Britain voted by a slim margin of 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of leaving the European Union during the historic Brexit referendum in June 2016 – despite Scots voting in favour of remaining in the continental bloc by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. The SNP have long been vocal critics of Brexit, claiming the departure has been made against their will, suggesting that an independent Scotland could look to re-join the EU over the coming years. Scotland’s ruling party has also continued its campaign for a second referendum on Scottish independence, with Ms Sturgeon stating she would like to hold a re-run of the vote from 2014 after the Scottish elections next May.

But Mr Johnson has repeatedly rejected requests for the powers required to be transferred to Holyrood to hold a second referendum, insisting the result from six years ago must be honoured.

Now Ms Sturgeon’s party has warned it will vote against the Prime Minister’s trade deal with the EU when the accord is put before MPs in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

But the stance from the SNP has sparked a furious reaction from the Scottish Conservatives, with Douglas Ross highlighting how the First Minister has long warned of the dangers of leaving the EU without a trade agreement in place.

The rival leader tweeted a picture comparing two statements from Ms Sturgeon on December 14 and 27 when Scotland’s First Minister commented on the Brexit trade deal between the UK and EU.

Two weeks ago, the picture says Ms Sturgeon claimed “a deal, any deal, is better than no-deal,” but then says that on Sunday, the SNP confirmed it would be voting against the deal.

Mr Ross wrote alongside this: “No amount of spin from the Nats can hide that after months of warning against a No Deal outcome, that is exactly what the SNP will vote for on Wednesday. #NoDealNicola.”

He added in a separate post on Twitter: “It’s never about what’s best for Scotland. It’s always about separating Scotland.”

Maurice Golden, the Scottish Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fair Work and Culture, tweeted the same picture, and accused the SNP of wanting “chaos to push independence”.

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Mr Blackford raged: “Boris Johnson’s extreme Tory Brexit is an unforgivable act of economic vandalism and gross stupidity, which will cause lasting damage to the economy and leave the UK much worse off at the worst possible time – during a pandemic and economic recession.

“Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process and we are being forced to pay a devastating price.

“It is clear that the only way to protect Scotland’s interests, and regain the full benefits of EU membership, is to become an independent country.

“This is a very bad deal for Scotland, which will terminate our membership of the EU, rip us out of the world’s largest single market and customs union, end our freedom of movement rights, and impose mountains of red tape, added costs and barriers to trade for Scottish businesses.

“The blame lies squarely with the Tory Government.”

The DUP, Plaid Cymru and a handful of Labour MPs are also set to vote against the Prime Minister’s trade deal.

But despite this opposition, the agreement should easily pass through the commons, thanks largely to the 80-seat majority the Tories secured in last December’s general election.