NICOLA STURGEON has insisted that Britain’s departure from the European Union will lead to an independent Scotland.

The SNP leader made the comments in a speech ahead of Brexit today in which she unveiled new measures as part of a push towards Scotland breaking away from the UK.

She told an event in Edinburgh that the SNP campaign budget would be doubled this year in a bid to persuade undecided voters to back independence.

The Scottish government will also publish a series of papers setting out how Scots can “build a better future” outside the UK.

Ms Sturgeon said: “What this is for Scotland is a moment of understanding and recognition that there is a fork in the road.

“Boris Johnson’s path lies one way, the opportunity to be a modern, progressive, open, tolerant country at the heart of Europe lies the other. That other way can only come with independence.

“I believe Brexit will lead to Scotland being independent. In that sense, the UK in its current form will not exist.

“That’s a thoroughly positive thing for Scotland.”

Pamela Nash, chief executive of anti-separatist campaign group Scotland in Union, branded Ms Sturgeon’s address an “opportunistic speech designed to distract from the SNP’s catastrophic failings in government.”

She added: “It is sickening that Nicola Sturgeon is willing to neglect struggling schools and hospitals and waste even more public money on her never-ending campaign to divide the people of Scotland.”

Earlier this week, Holyrood voted in favour of holding a second independence referendum, while an opinion poll published on Thursday showed that 51 per cent of Scots now support leaving the UK.