Nicola Sturgeon: Our priority is for Scotland to stay in EU

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon will return to the Edinburgh parliament to propose a second independence referendum if the Scottish government concludes it is “the best or only way to protect Scotland’s place in the EU”.

She addressed the Scottish parliament in an emergency debate following the UK’s referendum vote to leave the EU against the wishes of 62% of Scots who voted to remain.

She is seeking a mandate from Holyrood to defend Scotland’s interests, and is due to travel to Brussels today to meet European Parliament president Martin Schulz.