SNP landslide means Boris Johnson could face another fight on second Scottish Independence referendum

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THE SNP is projected to win a landslide in Scotland meaning Boris Johnson could face a fight to stop a second Independence referendum.

Led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish National Party look set to pick up 55 seats north of the border, according to the 10pm exit poll.

The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon is set to win 55 of the 59 seats available in Scotland, according to the exit poll

According to Humza Yousaf, a MSP for the Scottish nationalists, the result could give the party a mandate to push for a second Independence vote – after they lost the first 2014 result 44.7 per cent to 55.3 per cent.

He told the BBC: “It would be undemocratic for him to deny that Scottish voice.

“Another election that only strengthens our mandate.

“It could not have been clearer that independence was at the heart of this election.”

Former Tory Chancellor George Osborne said despite inevitable pressure from the SNP, he cannot envisage Boris Johnson granting another Indie vote.

He told ITV: “I’m sure the SNP will do anything they can – they will use any tool they can to harry the Conservative government.”

He added: “I just don’t see a Conservative premier, I don’t see Boris Johnson granting that referendum for the simple reason – they think they might lose.

“No one wants to be the PM to lose Scotland.

“If we had a choice which one – we would rather lose the EU than the Scottish.

“That would be so traumatic for our country.”

The poll also forecast Boris Johnson is on course to win an overall majority of 86 in the House of Commons.

According to the forecast, the Tories could return 368 MPs to Westminster, with 191 for Labour.

Boris Johnson is projected to win the biggest Tory majority in 32 years

Corbyn’s Labour is set to win just 191 seats, according to the 10pm exit poll

The SNP would continue to be the third largest party in the Commons, with 55 MPs, the poll predicted, while Jo Swinson’s Liberal Democrats would have 13.

Ms Sturgeon said while the exit poll “suggests a good night” for the SNP, she added that “what it indicates UK wide though is grim”.

If the SNP was to win 55 of the 59 Scottish seats up for grabs, it would be the party’s second best ever result – and only one fewer MP than they secured in 2015, when they won all but three seats north of the border.

It would also be an increase of 20 on the 35 MPs that Ms Sturgeon’s party returned in 2017.

The poll suggests both Labour and the Scottish Conservatives could be in for losses north of the border, with the Tories having won 13 seats two years ago, while Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour secured seven Scottish MPs last time round.

Ms Sturgeon thanked all those who had backed her party at the ballot on Twitter.

It comes at the end of an election campaign which had focused heavily on the key constitutional issues of Brexit and a second Scottish independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, has already pledged to send a letter requesting Holyrood be given the power to hold a fresh ballot on the issue to the new prime minister before Christmas.