Scotland intends to negotiate with EU directly

Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that it is her responsibility to negotiate with the European Union to try to protect the interests of Scotland, which voted to remain in the bloc.

"My challenge now as first minister is to work out how I best protect Scotland's interests, how I try to prevent us being taken out of the EU against our will with all of the deeply damaging and painful consequences that that will entail," Reuters cited her as saying.

"My challenge, but also my responsibility as first minister, is to seek to negotiate to protect Scotland's interests," she said, adding she would speak to people in Brussels over the next few days.