Nicola Sturgeon dismisses claims she is avoiding topic of independence

Nicola Sturgeon has branded opposition claims that she is avoiding talking about independence in the General Election campaign as "ridiculous".

The SNP leader said the June 8 ballot was about electing "strong voices" to fight Scotland's corner at Westminster.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said Ms Sturgeon risks becoming a "laughing stock" by distancing her campaign from a drive for a second vote on leaving the UK.

The First Minister's spokesman has said it is unlikely Ms Sturgeon would outline her next steps towards another referendum by the spring of 2019 before the general election.

She had planned to update Holyrood on her plans after Easter, after her request for powers to hold a vote was rejected by the UK Government.

Speaking at a campaign event in Stirling for the local elections on May 4, Ms Sturgeon dismissed claims she was avoiding the topic of independence.

"My opponents are ridiculous. They go from accusing me of talking about independence too much to accusing me of not talking about it enough," she said.

"The issue at this election campaign is quite clear - how do we make sure we have strong voices arguing Scotland's corner at Westminster and also backing our Scottish Parliament.

"On independence, the mandate that we sought and won last year in the Scottish election is there, the Scottish Parliament has now voted to back that mandate, so the question in this election is do we allow the Tories to determine who chooses Scotland's future or do we send a clear message that it should be our Parliament and the people of Scotland who determine Scotland's future?"

Ms Sturgeon, who has identified the General Election as a "two-horse race" between the SNP and the Tories, also moved to frame the vote as a choice between Theresa May's party at Westminster and the Scottish Parliament.

"If you vote Tory, then you are voting to strengthen the hand of Theresa May, to impose more austerity, more cuts, to impose policies like the rape clause," she said.

"We need to back our own Parliament as well.

"This election, in many ways, is a choice between the kind of country we want Scotland to be.

"Is it one determined by a increasingly right-wing Tory party or is it one determined and shaped by our democratically-elected Parliament here in Scotland?

"That's the choice."

Ms Davidson called on the First Minister to set out her next steps on a referendum as planned.

"The First Minister could not have been clearer last month - she told the people of Scotland she would set out her next steps on her unwanted referendum plan after Easter and keep us all informed," she said.

"Yet now that a General Election has been called she has gone back on her word.

"The reason is obvious: as always with the SNP, they desperately try to play down independence in an election campaign because they know it's unpopular.

"Her claim earlier this week that her campaign isn't about independence is a joke. But her refusal to set out her position clearly before we vote is deadly serious.

"Nicola Sturgeon has a duty to set out her position as promised so we can all take a view.

"The position of the Scottish Conservatives is crystal clear. A second referendum isn't needed and it isn't wanted."