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Russell Findlay said breaking up the UK would be "a gift to our enemies"
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has described the SNP's "obsession" with independence as "dangerously irresponsible".
First Minister John Swinney has said he wants to hold a second Scottish independence referendum by 2031, despite successive prime ministers refusing to countenance another poll.
Findlay said that while the United Kingdom continues to face "grave threats" from China, Russia and Iran, a divided UK would be "a gift to our enemies".
And he called on Swinney to respect the result of the 2014 referendum where a majority of Scots voted no to independence.
Findlay told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "Today's world is more dangerous than it has been for many, many years.
"Right now, it's no longer just dangerously divisive of the SNP to continue agitating to break up the United Kingdom, it is actually dangerously irresponsible."
Findlay defended the Scottish Tories' decision not to back a vote in the Scottish Parliament which states that the people of Scotland have the right to determine their own future.
"We had a vote. In 2014, the people of Scotland - more than two million of them - politely, firmly an respectfully said no to separation," he said.
"From day one, John Swinney and the SNP haven't respected the outcome of that vote and they've agitated ever since.
"It's been a complete distraction and all the while they've run Scotland's public services into the ground and taxed people to the hilt.
"Just look at the real problems that John Swinney could be focused on - the NHS and their waiting lists, or the state of Scotland's schools."
'Cosying up to Sinn Fein'
The Scottish Tory leader will deliver a speech at the Conservative Party's UK conference in Birmingham later, when he is expected to criticise Swinney for "cosying up to Sinn Fein" at a recent summit in Cardiff.
Findlay is expected to say: "Since Mr Swinney was a teenager, all he's cared about is breaking up the United Kingdom.
"Sorry Mr Swinney, and your new friends in Sinn Fein, but we won't let that happen.
"Let's not forget that Sinn Fein has never denounced the IRA slaughter of innocent men, women and children.
"Yet Mr Swinney works with them to destroy the United Kingdom. A disgrace."
