Theresa May’s Brexit speech may likely trigger a second Scotland referendum, says Nicola Sturgeon. Speaking with Sky News, Ms Sturgeon said emphatically that she is not prepared to let Scotland's interests be "steamrollered" by Theresa May's self-interested plans. The minister further said May's comments on Brexit make a second Scottish independence referendum more likely. The Scottish Government had earlier submitted compromise proposals to British Prime Minister’s office that suggested methods for keeping Scotland in the EU single market, irrespective of what direction the UK is taking.

However, Ms Sturgeon has criticized the Prime Minister’s speech for neglecting Scotland’s interest of a stay within the EU. In an interview with Sky News, she said: "It's very clear the Prime Minister is taking the UK down the road of a hard Brexit.”It's not been driven by the interests of the country and it's been driven by the interests of the hard right of her own party. I think that is deeply regrettable." "Scotland can't be taken down a path that we didn't vote for and is against our interests.

She further said that "The UK Government cannot be allowed to take us out of the EU and the single market, regardless of the impact on our economy, jobs, living standards and our reputation as an open, tolerant country, without Scotland having the ability to choose between that and a different future." It would be recalled that Scottish voters backed remaining in the EU by 62% to 38% in last year's referendum, while the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU.