Options for protecting Scotland's place in Europe unveiled by ministers

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled the Scottish Government's options for protecting Scotland's place in Europe after the vote to leave the European Union (EU).

The paper - Scotland's Place in Europe - proposes that Britain should remain in the free trade bloc even though the UK has voted for Brexit.

The document also sets out how Scotland could remain in the single market without the rest of the UK and proposes a substantial transfer of new powers to Holyrood after the country leaves the EU.

In the foreword, Ms Sturgeon said: "In all of this our single, overriding concern is to protect Scotland's national interests.

"It is our determination to ensure Scotland's voice is heard, and acted upon. That is the hallmark of the Scottish Government's approach.

"At the heart of the proposals in this document, and our proposals for any EU negotiations, we are determined to maintain Scotland's current position in the European single market.

"The Scottish people did not vote for Brexit, and a 'hard Brexit' would severely damage Scotland's economic, social and cultural interests.

"It will hit jobs and living standards - deeply and permanently. That is why we are so determined to avoid it."

Ms Sturgeon said she believed the "best option" to maintain Scotland's place in the European single market was "to become a full member of the EU as an independent country".

"Indeed, independence would resolve the fundamental cause of the position Scotland currently finds itself in: Westminster governments that Scotland doesn't vote for, imposing policies that a majority in Scotland does not support," she said.

The First Minister highlighted her party's manifesto pledge the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence if the country was taken out of the EU against its will.

"There is no question, therefore, about the legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland considering the question of independence in these circumstances," she said.

She insisted the focus of the paper was "to explore if we can find common ground with the UK Government around a solution that would protect Scotland's place in the European single market from within the UK".

"It stands to reason that the proposals we put forward in this paper fall short of what we consider to be the best status for Scotland and the UK - full membership of the EU.

"However, they are designed to mitigate - as far as possible - the real and serious risks for Scotland caused by being taken out of the EU against our will."

• Scottish News