Salmond predicts another independence referendum in two years

Just weeks ago Ms Sturgeon launched a ‘listening’ exercise designed to help the party win over 'No' voters.

Read more: Kevin McKenna: Two years on, the case for independence has only grown

Two years ago this weekend Scots voted 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay in the UK.

However, Ms Sturgeon has argued that the UK that Scots decided to remain a part of no longer exists in the wake.

She has asked official servants to begin work on a new referendum bill.

This would be used if ministers "conclude that independence is the best or only way to protect Scotland’s interests” in Europe, she has said.

Mr Salmond said: "I would expect Nicola Sturgeon to fulfil her mandate to keep Scotland within the Single Market place, I would expect her to give Theresa May the opportunity to embed Scotland within the negotiations to enable that to happen.

“And I fully expect, my reading of the situation is, the UK will not be flexible or wise enough to do that, and therefore I expect there’ll be a Scottish referendum in roughly two years’ time.”

Mr Salmond made the comments during an interview with Kremlin-backed TV station Russia Today.

Earlier this year it emerged that other senior SNP politicians were shunning RT amid accusations it slavishly backs Vladimir Putin’s government.

Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary David Mundell will today (SAT) say that an independent Scotland could be forced to cut public spending or pay steep fines to secure EU membership.

In a speech, Mr Mundell will suggest that many of the benefits of EU membership currently enjoyed by Scots cannot be retained.

Scotland could have to join the euro and the EU's free travel area if it is forced to apply as a new member of the EU, he will say.

And the size of an independent Scotland’s deficit could mean it is forced to cut government spending – or face tough sanctions, including potentially large fines.

He will also question whether countries like Spain, which have their own independence movements, will want to cause trouble if Scotland is forced to apply for EU membership.

The SNP has insisted Scotland would be a 'continuing' member of the EU.

Mr Mundell will say: “The fact is that an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU would be very different from the current arrangements.

“On issues like agriculture and fishing, where UK-wide interests often align, and the clout of the UK has seen policy successes in the past, Scotland would be a lone voice.

"It is, in truth, a very different proposition from that which Remain voters in Scotland backed in June.”

He will also say that the arguments for Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom are stronger than ever.

Read more: Agenda: Should an independent Scotland and Ireland consider a union?

!I do not think that the UK’s vote to leave the European Union does anything substantial to weaken the argument for the UK.

It certainly does not make Scottish independence any more attractive, viable or beneficial a prospect than it was in 2014. Indeed quite the reverse...It is clear that full and unrestricted access to the UK single market is far more important to Scottish businesses than the EU Single Market."

He will also hit out at Ms Sturgeon, calling for a “positive and responsible" approach and attacking her “doom-mongering warning of a ‘lost decade’ “ as “increasingly alarmist”.

He will add: “Objective observers might wonder if the aim is to provide bracingly frank analysis, or to try and talk up the challenges of Brexit in the hope of making Scottish independence seem less of a risk.”

Scottish Brexit minister Michael Russell said: “These comments would be laughable were they not so ridiculous.

“Just a few months ago Mr Mundell, Ruth Davidson and many other Tories warned us of the disastrous consequences of leaving the EU – yet now they try and pretend that the UK offers some sort of stability or certainty for Scotland.”