Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of treating Scottish voters with 'contempt' after refusing to rule out another independence referendum, according to the Scottish Daily Express. The accusation comes after the first minister announced she is 'resetting' plans for a second referendum on Scottish independence.
The Herald reports that the SNP's plans for Indyref2 are now on the 'back burner' following the party's 'sweeping' general election losses earlier this month. The Scotsman highlights Ms Sturgeon's statement that 'now is not the time', echoing Theresa May's verdict from April on whether a second independence referendum should be held.
The Daily Telegraph's Scottish edition says Ms Sturgeon has been accused of ignoring the message voters sent her in the general election. The i newspaper describes the referendum as having been 'kicked into the long grass', reporting the first minister's comments that 'voters want a break'.
The National, however, suggests the statement is 'effectively more of holding than a shelving', while the Scottish Daily Mail calls it an 'embarrassing climb down' for the SNP. The Scottish Daily Express contends that the SNP leader is treating voters with contempt by not fully ruling out another referendum.
Meanwhile, splits have emerged at the top of the UK government, with the Brexit secretary accusing the chancellor of inconsistency and Boris Johnson facing 'mockery', as reported by The Times' Scotland edition.
