Nicola Sturgeon

At 11pm tonight, Scotland will cease to be part of the EU after almost half a century. That is a moment of profound sadness for me, and for countless others across Scotland, and indeed the rest of the UK.

As the great Nelson Mandela said – ‘It always seems impossible until it is done’. In Scotland I believe we are on the cusp of such a moment.

The referendum of September 2014 changed Scotland – and I believe it transformed our country fundamentally for the better.

Throughout the last 20 years – and this is to the credit of all the parties in the parliament – that institution has worked to make a difference to the lives of people across Scotland.