Henry McLeish: EU exit one of my worst days in politics
In the wake of the UK's decision to quit the European Union (EU), Henry McLeish described today as "Black Friday'', adding it was "one of the darkest days in my political life''.
While the former Labour MP and MSP said the next few weeks and months would see Britain subjected to "intense political turbulence'', he said the referendum could have "seismic'' consequences for Scots.
Mr McLeish told Press Association Scotland: "There has to now be a more serious debate about the possibility Scotland may wish to exit the UK if it sincerely wants to be part of the wider, more collaborative, more consensual EU.
"The debate has massively changed overnight. The issue is we have now left the EU and Scots now have to make a decision on where they think their true interests lie.
"I have great difficulty, great political difficulty and personal difficulty, being part of the UK that is no longer a part of the EU.''
Mr McLeish described himself as being a "passionate European'' who had been left "sad and intensely disappointed at the result of the referendum''.
With Scotland having voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU, while the UK voted to leave, he added: "Any lingering sense of Britishness in Scotland is being severely tested at the present time.
"Cameron's unnecessary adventure was always divisive but has now proved to be disastrous for the Union of the UK, and now poses a real risk to Scotland's continued membership of the United Kingdom.''
It is a "remarkable achievement'' that voters in all 32 local authorities across Scotland returned a majority vote for Remain, he said, adding that the result left Britain "shrinking and fragmenting''.
He said: "Scots have to decide if they want to be part of the European Union. If so, they may have to leave the United Kingdom.
"This is no longer about the narrow question of nationalism, this is about what kind of vision we have for Scotland and what kind of country we want to see future generations grow up in.
"There has to now be a more serious debate about the possibility Scotland may wish to exit the UK if it sincerely wants to be part of the wider, more collaborative, more consensual EU.''
He insisted the question of Scotland's future in the UK is "very different'' from the one that was voted on in the 2014 independence referendum.
Mr McLeish said: "If Scots are passionate and committed to the EU, they have found overnight we are no longer part of it.
"Does this mean they want to put membership of the EU above membership of the UK?''