Next week, Sturgeon will ask the Scottish parliament to request a section 30 order from Westminster, which allows a new legally binding referendum to be held. However, any referendum request must be approved by the UK government. 

The First Minister wants to hold another referendum as despite Scotland voting 62% to 38% to remain in the EU, she says the UK government ‘has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement’ since the Brexit vote.

The vote would be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, when the UK Brexit deal becomes clearer.

Sturgeon said: ‘I will continue to stand up for Scotland's interests during the process of Brexit negotiations. But I will take the steps necessary now to make sure that Scotland will have a choice at the end of this process – a choice of whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit, or to become an independent country able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe.’

In 2014’s Scottish independence referendum, Scotland voted against becoming an independent country by 55% to 45%.

Later today, the EU Withdrawal Bill is expected to complete its final stages in UK parliament, allowing prime minister, Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and start the Brexit process.