Dumbarton’s MSP will vote against Nicola Sturgeon’s bid to force another independence referendum in the Scottish Parliament today.

Jackie Baillie, of Scottish Labour, reckons the vast majority of Scots do not support a second independence referendum.

And she rounded on the SNP after claiming their promise that the vote less than three years ago was a ‘once in a generation’ event.

The MSP said Scotland is already “divided enough” and warned that holding another independence referendum would damage jobs and the economy.

She said: “Scotland voted in record numbers less than three years ago to reject independence and we were told that it was a ‘once in a generation’ event.

“I was elected as the MSP for Dumbarton constituency on a clear promise to oppose a second referendum and, unlike Nicola Sturgeon, that’s a promise I will keep.

“The 2014 referendum was divisive and the vast majority of Scots do not want a rerun of the bitter arguments with family and friends.

“Scotland is already divided enough and the last thing we need right now is to reopen old wounds.

“Labour MSPs will vote against the SNP’s plans on Tuesday because we believe that together we’re stronger.”

West Dunbartonshire was one of only four areas in the country to vote for independence in September 2014, at 54 per cent for “yes” against 46 per cent “no” on a turnout of 88 per cent.

If the Nationalists team up with the Scottish Greens, they’ll have enough to ensure a Parliamentary majority to forge ahead with their plan for Indyref2.

However, as things stand the UK Government has indicated that they will not sanction such a proposal, known as Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998. Scotland needs approval from the UK government.

But Ms Baillie reckons it’s an issue that does not need to be revisited.

She said: “When jobs are already being lost and the economy is struggling, a referendum on independence will pile on even more uncertainty to the confusion caused by Brexit.

“The SNP government has more powers than ever before and it should be using them to sort out the problems in our schools and the NHS instead of pulling the plug on Scotland’s economy.

“If a second referendum does go ahead, I will fight against leaving the UK because it would mean turbo-charged austerity on a scale never seen before. That means even more cuts to local services hitting the poorest families in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh hardest.”The SNP’s paper-thin economic case for independence in 2014 was exposed with the collapse in the oil price and Scotland’s £15 billion deficit.”The Nationalists lied to us then about the consequences of independence and they must not do so again.”

In contrast, West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes said the First Minister is well within her rights to call for a second referendum on independence.

He said: “The First Minister has acted, as she always does, to protect the interests of Scotland and in line with the wishes of the Scottish people. The UK Government continue to frustrate the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“I completely agree with the First Minister that, if the UK Government continue to refuse to engage with Scottish Government in a meaningful way on an issue as important as membership of the European Union, Scotland must take stock and our communities must have the opportunity to decide what kind of relationship we wish to have with the UK, EU and wider international community.”