Petition opposing second Scottish independence referendum gathers more than 126,000 signatures

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to hold the ballot in late 2018 or early 2019

The petition claims a focus on independence is harming Scotland as a whole (Screenshot)

A petition opposing a second Scottish independence referendum has reached more than 126,000 signatures.

Scotland’s first Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to hold the ballot in late 2018 or early 2019, once the terms of Britain's exit from the EU have become clear.

However, the petition launched on the Government’s official website, shows support for fracturing the UK is not unanimous.

“We in Scotland are fed up of persecution by the SNP leader who is solely intent on getting independence at any cost. As a result, Scotland is suffering hugely,” it reads.

As it has reached over 100,000 signatures, the Government must now consider the topic for a debate.

It came as a new poll found support for Scottish independence to be at its highest ever.

ScotCen's Scottish Social Attitudes survey showed 46 per cent of the Scottish public back independence from the UK, twice the level of support than in 2012.

However it also found Euroscepticism to be at a record-high in the country.

The survey recorded two in three Scots (66.6 per cent) either want the UK to leave the EU or the EU's powers to be reduced, compared with 53 per cent considered “Eurosceptic” in 2014.

Spain’s foreign minister has warned Scotland would "have to queue" to rejoin Europe in the event it achieved independence.

He also warned of the obstacles to EU entry for an independent Scotland and made it clear the country would receive no special treatment.

He said Scotland "would have to queue, meet the requirements for entry, hold negotiations and the result would be that these negotiations would take place."