Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has claimed the SNP is determined to “compound the break-up of Europe with the break-up of the UK”.
Speaking at the party’s spring conference in Perth’s Dewars Centre on Saturday, Mr Rennie said the aspirations of the SNP were clear.
“It looks as if the First Minister is determined to rerun the referendum of only three years ago,” he said.
“It is not a battle I want after all the division of the last campaign. And we will not vote for it.
“But if the nationalists think by asking the question over and over again they will beat us into submission then they need to think again.
“I will stand up for our United Kingdom family. We will lead the way on the kind of campaign for the United Kingdom that we want to see. We should set the terms.
“The new case for the United Kingdom is a positive, uplifting one that focuses on the ties that bind us rather than the differences some would use to divide us.
“Our United Kingdom is an uplifting, mutually beneficial partnership that we should cherish not trash.”
On Brexit he said the referendum result must be respected but “political leaders have got a responsibility to lead”.
“A Brexit deal referendum is the right and democratic thing to do,” he said.
“When they look back at this time our grandchildren will be astonished that we did not take our time and ask ourselves whether we really wanted this.
“When the Brexit deal proves to be so damaging why not ask the British people a new question?
“I told this conference in the autumn that I will not give up on Europe, and I won’t.
“We can win the case, public opinion can change.”
A federal UK was the best way forward, he also told the delegates.
“Power is now shared around the UK more than ever before,” he said.
“We can do more. Federalism is the long-term and viable future for the UK that saves us from the forces of perpetual division.”
