Sturgeon: Indyref 2 Option Very Much On Table

Nicola Sturgeon has said she will seek to enter into "immediate discussions" with Brussels to "protect Scotland's place in the EU".

Scotland's First Minister said she will establish an advisory panel with experts to advise her on legal, financial and diplomatic matters as she seeks to continue Scotland's membership following the Brexit vote.

Scotland voted 62 to 38% to remain in the EU in Thursday's referendum, sharply contrasting with Britain's overall 52-48% vote to leave.

Speaking outside her official residence in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said her cabinet had agreed to begin work on legislation that would allow for the option of a second independence referendum.

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Following a meeting with her cabinet, Ms Sturgeon said: "We are determined to act decisively but in a way that builds unity across Scotland about the way forward.

"As I said yesterday, a second independence referendum is clearly an option that requires to be on the table and is very much on the table.

"To ensure that that option is a deliverable one within the required timetable, steps will be taken now to ensure that the necessary legislation is in place. Cabinet this morning formally agreed that work."

The First Minister added: "Cabinet agreed that we will seek to enter into immediate discussions with the EU institutions and other EU member states to explore all possible options to protect Scotland's place in the EU.

"Over the next few days I will establish an advisory panel comprising a range of experts who can advise me and the Scottish Government on a number of important matters - legal, financial and diplomatic."

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Scottish independence from the UK was rejected by 55 to 45% in 2014.

Ms Sturgeon will need permission from Westminster to hold a referendum and there must be public confidence in the currency economic opportunity of an independent Scotland.

Opposition parties in Scotland have warned against rushing into a second referendum.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the 1.6 million votes cast in favour of remaining in the EU "do not wipe away the two million votes that we cast less than two years ago".

She said: "We do not address the challenges of leaving the European Union by leaving our own Union of nations, our biggest market and our closest friends."

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said fundamental questions asked during the independence campaign, such as those over currency, remained unanswered.