Scotland must remain in the EU, says Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will do “whatever it takes” to ensure Scotland’s continuing membership of the EU, adding a second referendum on Scottish independence was “highly likely”.

The Scottish Government will soon begin the legislative process to enable an independence referendum, she said.

In a press conference following the result of the UK’s referendum on EU membership, Sturgeon said Scotland had voted clearly to remain, and it was “democratically unacceptable” to be forced out of the EU “against our will”.

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“I intend to take all possible steps and explore all options to give effect to how people in Scotland voted. In other words, to secure our place in the EU and in the single market,” she said.

“Yesterday’s result represents a significant and material change of the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence in 2014,” she said.

Scotland voted in favour of the UK staying in the EU by 62 per cent to 38 per cent, compared to a 52 per cent vote to leave across the UK as a whole.

“The vote across England and Wales is a rejection of the EU, and it was a sign of a divergence between Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK and how we see our place in the world,” Sturgeon said.

The "caution" in the statement was welcomed by former Labour First Minister Jack McConnell, who tweeted: "Time for some careful consideration, based on what is best for all."