The Scottish National Party's bid to have a second independence referendum has been condemned by MPs across Cumbria as "undemocratic".

Politicians in the county are united in opposing the plan.

The UK's political union has again been thrown in doubt after Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she will seek permission for a second independence referendum - either in the autumn of next year or the following spring.

Commentators say it represents a huge political gamble by the SNP Leader.

Among the most vocal anti-independence campaigners before the 2014 referendum was Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart.

Reacting to Ms Sturgeon's announcement, he said: “It's outrageous.

“She said that the last referendum was a once-in-a-generation question and you can only interpret this by saying that she didn't get the answer she wanted last time and she's decided now to ask the same question again.

“The public's will should be respected. She needed to find an excuse, to find a reason to hold the referendum again, and she's chosen Brexit.”

The Conservative MP, who has vowed to fight twice as hard as in 2014 to defeat the SNP's ambition of independence, said that most Scots will recognise their country's membership of the union had been a powerful and positive force for more than two centuries.

The economic integration with Europe was no substitute for being part of the UK, he said.

The MP added: “Having a referendum was something you're only supposed to do every 30 years. To bring it back [this soon] in this way is outrageous. It would be a tragedy, and a deep, deep mistake, for Scotland to leave the UK.”

Carlisle MP John Stevenson, a fellow Conservative, said the Scottish people would not embrace Ms Sturgeon's vision of Scotland going it alone in Europe.

“There's no appetite in Scotland for this,” he said. “The Scottish economy is underperforming that in the UK by some distance. I have to question the democratic credentials of the SNP. They were on the losing side of the referendum but they haven't accepted that decision.

“They're being undemocratic. The Scottish people are now quite wary of the SNP, which should concentrate on governing. They've been constantly making excuses for their poor performance and blaming everybody but themselves. ”

Mr Stevenson said the uncertainty generated by the SNP's drive for independence was already deterring business investment in Scotland.

Workington's Labour MP Sue Hayman said: "It's too soon since the last referendum. The result was clear. I was speaking to friends in Scotland about this and they definitely don't want another referendum.

"We need proper stability across the UK while we do our best to get the best Brexit deal."

South Lakes MP Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the combination of Brexit and a break up of the UK would be unbelievably damaging.

“But Europe is just an excuse,” he said. "We don't need the added chaos of The Nationalists seeking to divide Britain."