Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet did not discuss independence in her first sit-down with ministers since the general election, according to the First Minister’s spokesman.
The SNP leader said last week she needed time to “reflect carefully” on why thousands of voters deserted the SNP on June 8, when her party lost 21 MPs.
Her political opponents said the failure to raise it in cabinet shows she is in “complete denial” over what the election result means for independence, as the FM comes under pressure to drop her secession bid.
In Westminster, the Scottish Secretary David Mundell told The Courier the 13 Tory MPs elected north of the border will “represent the views of people in Scotland who oppose independence”.
Asked if the Scottish cabinet considered the impact of the election on its referendum plans, Ms Sturgeon’s official spokesman said: “There was no discussion, no.
“There was a discussion of the outcome of the election in relation to Brexit, but no specific stuff on the (independence) referendum.”
The spokesman added: “As she said on Friday following the election she is going to reflect on the election outcome and she will come back to that in due course.”
On whether Ms Sturgeon would reveal her hand on her next steps for independence before summer recess, the spokesman said: “We’ll see”.
Ms Sturgeon’s Holyrood rivals pounced when it emerged there was no discussion of the issue at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Separation has been the centrepiece of her personal agenda, and its absence from discussions at cabinet is evidence of her complete denial on the issue.”
James Kelly, for Scottish Labour, said independence has become “the elephant in the room” for Ms Sturgeon.
“We want the Scottish cabinet focused on jobs, schools and hospitals – but it is staggering that SNP ministers did not discuss dropping a referendum given Thursday’s result,” he said.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “The SNP lost more votes and more MPs than any other UK party but Nicola Sturgeon insults voters by not even holding a cabinet discussion on independence – the very reason for that decline.”
Speaking in London, Mr Mundell said his party’s “baker’s dozen” of Scottish Conservative MPs will “make a real difference here at Westminster”.
“The most important thing for Scotland that they’re going to do is not just buddy me up, but the fact they are going to represent the views of people in Scotland who oppose independence,” he said.
He added: “Last week’s general election result in Scotland was a clear verdict from the people of Scotland.
“They don’t want another independence referendum.The only person who still doesn’t seem to be listening to that, the only person who is in denial about that is Nicola Sturgeon.”