Brexit news - live: Tories prompt confusion over European election plan as Change UK face second racism resignation in 24 hours

Nicola Sturgeon says we "must learn the lessons of the Brexit mess". 

"The Westminster system of government simply does not serve Scotland's interests," she adds. "The status quo is broken."

Cross-party votes of this parliament have been disregarded "time and time again" and vital powers were "taken from this parliament without our consent". 

For the first time in 20 years, there is a real risk of devolution going backwards, she warns. 

On independence, she says: "Independence offers the best future. That case for independence is stronger now... given profound changes since 2016." 

It would allow us to protect our place in Europe, she claims, and mean that decisions cannot be imposed on us by Westminster. "It would put our future back into our own hands - that is the essence of independence."

She says a second independence referendum should happen "in the lifetime of this parliament" - before May 2021.

Sturgeon also compared to Scotland with other countries in Europe, and said independence would help Scotland to take its future into its own hands.

She said: "Of the 27 independent countries that decided the UK's future at the EU Council two weeks ago, around a dozen are smaller than or similar in size to Scotland.

"Many of these countries are also more prosperous than Scotland.With all of our assets and talents, Scotland should be a thriving and driving force within Europe.

"Instead we face being forced to the margins, sidelined by a UK that is itself increasingly sidelined on the international stage."

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has responded to suggestions from the former French ambassador to the US, who just yesterday claimed British influence in Washington has "vanished" following Brexit, with a somewhat mocking tone.

More here on Nicola Sturgeon's address to the Scottish parliament this afternoon on her plans for a second independence referendum from political correspondent Ben Kentish.

Oddly, it looks as if cabinet minister Michael Gove's wife, Sarah Vine, is expressing her support for Claire Fox in the European election campaign. Claire Fox is a member of the Brexit Party - launched by Nigel Farage last week. 

Earlier, Sir Alan Duncan described the executions of 37 men as "a deeply backward step" by the Saudi government

Responding to an urgent question in the Commons from Sir Vince Cable, he said: "We really do genuinely disapprove in the strongest possible terms what has happened, particularly when it was reported that one of them was displayed on a cross, something that anyone here just a few days after Easter would find more repulsive."

He said the government is working to establish the full facts and the foreign secretary will be raising this with the Saudi authorities at the earliest opportunity.

British embassy representatives in Riyadh made representations last November on specific individuals, Sir Alan told MPs, adding: "One of the grave concerns about these executions is that it would appear to include minors or those who were minors at the time that the charges were made. This, of course, is totally unacceptable and we do deplore it."

The UK, he said, had "put our name fully" to the EU's European External Action Service's "very, very strong statement of condemnation pointing out that these executions are a regressive step".

My colleague Tom Peck has been in Clacton this morning with Nigel Farage, who has been conducting a walkabout for his Brexit Party's European election campaign.

Betting adverts should be banned from all live sports coverage, an MP has said, amid fears that young people could be at risk of suicide because of out-of-control gambling debts.

Tory MP Richard Graham said gambling adverts could be banned altogether as he put forward a 10-minute rule motion to the Commons calling for a levy on the revenues of gambling firms.

He said: "Will it be the tobacco of this generation? Something that once was widely advertised, then restricted, and now banned from advertising altogether.

"Will those damaged, or even killed by gambling be our legacy? Or is this our chance to get the balance right between funding sport, using technology, and having the right protections to prevent tragedy?"

The Gambling (Industry Levy Review And Protections For Vulnerable People) Bill will call for the money raised to go to help research the effects of gambling addiction, funding gambling addiction clinics, and improving safeguards for children and vulnerable people.

Mr Graham said: "Even one life destroyed by gambling is too many, and the depressing thing is that we simply do not know how many people have committed suicide from gambling. The only statistics available suggest that last year between 250 and 650 gamblers committed suicide."

His bill will return for second reading on May 10 but it is unlikely to progress without government support.