NICOLA Sturgeon has said Europe should “keep a light on” as Scotland will be back soon.

The First Minister tweeted just after the Brexit transition period formally ended at 11pm last night.

Scotland’s trading and travel relationships with EU countries will now be governed by the agreement announced by the UK Government on Christmas Eve.

Sturgeon reiterated the SNP’s call for an independent Scotland to join the EU.

Tweeting a picture of the words Europe and Scotland attached by a loveheart, she said: “Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.”

The image had previously been projected on to the side of the EU Commission building in Brussels.

Scotland’s Constitution Secretary Mike Russell also said the separate Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland and Gibraltar show independence is the “only alternative”, as the transition period ended.

He was reacting to news that a draft agreement had been reached between the UK and Spain to keep the border with the Rock open on January 1 and beyond.

While Scotland has the same trade arrangements with the EU as England and Wales, there is a separate Northern Ireland Protocol to avoid a hard border with the Republic.

The National:

Hauliers are said to be facing the prospect of a longer process getting on to vessels as a result of the new regulations for goods transport – with an emergency lorry park set up near Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway able to hold 240 vehicles.

But feared delays did not materialise this morning. Business at the port was quiet on the first day after the Brexit transition period ended, with no queues or disruption.

Around 14 freight lorries were joined by a handful of cars on the first ferry to leave Scotland for Northern Ireland under the new rules – the 11.30am Stena Line service heading from Loch Ryan Port to Belfast.

One lorry driver told the PA news agency he experienced no issues getting through security and “everything was fine”.

However given the slower traffic due to the New Year, it is thought that Monday will be the real test for the new processes. 

Additionally last night it was announced that Gibraltar would be covered by a separate treaty.

In December 2016, the Scottish Government proposed keeping Scotland in the single market post-Brexit.

Russell tweeted on Thursday evening: “The NI & Gibraltar deals make clear that the 12/16 @ScotGov proposals could have produced a Scottish deal but were never pursued in EU negotiations by UK.

“Consequently the UK has itself created the circumstances in which independence is the only alternative for Scotland.”

The Scottish Parliament earlier refused to give legislative consent for the Prime Minister’s Brexit agreement.

MSPs voted by 92 to 30 to say the deal would “cause severe damage to Scotland’s environmental, economic and social interests”, following a debate on Wednesday.

A Scottish Government report released earlier modelled that GDP would be 6.1% lower by 2030 compared to remaining a member of the EU.

Demonstrators gathered outside Holyrood yesterday afternoon to protest against the end of the transition period.

Around 12 people took part in the socially distanced Yes for EU event.

Morag Williamson, from the group, said: “We are very sad and very angry at the same time.

“We don’t want to leave the family of Europe – but we are being dragged out against our will.”