Scotland's pro-independence leader vowed on Monday to vote against any Brexit agreement that fails to preserve much closer EU-UK ties than currently under discussion.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon railed at London's "mad Brexiteers" on Monday after holding talks with EU officials in Brussels, where she firmly backed Britain staying in the bloc's customs union and single market after the divorce.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday postponed plans for a second independence referendum, after a British general election in which her secessionist party suffered major losses.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday that Britain must stay in the European single market as it leaves the EU, following the election which saw Prime Minister Theresa May lose her majority.

British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom.

Britons streamed to the polls in the last few hours of a snap general election on Thursday after a campaign dominated by terror attacks and the uncertainty of Brexit.

The Scottish government on Friday formally notified British Prime Minister Theresa May of its request for a second referendum on independence, deepening a crisis sparked by the Brexit vote.

Just a day before Britain kick-starts Brexit proceedings, the Scottish parliament is on Tuesday expected to dismiss Prime Minister Theresa May's overtures and back calls for a fresh independence referendum.

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Scotland on Monday to try to avert its independence bid while also fighting a political crisis in Northern Ireland in the frantic final days before she launches Brexit.

Scotland's leader Nicola Sturgeon is expected to win a vote in the Scottish parliament on Wednesday in support of a new independence referendum, despite opposition from London.

Scotland's nationalist leader warned on Tuesday that it would be "unfair" for the British government to block another independence referendum, as she asked the Scottish parliament to support her plans for a vote.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will ramp up pressure on the British government to grant a new secession referendum as she rallies her independence-hungry footsoldiers on Saturday.