Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie, Ruth Davidson leader of Scottish Conservatives, Kezia Dugdale leader of Scottish Labour and Nicola Sturgeon all want to stay in the EU

Scotland’s first minister is set to go over the head of the British government and negotiate directly with Brussels to remain in the EU if Britain votes for Brexit next week.

Nicola Sturgeon has also admitted that she ordered her staff to draw up plans for a second independence referendum because of the increased threat of Brexit. She told MSPs that officials were looking at “all options” to protect Scotland’s place within Europe.

In an interview with The Times, her predecessor Alex Salmond revealed that she would use her parliamentary mandate in Scotland to negotiate directly with Brussels to keep Scotland’s position in the EU.

“I would expect the Scottish parliament to move quickly and, with the mandate given to it by the Scottish