SNP MEP Alyn Smith is known for his powerful speeches to the European Union already - but this may be his strongest yet.

Smith has called on the EU to "leave a light on for Scotland" as he made what could be his last ever speech in the European Parliament.

Smith, one of six Scottish MEPs, used his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to brand Brexit a "tragedy" and a "self-inflicted disaster".

He said: "Every single party in Scotland except the Conservatives are united around the view that the best Brexit is no Brexit.

"So colleagues, please, don't close the door on us now. There are a lot of us in Scotland and across the UK, working hard to turn this round, to serve our citizens, to remain within this family of nations.

"In what might be my last speech in this place after 15 years serving our European people, we don't know what's in the UK's future. We don't know what's in any of our future and the forces of populism are gathering in all our nations.

"We don't know what's in the UK's future but I do know Scotland is a European nation.

"We celebrate international solidarity. We celebrate freedom of movement.

"If the European Union didn't exist, we would have to invent something like it, and Scotland would want to be part of it."

He added: "If Scotland is removed from our family of nations against our will, against our clearly democratically-expressed view, if we are removed against our will, independence will be our only route back."