“Staying in the UK is now at odds with the result of last year’s referendum – only in an independent Scotland can we decide our own future relationship with both Europe and with the rest of the UK, so we must give the Scottish people the chance to choose our own future.”

Local MSP Maree Todd has welcomed the announcement today by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon  that she is to seek parliamentary approval to enable an independence referendum to take place.

Maree Todd SNP  said that the people of Scotland must have the opportunity to choose their future. She went on to say that the choice was between remaining part of a regressive, right-wing, isolationist UK and an outward-looking, progressive, independent Scotland.

“The announcement this morning is great news. It is vital that the Scottish people are given the opportunity to decide on the future of our relationship with the rest of the Europe and with the rest of the UK.”

“I appreciate that not everyone will welcome the announcement this morning, indeed I did not want Scotland to be pushed into this position – I voted to remain in the EU, as did most Scots.”

“We have discovered over the past weeks and months that not only are the UK government determined to take Scotland out of the EU, but also out of the single market which would be extremely damaging to the Highlands and Islands economy and to communities across the Highlands and Islands.”

“Leaving the EU would be immensely damaging for Scotland and will impact on farming, our crofting communities, and tourism and health – all of which are largely dependent on the EU. In particular, our NHS in Scotland is heavily reliant on staff from the EU.”

And she added:

“The UK government either are not thinking about the damage that their hard Brexit will do to Scotland or they don’t care, this is clear from their refusal to engage constructively with the Scottish Government to find a compromise which would respect the democratically expressed view of the Scottish people. They have made it clear to Scotland that our voice does not matter within the UK and laid bare the truth that the UK is not a partnership of equals.”

“Staying in the UK is now at odds with the result of last year’s referendum – only in an independent Scotland can we decide our own future relationship with both Europe and with the rest of the UK, so we must give the Scottish people the chance to choose our own future.”

“We are going in a different direction from the rest of the UK which is becoming more right wing, more regressive, and more isolationist. I want Scotland to become an outward-looking, progressive, independent country. That is the choice that now faces every Scot, remain part of a regressive, right-wing, inward looking union, or become an independent country.”

“I am sure that the Scottish people will make a good choice, and I think that we will choose to become an independent country.”

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