Delivering a speech on the outcome of last week’s EU Referendum, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government’s main priority is to “Protect Scotland’s relationship with, and place in, the EU.” She revealed that the government is looking into a second independence referendum - within the timeframe of Britain’s exit negotiations - in order to protect its connection with the bloc.

Discussing this “overriding” priority for the government on Tuesday, Sturgeon said she has met with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to discuss protecting the two territories’ relationship with Europe, and that government officials are meeting European and EU leaders to set out Scotland’s position on the EU clearly. The government has established a Standing Council of experts to advise it on how best to achieve its EU objectives.

In her speech, updating Parliament on the Scottish government’s work in the wake of the result, which saw Scotland vote to remain but a majority in England and Wales voting leave, Sturgeon said, “This is not a statement I wanted to make,” she stressed that the Scottish government did not seek a referendum in the first place and “Certainly did not want this result.” The First Minister expressed pride that Scotland voted to remain within the EU, and that the country “did so emphatically.”

She said, “Scotland voted to stay inside the single market and to protect the jobs, investment and trade that depend on it. We chose to be an open, inclusive and outward-looking society where other EU citizens are welcome to live, work and contribute. We voted to protect the freedom and prosperity that comes with our rights to travel, live, work and study in other European countries.

“And we endorsed the principle of independent countries working together to tackle global issues like climate change, energy security and the fight against terrorism. Scotland spoke clearly for Remain. I am determined that Scotland’s voice will be heard.”

Though Sturgeon said “Retaining Scotland’s relationship with the EU” is her key concern, and added that she believes that “independence is the best option for Scotland,” she said “It is not my starting point in these discussions.”

Even so, she warned that “During the independence referendum, we were told that staying in the UK meant we could benefit from having guaranteed access to the EU – that was a driving factor in many people’s votes. That is no longer true.” Adding, “The country and the constitutional settlement the people of Scotland voted for in 2014 is no longer a reality.”

She said, “Everything must be on the table to protect our place in Europe - including a second independence referendum. And to ensure that the option of holding a referendum within the timeframe of UK negotiations on leaving the EU is viable, we will prepare the legislation now.”

Setting a second referendum would be for Parliament to decide, and Sturgeon stressed that she was not seeking Parliament’s endorsement for a second referendum on Tuesday.

The First Minister was highly critical of the leadership of both Labour and the Conservatives’ handling of the result, warning that the UK could enter “three months of drift while both the government and main opposition parties at Westminster immerse themselves in internal elections,” with Prime Minister David Cameron announcing his resignation in the wake of the Brexit vote and the Parliamentary Labour Party passing a vote of no confidence in leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday. She complained that there appears to have been no contingency plan from the Westminster government for what to do in the case of a Brexit vote.