According to its deputy leader in Westminster, the SNP is “boosting” for a second independence referendum.
Kirsten Oswald told BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show that the results of last week’s local elections showed there was a real appetite for a new vote.
Party leader Nicola Sturgeon has promised a prior vote by the end of 2023, but the UK government has so far refused to back the idea.
Ms Oswald said she looks forward to the movement in the coming months.
The MP said: “[The election] sends us a clear signal that people have a real appetite to look to the future and a brighter future that independence will bring.”
She said polls suggesting the same 55%-45% yes-no split as the 2014 referendum result doesn’t mean the country hasn’t progressed in eight years.
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“I think it’s a mistake for someone to say we’re stuck. The people of Scotland are entitled to their democratically represented views,” she said.
She added that it was not up to the Conservatives to decide whether a referendum could be held.
“I think we are absolutely headed for a referendum and the First Minister has made our position very clear in terms of timing and what we want to see – and we have a mandate for that too, don’t forget ” She said.
“I look forward to things starting to pick up and I would think again, it is absolutely impossible democratically for Conservatives to keep suggesting that this is not going to happen. It’s not up to them, it’s up to the people of Scotland.”
Last week, Nicola Sturgeon said her government was “carefully considering” whether to make public some of the legal advice it had received on a second independence referendum, after the Information Commissioner ruled the details should be disclosed by June 10.
She said the Scottish Government will “put the mechanisms in place” to allow for an independence referendum by the end of 2023 and preparations are underway.
And she said she has a clear mandate.
“I won an election because I offered people a choice — and it is a choice,” she said.
“It is up to the people of Scotland to decide and so that democratic mandate to prepare for that is out of the question.”
The UK government has shown no sign of being ready to give the formal consent that guaranteed the legality of the 2014 referendum.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross did not agree that last week’s election showed Scots wanted a second vote.
He told the program: “Really, the vote for pro-British parties is 55 per cent and the vote for pro-separation parties is 45 per cent, right where we were eight years ago.”
He blamed events in Westminster for his party’s disappointing election performance.
“This has been an issue across the UK and we have not been immune to criticism from the Prime Minister and Partygate.
“Results across the UK show the public has chosen to broadcast a protest vote, largely by staying at home and not switching to other parties.
Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar warned voters not to get sucked into a new pro-independence campaign.
He told BBC Scotland: “Nicola Sturgeon will pretend it’s Scotland against England until the next general election.
“It’s not Scotland vs England. If you look at Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh. Across the country, people are angry and fed up with this conservative government. It’s not Scotland vs England, it will be Boris vs Britain and Britain will win.”
He said Labor will not change its stance against independence.
Mr Sarwar said: “When the SNP lost election after election, nobody suggested it would stop supporting independence and become a pro-British party.
“A lot of people support the SNP because they think Britain isn’t working for them.
“We have an opportunity to fundamentally change the UK. And the best way to protect the UK, to change the UK, is to kick Boris Johnson out of Downing Street.
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