Incoming first minister says it would be ‘democratically indefensible’ for Scotland to be taken out of EU against its will

Scotland’s incoming first minister Nicola Sturgeon is calling for Scotland to have a veto over a future referendum on EU membership.

Describing the prospect of being taken out of the European Union against Scotland’s will as “democratically indefensible”, Sturgeon, who will succeed Alex Salmond as leader of the SNP next month, says that her party will table an amendment to any bill on an in/out referendum requiring that all four nations of the UK have to agree to withdrawal.

In a speech at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange later on Wednesday, she will say: “This proposal transforms the terms of the UK debate on Europe – which so far has been all about the Westminster parties dancing to Ukip’s tune. It would give proper protection against any of the nations of the UK being removed from the EU against their will. And it puts into practice what Westminster leaders told us was the case during the referendum campaign – that the UK is a family of nations, with each member of the family enjoying equal status.”

Calling a referendum on EU membership in 2017 “inevitable – almost regardless of who wins the general election next May”, Sturgeon refers to polling evidence which suggests that Scotland is consistently more pro-Europe than England.

A study published last week by Durham University and the University of East Anglia found that while voters in the majority of constituencies in England would vote to leave the EU only four seats in Scotland backed an exit.

In her speech, Sturgeon says that the impact of leaving the EU on the Scottish economy would be “disastrous”.

“Should a bill be tabled in the House of Commons for a referendum on European Union membership, my party will table an amendment. That amendment will require that for the UK to leave the EU, each of the four constituent nations – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – would have to vote to do so, not just the UK as a whole.”

She says that she intends to write to all UK parties, seeking support for the proposal.

Wednesday evening’s event in Edinburgh marks the beginning of Sturgeon’s country-wide tour to meet new SNP members. Following an unprecedented surge in membership after the country voted no to independence in last month’s referendum, the SNP is now the third largest party in the UK, with nearly 60,000 new members, many of whom, it is believed, expect Sturgeon to lead a more radical programme than her predecessor. Nor do they want her to close the door on the prospect of another referendum on independence.

Although Sturgeon says in her speech that she respects the views of pro-union voters, she adds: “There are many who voted no in September who are open to persuasion in future.”