Scots should be given the opportunity to vote again on independence before the next Holyrood elections in 2021 - if Brexit goes ahead, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today.

The SNP leader said she would try to pass plans for a second referendum into law by the end of the year - and dared Theresa May to stop Scotland voting on it again.

Speaking in Edinburgh today Mrs Sturgeon argued the current Brexit deadlock at Westminster makes indyref2 necessary, five years after she lost the last one.

She said: 'A choice between Brexit and a future for Scotland as an independent European nation should be offered in the lifetime of this Parliament.

'I can confirm that the Scottish Government will act to ensure that the option of giving people a choice on independence later in this term of Parliament is progressed.'

Scots voted against independence 55 per cent to 45 per cent in a 2014 referendum billed as a once-in-generation poll, but the SNP say that Brexit has forced them to tear-up up their pledge and try again.

Theresa May has said 'now is not the time' for a fresh vote on Scottish independence while last month Jeremy Hunt said she would 'of course' block a new vote via a 'section 30 order' - needed by the Holyrood parliament to call a legally binding referendum.

But the First Minister has previously suggested she did not expect the Tories to follow through on the threat because Mrs May will have been replaced, and Jeremy Corbyn could be in No 10.

In October 2018, polling found Scots would vote for independence if the UK crashes out of the EU with No Deal - but would vote against breaking up the Union in other circumstances.

It came as former SNP MP Natalie McGarry admitted embezzling more than £25,600 from pro-Scottish independence organisations.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there should be another referendum on Scottish independence by 2021 - Theresa May believes the matter has been dealt with in 2014

Recent polling found that Scots would vote for independence if the UK crashes out of the EU with no Brexit deal, but they would back to stay in the UK if a vote was held in other circumstances

But Scottish Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw called the plan 'frankly absurd' and Scottish Labour chief Richard Leonard warned: 'Leaving the UK would lead to unprecedented austerity for Scotland's public services'.

Can Nicola Sturgeon hold indyref2 with Theresa May's permission? Nicola Sturgeon's wish to hold a binding second Scottish independence referendum is not entirely in her hands. A Section 30 order, as set out in the Scotland Act 1998, allows Holyrood to legislate on reserved areas - but requires the Westminster Government's says-so. The Scottish Government would be required to request a Section 30 in order to hold a second independence referendum as the power to call a referendum is reserved to Westminster. While the Scottish Government could stage another vote on independence, a section 30 order transferring the powers needed to hold such a ballot from Westminster would be needed for it to be legally binding. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she would not hold a referendum without Westminster’s permission. She could choose to hold a non-binding vote, however, to pile pressure on the Government. The SNP may try to launch a legal battle Advertisement

The First Minister said Westminster has failed to protect Scotland's interests and so the Scottish Government is taking steps to rectify that.

Nicola Sturgeon said: 'Throughout this, the Scottish Government have worked tirelessly to help find the best way forward for all of the UK.

'Whatever Scotland's constitutional status in the future, it will always be in our interests for these islands to have the closest possible relationship with the EU.

'We have done everything possible to help avert the Brexit crisis for the whole UK. And we will continue to do so.'

She added: 'The Westminster system of government does not serve Scotland's interests.

'And the devolution settlement, in its current form, is now seen to be utterly inadequate to the task of protecting those interests.'

Wednesday's statement was the 'first available opportunity' for the First Minister to update MSPs since the EU granted a six-month extension to the Article 50 Brexit process.

A Number 10 spokesman said on Tuesday that Theresa May's stance on the issue of a second Scottish referendum 'has not changed' - with the PM having previously made clear her opposition to such a ballot.

Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said: 'Whatever the First Minister says about being 'inclusive', her statement is inherently divisive.

'Astonishingly, the way Nicola Sturgeon thinks we can come together is for Scotland to be plunged into another divisive referendum within the next 18 months.

'That is frankly absurd. The SNP's plan is clearly to divide families, workplaces and communities all over again, and for the foreseeable future. That is not what the majority of Scotland wants.

'People have had enough of constitutional politics and division. Yet, with the SNP, more of this is now inevitable.'

Nigel Farage during a walkabout and rally in Clacton, Essex, for his Brexit Party today, as MPs continue to fail to agree on a deal to leave the EU

Nicola Sturgeon could stage another vote on independence, a section 30 order transferring the powers needed to hold such a ballot from Westminster would be needed for it to be legally binding

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: 'Nicola Sturgeon is using her office as First Minister to put the interests of the SNP before the interests of our country.

Scots would back independence if there is a No Deal Brexit - but is unlikely otherwise, polling says Scots would vote for independence if the UK crashes out of the EU with no Brexit deal, recent polling has said - but is unlikely in other circumstances. Voters would oppose the break up of the United Kingdom if the referendum was held tomorrow, according to a Survation survey from last Autumn. And if the UK leaves the EU as planned in March next year then they voters are split 50:50 the poll found. According to the survey, if there is a referendum held now then 54 per cent of Scots would vote 'No' and 46 per cent voted 'Yes'. But if Theresa May does not get a Brexit deal and a vote is held then the result switches, with 'Yes' narrowly winning by 52 percent to 48 per cent. The poll of 1,013 people was carried out between October 3 and 5 this year. Advertisement

'Her statement today is not about Brexit, this is about Nicola Sturgeon trying to pacify her party members and backbenchers ahead of the SNP's conference.

'The chaos of Brexit throws into sharp relief the challenges of leaving a political and economic union.

'Leaving the UK would lead to unprecedented austerity for Scotland's public services.

'The political dividing line in Scotland is clear: investment with Labour with a focus on fixing our public services and economy or another decade of austerity with the SNP and the Tories with a focus on divisive and destructive nationalism.'

Scottish Tories failed with a bid to block the debate. But last night it emerged that Theresa May is prepared to reject any new demand made by the SNP government for the power to hold another referendum.

The Scottish Parliament Bureau confirmed that it has approved a change to Holyrood business to allow a statement by Miss Sturgeon this afternoon, followed by an hour of questions from MSPs.

The Scottish Tories had argued that she should instead focus on priorities such as health, education and schools. The party's chief whip Maurice Golden said: 'We want to move on from the SNP's constitutional grandstanding and get back to the things that matter to the people of Scotland.'

In 2017, Mrs May rejected the First Minister's demand for a 'Section 30 order' to hold a second independence referendum.

Scottish Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw called the plan 'frankly absurd' and Scottish Labour chief Richard Leonard warned: 'Leaving the UK would lead to unprecedented austerity for Scotland's public services'

Asked what her response would be to any new demand, her spokesman said: 'You know the Prime Minister's position on that and it has not changed.

'First and foremost, let's wait and see what the First Minister says.'

UK Government sources insisted the Prime Minister and her Cabinet were of the view the matter 'had been dealt with'.

One source said: 'We've have been saying for some time now the First Minister should take the threat of another referendum off the table.

'If the First Minister fails do that we will repeat that message loud and clear.'

Miss Sturgeon's spokesman said that her cabinet yesterday backed her plan after a 'very full update'.