Ms Sturgeon has stated that another referendum is “highly likely” in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union despite 62 per cent of Scots voting to remain.
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Just weeks ago Ms Sturgeon launched a “listening” exercise created to help the party win over “No” voters.
Scotland voted to stay part of the U.K.by 55 percent to 45 percent in a 2014 vote on the issue.
She has asked official servants to begin work on a new referendum bill.
Sturgeon launched a renewed drive to bolster support for independence at the start of September, saying she thought support would grow if Scots could be persuaded it was the best way to protect their interests. Mr Salmond said yesterday he would expect her to give Theresa May “the opportunity to embed Scotland” in the Brexit negotiations to make that happen.
“I fully expect, my reading of the situation is, the United Kingdom will not be flexible or wise enough to do that – and therefore I expect there will be a Scottish referendum in roughly two years” time’.
A further 43 per cent said the Brexit vote had made no difference and 7 per cent said they did not know.
‘The SNP needs to listen for once, put aside its obsession with independence and get back to sorting out the problems it has created in government over the last ten years’.
As a new member Scotland would be expected to join the euro, the EU’s single currency, and leave the pound, the speech added.
“There is no certainty that countries with their own independence movements to consider, like Spain or Romania, would look favourably on an application from an independent Scotland”.
“From being a strong voice within the third largest member state, Scotland would instead be one of the EU’s smallest members”, he will say.
“On issues like agriculture and fishing, where UK-wide interests often align, and the clout of the United Kingdom has seen policy successes in the past, Scotland would be a lone voice”. Among those who would be very likely or certain to vote, 48 per cent backed independence, while 52 per cent supported remaining in the UK.
“Clearly, the only way to guarantee an open border between England and Scotland is to stay part of the same Union”.
It certainly does not make Scottish independence any more attractive, viable or beneficial a prospect than it was in 2014. “Indeed quite the reverse”.
Mr Mundell said: “Doom-mongering warnings of a “lost decade” and “deep and severe” damage are becoming increasingly alarmist”.
“Objective observers might wonder if the aim is to provide bracingly frank analysis, or to try and talk up the challenges of Brexit in the hope of making Scottish independence seem less of a risk”.
SNP Brexit minister Mike Russell dismissed Mr Mundell’s speech as “ridiculous”.
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Edinburgh’s pro-independence devolved government has pledged to uphold Scotland’s European Union membership in whatever way it can, and is holding out the possibility of a new independence drive if Scotland’s European Union interests are not protected.
