A FORMER Tory MEP has changed his mind about Scottish independence – and says many “lifetime Unionists” are doing the same. 

Dr Charles Tannock, who served in the European Parliament as a representative of London for 20 years, says he is now “very sympathetic” to the idea of a Yes vote.

In the week in which UK ministers admitted their Internal Market Bill will break international law, he cited the chaos sparked by Brexit for his change of heart.

“Many of us life time UK Unionists now would be very sympathetic to an independent Scotland the land of where my family name comes from,” Tannock tweeted. “What a Topsy Turvy world hard Brexit has generated.”

SNP MP Angus MacNeil welcomed his remarks.

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Tannock expressed his views in response to a column by former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika, who said Unionist arguments against Scottish independence do not hold water.

She wrote in the Evening Standard: “There are many who argue that the first referendum was a once-in-a-lifetime event, but I don’t think that argument holds because so much has changed since 2014 with Brexit.

“I campaigned for Scotland to stay part of the union six years ago, but when I visit Scotland now, there is an undeniable shift towards independence which is borne out by the latest polling.”