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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Scottish government’s constitutional relations secretary, Michael Russell, has described the SNP’s victory in the European election as a “fresh start” for independence.

He said that Scotland had “said loudly and clearly that it was a European nation”, adding that the conditions for holding a second independence referendum set out in the SNP’s 2016 manifesto had been “met in full” as the UK was now heading for a no deal Brexit.

Setting out the new referendum bill, published this morning, Russell said that one of the key lessons from Brexit was that “there is a need for reconciliation”. He put put forward cross-party talks and a a citizen’s assembly to discuss Scotland’s future.

Russell also announced that the secretaries of an Irish initiative used to successfully reform Ireland’s abortion laws, would be visiting Holyrood to speak to MSPs about the initiative next month.

Russell concluded that the Scottish government was trying “to get away from the negativity and nastiness of the current Brexit process”.

He added: “Scotland deserves, and this week, has clearly demanded better. We must create a country in which we all feel we have gained something worth having, in which we all feel part of a shared national endeavour regardless of which side of the argument we have come from….That is the fresh start the people of Scotland have offered us.”

Ruth Davidson, leader of Scotland’s Conservatives, has vowed to block the new bill.