Sturgeon to reopen Scottish independence debate

First minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has said there must be a new debate surrounding the country's continued membership of the United Kingdom.

In a speech set to be given on Friday, Sturgeon will ask supporters to join in on Scotland's "biggest ever political listening exercise", in an effort to measure the support for a new referendum on independence.

A referendum in 2014 narrowly produced a victory for the Better Together side, initially settling the debate around Scottish independence.

However, the UK's decision to leave the European Union in spite of a clear majority in Scotland voting remain has led to the issue being put on the table once again.

The first minister said in the aftermath of the Brexit vote that the decision should pave the way for a new Scottish referendum.

"To ensure that the voice of everyone in Scotland is heard in these changed times, I am today launching Scotland's biggest ever political listening exercise," Sturgeon is due to announce in Stirling today.

Many Scots had voted to remain in the UK based on the premise that an independent Scotland would not be given immediate access to the European bloc, an argument which has now been made null and void with the eventual British departure.

Sturgeon will add in her speech that there needs to be a "new debate" on Scotland's future, which "must include an examination of independence.

Those from the opposition side have rejected the idea of a new referendum, saying that the first minister should focus on her job of leading the country and improving public services.