The European Parliament has appointed a pro-Scottish MEP as its lead Brexit negotiator.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has previously expressed support for Scotland remaining in the EU following June’s referendum.
The Liberal and arch pro-European met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on her visit to Brussels in the wake of the UK-wide vote to brake with Brussels.
Welcoming the appointment, SNP MEP Alyn Smith said Mr Verhofstadt will be “pragmatic about finding solutions”.
“He has also proven he is alive to the Scottish question and I have every confidence all the doors we need are open,” he added.
“Guy Verhofstadt has been a friend to Scotland in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum, stating publicly that it was wrong for Scotland to be taken out of the EU when we voted to stay, and making sure our First Minister knew he was happy to meet with her to discuss this further.”
Last night Nicola Sturgeon was at a Business for Scotland dinner, where she was expected to brand Westminster the “architects of uncertainty” and declare that independence must be pursued if it becomes clear that our place in Europe simply cannot be protected within the UK.”
Belgian MEP with Scots sympathies appointed EU Parliament’s Brexit negotiator
