'No economic case' for Scottish independence - Theresa May

Prime Minister Theresa May has criticised Scottish National Party's drum beating for a second independence referendum to break away from UK as lacking an "economic case".

After last June's referendum, which saw Britain vote to quit the EU, Nicola Sturgeon's party has become increasingly vocal about the need for a new ballot on independence. A referendum in 2014 saw Scotland vote to remain in UK.

Brexit negotiations will begin soon after May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which is expected to happen in March.

SNP representatives have said a so-called "hard Brexit" will leave Scotland with no choice but to call another referendum. Scotland voted 62% in favour of the UK remaining within the EU.

"Time and again the benefits of the union, of doing together, collectively, what would be impossible to do apart are clear," said May, speaking at the Scottish Conservative Party Conference.

"Indeed the economic case for the union has never been stronger. There is no economic case for breaking up the United Kingdom, or of loosening the ties which bind us together."

May also suggested that Sturgeon and her party should focus more on improving the livelihood of young Scottish people rather than talking up a referendum.

"As prime minister of the United Kingdom, I am just as concerned that young people in Dundee get a good start in life and receive the education they need to reach their full potential as I am about young people in Doncaster and Dartford," May said.

Sturgeon has argued that many of those Scots who voted to remain part of the UK in 2014 did so on the basis that it would still be a member of the EU, and lambasted the "Westminster diktat" espoused by the British government.

"The Scottish government's approach since the EU referendum has been to offer compromise and to seek consensus at every turn -- in return the UK government's has so far been one of obstinacy and intransigence," Sturgeon said in a statement.