Scottish MEP receives standing ovation in European Parliament after passionate speech saying Scotland 'voted to remain'

A Scottish MEP has received a lengthy standing ovation from hundreds of members of the European Parliament after asking members “not to let Scotland down”.

Alyn Smith, from the Scottish National Party (SNP), addressed a special session on the Brexit in Brussels moments after Nigel Farage hailed Britain’s “independence day”.

“I represent Scotland within this house and while I’m proudly Scottish, I’m also proudly European,” he said.

open image in gallery

“I want my country to be internationalist, co-operative, ecological, far, European, and the people from Scotland along with the people of Northern Ireland and the people of London and lots and lots of people in Wales and England also voted to remain within our family of nations.”

Mr Smith said that people negotiating Britain’s future ties with the EU would need “cool heads and warm hearts” adding: “Please remember this: Scotland did not let you down. Please, I beg you, do not let Scotland down now.”

Hundreds of MEPs stood in a lengthy ovation at the close of Mr Smith’s speech, with applause delaying proceedings for several minutes.

Mr Farage and members Eurosceptic parties remained seated as the heated session continued, which saw the Ukip leader booed after telling fellow MEPs they had “never done a proper job in your lives”.

Martina Anderson, a Sinn Fein MEP, said Northern Ireland also voted Remain but called for change to some EU institutions to respond to public concerns.

open image in gallery

“There was a democratic vote – we voted to Remain,” she told the European Parliament.

“I tell you that the last thing is the people of Ireland need is an EU border with 27 member states stuck right in the middle of it.

“You in the EU have supported our peace process and I ask you to continue to do that.”

Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, has argued a Brexit offers new opportunities for the country but her deputy – Sinn Feinn’s Martin McGuinness - called for a poll on Irish reunification.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has raised the prospect of a second independence referendum because the circumstances under which Scots voted to remain party of the UK have undergone “substantial change”.

All electoral districts north of the border voted Remain, with the 75 per cent support in Edinburgh among the highest in the UK.

The SNP leader said it was also possible for the Scottish Parliament to refuse to ratify a Brexit, and has opened discussions with Brussels officials and the heads of EU states on the country’s future status.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, said he was sad at Thursday’s vote for Britain to leave the EU but that he would respect democracy.

But he later asked Ukip MEPs “Why are you here?” as they attended the session despite wanting to exit the European Parliament.

David Cameron was preparing for an awkward meeting with EU leaders on Tuesday.

In the first session since the UK voted to leave the 28-nation bloc, he was due to discuss the implications of the Brexit as market volatility continued.

The Prime Minister, who led the Remain campaign, resigned on Friday but will not leave his post until a new Conservative Party leader is elected in October.