The day is fast approaching when Scotland will vote for independence because it is sick of being ignored at Westminster, the SNP’s leader in the Commons said last night.

Ian Blackford said a majority of Scottish MPs had voted for three of four options out of the Brexit impasse put to a second round of indicative votes. 

However, their views had been “disrespected”, as MPs overall had rejected all four choices.

Amid angry scenes in the Commons, the Highland MP said it would be an “outrage” if Theresa May now sought to bring her thrice-defeated Brexit deal back for a fourth vote.

After Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay suggested that was a live possibility, Mr  Blackford said: “It really is about time the Government accepted reality, that the deal the Government put forward has been defeated three times.”

He said he was disappointed the motions to revoke Article 50, have a People’s Vote, and have a single-market customs union had been defeated. 

“We need to try and see where we can find consensus and work together. Fundamentally for us that represent seats in Scotland, we voted to remain in the EU. 

“A vast majority of Scottish MPs voted to revoke Article 50, a vast majority of Scottish MPs voted for a People’s Vote, a vast majority of MPs voted to stay in the single market and customs union.

“It is crystal clear to us from Scotland that our votes in this House are disrespected. 

“It’s becoming increasingly clear to the people of Scotland that if we want to secure future as a European nation that we’re going to have to take our own responsibilities.

“Sovereignty rests with the people of Scotland, not with this House, and the day is coming when we will determine our future and it will be as an independent country.”

Mr Blackford was speaking after the SNP’s proposal – to revoke Article 50 to avoid a no-deal Brexit – suffered the heaviest defeat in the voting, losing by 292 to 191.

The SNP again abstained on the option that came closest to passing, the plan for a permanent customs union proposed by Tory veteran Kenneth Clarke.

Falling just six votes short last week, the proposal lost by three votes, at 276 to 273. If the DUP had abstained instead of opposing, the Clarke option would have passed.

Mr Blackford later denied the SNP had made a no-deal more likely by not backing the idea.

The SNP abstained last week on a soft Brexit option proposed by Tory Nick Boles known as Common Market 2.0, involving a customs union and single market membership.

However after reassurances on freedom of movement, which the Scottish Government sees as vital to Scotland’s economy, the SNP supported it. 

After it lost by 11 votes, Mr Boles dramatically announced he was quitting the Tory party because it refused to compromise and crossed the floor.

The SNP also supported the proposal for a People’s Vote, which lost by 12 votes, but garnered the highest number of votes in its favour, at 280.   

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie tweeted: “Dismaying that once again MPs have failed to find a majority – but only just. 

“It is still clear that if those backing a softer Brexit and those demanding a People’s Vote can join forces and agree a motion that proposes both, a clear majority can be found. But the clock’s ticking.”

Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South and a long-term campaigner for a People’s Vote, said: “It’s disappointing no options secured a parliamentary majority, and it’s particularly frustrating the legal minimum of a customs union failed to pass after SNP MPs abstained, despite it being their policy for some time.

“If we end up with a hard Brexit or a no-deal Brexit, voters will see that some have played politics rather than doing what is in the national interest.

“However, the level of support for a people’s vote is encouraging, and a parliamentary majority to give the public a final say is now within our grasp, as it won tonight with the highest number of votes. Over the coming days, we must redouble efforts to secure this and give control back to the British public.”

Earlier, the Tory Brexiter Richard Drax made an extraordinary personal statement in which he said he “made the wrong call” in backing Mrs May’s deal on Friday.

The Dorset MP said: “I have not been true to myself…. What I should have done, and did not do, was to trust my instincts and those of the British people.”

A former soldier who did three tours in Northern Ireland, he apologised for letting down his “friends” in the DUP by “voting for a deal that could risk the integrity of our country”.

He said for that reason alone it “must never ever see the light of day again”.  
He said if Mrs May did not commit to taking the UK out of the EU on April 12 she must “resign immediately”. 

He said: “This is no longer about leave or remain - that was decided in 2016 - but about the future of our great country, and about faith and trust in our democracy.” 

DUP leader Arlene Foster denied reports her 10-strong group of DUP MPs had split 7-3 in favour of Mrs May’s deal, despite all voting against it.

The hardline Brexiter MP Andrew Bridgen told Channel 4 News that Mrs May had “one chance to save the Conservative party by backing a no-deal next week.

He said: “She has got over half the parliamentary party, the vast majority of our volunteers and members in the country and our supporters, supporting a managed no-deal Brexit on April 12, which would end the uncertainty for business and get us out of the European Union.

“I don’t have confidence in Mrs May but she has one chance to save the Conservative Party, to save our democracy and get us out of the EU.”

The EU has previously said a managed no-deal is an oxymoron.

Brexiter Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the indicative vote process effectively showed the House of Commons “no longer has confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”.

Deputy PM David Lidington revealed preparations for the May 23 EU elections had started as a “contingency” step.The UK would only take part in the poll if the government had been granted a long delay to Brexit, or Article 50 had been revoked.

Mr Lidlington said returning officers, the council officials overseeing elections, would be reimbursed for “reasonable expenses” for work on the potential election, but stressed it remained the government’s intention to leave the EU with a deal and not take part.

MPs also debated three separate petitions about Brexit, including one calling for Article 50 to be revoked, which attracted more than 6m signatories, the most in parliament’s history.

Opening the Westminster Hall debate, Newcastle Labour MP Catherine McKinnell said the Leave campaign had now been “hijacked” for dangerous ends by the far-right, citing the “really ugly, angry, threatening, sinister behaviour” outside Parliament on Friday. 

A People’s Vote was the “only democratic way” out of the current situation, she said.

Tory children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi earlier said the Brexit proposal which got a majority should be put up against Theresa May’s plan in a head-to-head contest.

He told the BBC: “I am confident that the Prime Minister’s deal would win the day.”

"I think it’s time that we actually delivered the Withdrawal Agreement and delivered on the promise we all made to the British people.

“The alternative is soft, softer or no Brexit and political meltdown. That is what will happen.”