A DRAFT law paving the way for Scotland to hold a second independence referendum will be unveiled today.
Nicola Sturgeon said she was determined that voters will once again be able to consider leaving the UK if it proved the "best or only way" of safeguarding the country's interests following the UK's decision to quit the EU.
Pre-empting claims that she is disregarding the result of 2014, the First Minister said the SNP had been elected on a manifesto pledge that Holyrood should be able to consider a new referendum if Scotland faced being taken out of the EU against its will.
She said: "If there is an independence referendum, it will not be because the result of the 2014 referendum has not been respected – it will be because the promises made to Scotland have not been kept."
A formal consultation over the draft independence referendum bill will now be held, although the Scottish Government is under no obligation to introduce it at Holyrood. Ms Sturgeon said the move ensured that if a referendum is held it would "meet the gold standard of democracy and fairness". However, it remains to be seen whether the UK Government would grant the powers to hold a legally-binding vote.
The SNP leader added: "Every part of Scotland voted to remain in Europe, but a Tory government with just one MP out of 59 is now threatening to drag us out of the EU – that is the stark reality of the situation we have been placed in, as a government and a nation.
"But all of the efforts we are making to protect our place in Europe, including through independence if it proves necessary, involve this government standing up for Scotland’s best interests."
In June, 62 per cent of voters in Scotland backed remaining in the EU, in contrast to 52 per cent UK-wide opting for Brexit.
Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, said Ms Sturgeon had "given up on being a First Minister for all of Scotland". She added: "We promised during the election to fight proposals for a second independence referendum every step of the way, and that’s exactly what we are going to do."
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