Nicola Sturgeon dismisses Angela Eagle's claim that Scotland is comparable to Liverpool or London

The Scottish First Minister insists she has a “a mandate to seek to protect that relationship we have with the EU”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has strongly dismissed Angela Eagle’s claim that Scotland’s position in the United Kingdom is comparable to London and Liverpool.

Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Sturgeon was asked whether she thought Scotland should have a veto over the invocation Article 50 – the process by which the UK would leave the European Union. Ms Sturgeon responded by claiming she is in “a strong position”.

She then continued to criticise comments made earlier in the programme by Labour leadership hopeful Angela Eagle: “I heard Angela Eagle at the start of your program say Scotland has just got to accept the UK-wide vote in the same way London or Liverpool accept it.

“Well, can I point out gently to Angela Eagle that there is a difference between Scotland and Liverpool and London. Scotland is not a region of the UK. Scotland is a nation and if we cannot protect our interests within a UK that is going to be changing fundamentally, then that right of Scotland to consider the option of independence has to be there.”

Eagle, who has launched a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party, was asked whether she would legally block a second Scottish independence referendum if she were Prime Minister.

She stated: “London voted to Remain and we are in a situation where we’re leaving. Liverpool and Merseyside voted to remain, so I think that it’s important that we actually get the terms of leaving right and we have got to have an all-party agreement on that.”

Scotland’s First Minister, however, maintained Scotland “voted by a significant margin to avoid” leaving the EU, which Sturgeon believes gives her “a mandate to seek to protect that relationship we have with the EU.”

The Scottish leader refused to admit a second Scottish referendum may face legal challenges and asserted she was in a “strong position” and that a second referendum “has to be on the table”.

She emphasised “Brexit will be damaging for jobs, for investment and for universities” and, importantly, there is “warmth, openness and great sympathy for Scotland” in the EU.

Despite her combative tone, Ms Sturgeon was keen to emphasise her meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday was “very cordial and constructive” and welcomed that the new Prime Minister “was prepared to listen to options".