NICOLA Sturgeon insisted last night that an independent Scotland would seek to rejoin the EU if it is forced to leave the UK because of Brexit.

The First Minister spoke as she received an award by the German media at a conference called the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium, an initiative of Potsdam Media International.

The award honours people who have made their mark on Europe and the world and are committed to strengthening democracy.

Sturgeon won praise for her “responsible and ethical stance against Brexit” and for being “a crucial voice of reason” in the debate over Britain’s exit from the EU.

She told the conference: “If Scotland has to leave the EU, Scotland will seek to become an independent state and to become again a member of the European Union.

“Scotland sees Europe as its natural home. We will always promote and support its work.”