Scotland would be better off as an 'independent' EU member, Nicola Sturgeon says

and Northern Ireland belongs to Ireland...

(Telegraph) - Scotland would be better off as an “independent” member of the European Union, Nicola Sturgeon has suggested.

The Scottish First Minister said that the EU is “not a perfect institution” but that it “it is better for us in all circumstances to stay in”.

Repeating her calls for Scottish independence, she said that she believes her country would be best served as an “independent member state” of the bloc.

Ms Sturgeon has named ‘Brexit’ as one of the few triggers that could lead to a snap referendum on the province’s independence.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The EU is a 'coming together' of independent states that choose to pool some of their sovereignty to better tackle those issues that don't respect national boundaries - like climate change, energy security and the refugee crisis.

"It's not a perfect institution - and while I believe it would be best for Scotland to be in the EU as an independent member state, I believe it is better for us in all circumstances to stay in."

The in-out referendum on EU membership will be held on June 23 - seven weeks after the elections to the Scottish Parliament in which the SNP is riding high in the polls.

Polls have also consistently shown that Scotland is more in favour of remaining in the EU than the rest of the UK, and a vote to leave against the majority will of the Scottish people has been suggested as a possible trigger for another independence referendum.

Brexit could also have a concrete impact on Scots who benefit from EU subsidises and exporting to the Continent without trade barriers.

Britain Stronger In Europe, the pro-EU campaign, has said that exports from Scotland to the Continent are worth an estimated £11.6 billion.