When the UK government decided to ignore #Scotland’s strong vote to remain in the #EU they made a choice. The choice was to prioritise the demands of English nationalism over the future of the union. That choice has consequences. #Brexit.

Maybe they thought they would get away with it - maybe they didn’t really think about it all. But it showed contempt for Scotland and it broke faith with the No voters of 2014.

Many felt that if Scottish independence turned out to be the codicil to English independence it was a price worth paying for #Brexit. It certainly puts the ball in Scotland's court. Are we able to take this forward?

We have come to a parting if the ways. There have been many years of increasing divergence. Decades of rule by Conservative Governments with little locus north of the border.

Since the hard Brexit enforced on Scotland, the UK government has sought to repatriate powers to Westminster and to undermine Scotland's devolved Parliament.

I would like to see Scotland step boldly and confidently towards a future as an independent country in the European Union, sharing the social democratic values of many others. We can provide a bridge for England back to the modern world.

In 2014, we were told to 'lead not leave'. But the UK is now mired in nationalist ideology and petty grievance and we have to leave it to lead the way to a better future.