THE SNP’s Westminster leader has made a plea to Scots who are undecided on independence as the consequences of Brexit become more apparent.

This week a number of news stories have highlighted how leaving the EU has negatively impacted on the UK. A second mobile phone firm announced it would be reintroducing roaming charges of at least £1 a day in Europe, while the shortage of HGV drivers continued causing problems.

Industry body the Road Haulage Association (RHA) says it faces a shortfall of 100,000 drivers as many former workers have returned home to European countries.

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It was reported that the UK Government could call in army personnel to tackle the major shortage of drivers, but the RHA says that “will not scratch the surface” of the crisis.

Industry figures expect the supermarket shortages will continue getting worse over the summer, with containers beginning to “stack up” at ports.

Brexit rules have also pushed the UK into a vet shortage as the number of EU vets arriving to work here has dropped significantly. According to a private briefing shown to UK ministers earlier this month, pre-Brexit times saw 80-100 EU vets registered every month – the figure is now down to about 20.

Veterinary sector experts are concerned the shortage will lead to wage inflation and price rises for pet owners.

As this disruption continued, Ian Blackford spoke out. Some 62% of Scots backed remaining in the EU in 2016 and the majority backed pro-EU parties at the recent Holyrood election.

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“Scotland did not vote for this,” he said, noting several of the recent failures of Brexit. “We have an alternative, the time will come in this parliament when those in Scotland will have the right to determine our future as a European nation.

“We have the mandate and it will be used. I ask those in Scotland to join us in our journey.”

Speaking last week to American radio station NPR, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she intends to hold an independence referendum in the first half of this parliamentary term. She made that commitment in the run-up to the 2021 Scottish election.

“I would like to offer that choice in the first half of this term of our parliament, which is, you know, by the end of 2023,” she told listeners.

“And we'll judge within that when the best time to offer that choice is. And, you know, I don't take these things for granted, but I'm pretty confident that when that choice is offered to the people of Scotland, partly because of our experience of being disregarded, not least on the issue of Brexit, since the last time we had this choice, I'm pretty confident people in Scotland will vote by majority to become an independent country.”

A poll carried out by Redfield and Wilton Strategies found this week that most people in Scotland support holding indyref2 before the next Holyrood election and expect Yes to win.

With “don’t knows” removed, some 51% of respondents said they supported a referendum being held in this term.