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
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The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
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The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
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Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
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A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
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General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
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Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
45/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
1/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds enter Downing Street as the Conservatives celebrate a sweeping election victory
Jeremy Selwyn
2/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn at the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
3/45
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon celebrates with supporters at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
4/45
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson reacts as she loses her East Dumbartonshire constituency, during the count at the Leisuredome, Bishopbriggs
PA
5/45
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after the results was given at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North constituency for the 2019 General Election
PA
6/45
Boris Johnson press conference
Jeremy Selwyn
7/45
Michael Gove
Jeremy Selwyn
8/45
Dominic Cummings
Jeremy Selwyn
9/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds and dog Dilyn arriving for the count for the Uxbridge & Ruislip South constituency in the 2019 General Election
PA
10/45
REUTERS
11/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
12/45
Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves the Labour Party’s headquarters
Reuters
13/45
A member of the counting staff yawns during the count at the SEC Centre in Glasgow
PA
14/45
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster (C) reacts after learning that Deputy Leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) Nigel Dodds has lost his seat to Sinn Fein’s new MP for North Belfast John Finucane at the count centre in Belfast
AFP via Getty Images
15/45
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds reacts after losing his seat as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner in the Belfast count centre
Getty Images
16/45
A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks at the vote declaration after retaining his seat
Getty Images
17/45
Carla Lockhart of the DUP is elected as MP for Upper Bann at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt Co Londonderry as counting begins Westminster election
PA
18/45
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry meet after both retaining their Parliamentary seats following the count at Sobell leisure centre
Getty Images
19/45
Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
PA
20/45
Sinn Fein’s John Finucane celebrates with party leader Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy leader Michelle O’Neill after winning in the Belfast North constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast
PA
21/45
A cat sits on the step of 10 Downing Street as Boris Johnson looks set to be returned there as Prime Minister after early Conservative gains in the General Election results
PA
22/45
Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds arrive at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London
AFP via Getty Images
23/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves, after winning the North East Somerset constituency, at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
24/45
Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg’s wife Helena and son Peter watch the results of the North East Somerset constituency at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath
Getty Images
25/45
Supporters cheer as Green Party candidate Caroline Lucas is announced as the winner for the constituency of Brighton Pavilion at a counting centre
Reuters
26/45
Conservative candidate Aaron Bell is declared the winner of the Newcastle-Under-Lyme seat
PA
27/45
Michelle Dewberry, the former winner of The Apprentice and Brexit Party candidate for Hull West & Hessle, with former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan after she failed to win the Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle seat at the Guildhall in Hull in the 2019 General Election
PA
28/45
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds arrive at the Conservative Party’s headquarters
Reuters
29/45
Brexit Party candidate Richard Tice is seen after Labour Party candidate Mike Hill is announced as the winner for the constituency of Hartlepool at a counting centre for Britain’s general election in Hartlepool
Reuters
30/45
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, pauses while speaking at the vote count in his Islington North constituency
Getty Images
31/45
Conservative Party candidate Dominic Raab arrives at a counting centre in Esher
Reuters
32/45
Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West
Reuters
33/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
34/45
Volunteers get counting IN bARNET after the polls closed in the General election
Nigel Howard
35/45
Labour in conversation during the General Election count in Barnet
Nigel Howard
36/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
37/45
The results of an exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
38/45
Independent candidate Count Binface poses after arriving at a counting centre
Reuters
39/45
The Labour Party’s Chi Onwurah after winning Newcastle Upon Tyne Central
PA
40/45
The results of the exit poll are projected onto the outside of Broadcasting House
AP
41/45
Labour Party candidate Bridget Phillipson stands next to Brexit Party candidate Kevin Yuill after she was announced as the winner for the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland South
Reuters
42/45
A member of the Monster Raving Loony Party arrives at a counting centre in Islington
Reuters
43/45
General Election Count, Barnet
Nigel Howard
44/45
Volunteers get counting after the polls closed in the General election
Reuters
45/45
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Simmonds with their dog Dilyn
Jeremy Selwyn
The Conservatives were left with six MPs in Scotland, after having won 13 seats two years previously, in what Ms Sturgeon called a “crushing defeat in Scotland”.
The First Minister also said: “It is clear that the kind of future desired by the majority in Scotland is different to that chosen by the rest of the UK.
“Scotland has rejected Boris Johnson and the Tories and, yet again, we have said no to Brexit.”
Ms Sturgeon’s SNP won 45 per cent of the vote in Scotland – a slightly higher amount than the 43.6 per cent of the vote Mr Johnson’s Tories secured across the UK.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, said: “This election result is not a mandate for a divisive second independence referendum.
“Despite the seats won, a majority of people in Scotland, 54 per cent, voted for pro-UK parties.”
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