SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has declared that she has a "renewed, refreshed and strengthened" mandate for a second vote on Scottish independence . Boris Johnson may have clinched the Tory majority he wished for, but the SNP surging to 48 seats has brought the future of the Union back into focus. The success of the SNP in Scotland, and nationalists in Northern Ireland - where there are now more nationalists and republican members of Parliament from Northern Ireland than unionists - is likely to put the issue of Scottish independence and Irish unity near the top of the agenda. The First Minister said it had been an "exceptionally good night" for her party following a campaign based on stopping Brexit and pursuing a fresh independence referendum. Sturgeon will write to the Prime Minister before Christmas to formally demand Holyrood be given the power to hold a second vote on independence. While Johnson has made it clear he will block such a ballot, Sturgeon said the Tories must "reflect very carefully" on the result of the election. She said: "Scotland can't be kept in the UK against its will. It can only do that by consent, therefore Scotland has to have the ability to decide that question. "Then it is up to the people of Scotland what decision they make." A poll last week though, showed that support for independence in Scotland has fallen - although that was before Thursday's Tory landslide. A total of 56% of respondents to a YouGov survey for the Times said they would vote No in a future independence referendum, with 44% voting Yes. Nicola Sturgeon declares IndyRef2 mandate is 'renewed, refreshed and strengthened' by SNP gains Indyref 2,Conservative Party,Scottish National Party,Nicola Sturgeon,Independence referendum,Scottish Government
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