Nicola Sturgeon has suggested the pro-independence movement has both democracy and time on their side in their attempts to get the UK Government to allow another Scottish referendum. Scotland's First Minister said that if Boris Johson is "playing a waiting game, I've probably got time on my side" because younger people are more likely to favour independence - a statement some have interpreted to mean awaiting the death of older voters. But GB News presenter Patrick Christys hit out at the SNP leader as he insisted she should "get used to defeat".

       He said: "You’ve got to feel for Queen Nic. She’s 51 years old. She’s already been First Minister for 7 years.

       "In 25 years’ time she’ll be 76 and there’s no way she’ll be in power then.

       "What does that mean? Well, her lifelong ambition will never be realised, everything she’d hoped and dreamed for politically, her life’s work, he raison d’etre, dashed against the rocks.

       "A political life…totally unfulfilled. It won’t be her name in the history books if the Scots ever vote to leave, there’ll be statues to someone else, there’ll be another highland hero.

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       "You just hate to see it don’t you. There is of course another element to this.

       "The reason why we now have this legal precedent is because Sturgeon tried it on over enshrining the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.

       "The Tories thought this overstepped the mark and, as it turns out, it does.

       "So we told Sturgeon that, and politely suggested some minor amendments. Which they’re now going to have to make anyway.

       "So what they’ve done is shamelessly use children, at the taxpayers’ expense, to try to make a political point. Which failed.

       "Not exactly a resounding victory, but then again, she should probably get used to what defeat feels like."

       In her Programme for Government statement last month, Ms Sturgeon announced work was resuming to create a "detailed prospectus" in favour of independence.

       The Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to countenance another referendum despite the nationalists arguing there has been a material change in circumstances since the 2014 vote because of Brexit, as well as the SNP and Greens both including the policy in their manifesto for the Holyrood election earlier this year.

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       Ms Sturgeon said that independence could only be achieved through a "legal, recognised constitutional process" but added: "If you're saying that there is no legitimate, democratic, constitutional route for Scotland to choose independence, where does that leave us?"

       "The union suddenly is no longer what it has always been: a voluntary, consensual union of nations."

       Responding to the comments about independence-backing demographics, Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser suggested it was an "erroneous assumption".

       He tweeted: "It's also based on the erroneous assumption that people's attitudes don't change as they get older. We know that they do, and generally people become more risk-adverse, particularly when they have assets, savings, pensions and families."