Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland can hold a second referendum without Boris Johnson's permission as he has "no democratic authority in Scotland".
The Scottish First Minister insists there is a "strong and compelling case" for Scotland to leave the UK and noted Holyrood has a "decisive majority" of MSPs in favour of independence.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly dismissed to allow another referendum, but Ms Sturgeon slapped him down.
She said Mr Johnson "has no democratic authority in Scotland and no moral authority anywhere in the UK”.
If the UK Government “had any respect at all for democracy”, Ms Sturgeon added, it would grant a section 30 order, allowing a legally binding referendum to be held, as happened in 2014.
The First Minister said she had made clear to Mr Johnson today that she is “ready to discuss the terms of such an order at any time”.
But she stated his previous refusals to grant such an order meant she must consider if a referendum could be held by other means.
Ms Sturgeon said: “My duty, as the democratically elected First Minister, is to the people of Scotland, it is not to Boris Johnson or to any Tory prime minister. This is a UK Government that has no respect for democracy.
“That means if we are to uphold democracy here in Scotland we must forge a way forward, if necessary, without a section 30 order.”
While she accepted Holyrood’s competence to legislate for a referendum was “contested”, she added that “is the situation we must navigate to give people the choice of independence”.
Polls have previously suggested most Scots do not want another independence referendum.
A Survation poll for the anti-independence group Scotland In Union showed 29% of the 1,050 people favoured another vote with 60% against it.
Boris Johnson said the First Minister should respect the result of the 2014 independence referendum, in which a majority of Scots voted No.
He added the UK and Scottish governments should focus on boosting the economy and helping people cope with the cost of living crisis post-Covid.
He said: "That's the focus of the government. We're working with our friends in the Scottish Government on those issues and - that's what you'd expect the government to do."
