The First Minister has been accused of hiding behind the EU referendum vote in order to renew a separation drive for Scotland.

In a speech today, Nicola Sturgeon set out five tests she said had to be met to ensure Scotland’s place in Europe.

If they are not, she added, it could be cause for another referendum on independence.

Among the “key tests” were solidarity, economic interests and social protection.

However, the Scottish Conservatives have said she knows fine well that the SNP will conclude these targets haven’t been met regardless, and that nationalists would never reach any other conclusion than the need for another separation vote.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said:

“Nicola Sturgeon talks about five tests – but the truth is there’s only ever one test for the SNP, and that’s separation.

“She is setting these up to fail to provide another flimsy excuse for a referendum re-run.

“Scotland does not want to go through the division and upheaval of another independence vote.

“Instead, the Scottish Government should be working hard to make the best of this, not shoehorning its narrow agenda into almost anything it can.

“It’s pretty clear the SNP is going to amble through this process, and reach the conclusion it always wanted.

“It would be pretty astonishing if a party whose whole existence rests on Scotland breaking away from the UK suddenly decided we’d be better off in Britain after all.”

For more on the First Minister’s speech, visit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36878081