NICOLA Sturgeon is set to fire the starting gun on the SNP’s European election campaign with a scathing attack on the Tories.

The First Minister will lambast Theresa May’s government for ignoring the will of the Scottish people and its contempt for the Holyrood Parliament.

The speech will be delivered as the SNP’s six European Parliament election candidates gather in Edinburgh ahead of the vote on May 23.

READ MORE: SNP reveal candidates for European Parliament election

According to The Herald, she is expected to say: “Westminster is paralysed by Brexit with its two main parties broken by infighting and indecision.

“These European elections are Scotland’s chance to make our voice heard.

“The Tory government has ignored the people of Scotland, and treated our Parliament and our Government with contempt.

“But they can’t ignore us forever, we must continue to fight to stop Brexit and the damage it will inflict on everyone, in every walk of life.

“Scotland’s future belongs in Europe – let’s make it loud and clear on May 23.”

Scots will elect six of the 736 members of the European Parliament.

MEP Alyn Smith, former Scottish Government minister Aileen McLeod, ex-MP Margaret Ferrier, councillors Christian Allard and Heather Anderson and SNP NEC member Alex Kerr were named as the SNP’s candidates last month.

READ MORE: Theresa May concedes UK is heading for European elections

May conceded on Tuesday that the UK would participate in the European vote after failing to force her Brexit deal through Parliament in time.

If Brexit does go ahead, the European Parliament will reduce from 751 MEPs to 705, with 27 of the UK’s 73 seats being distributed among the remaining member states.