The Scottish National Party (SNP) has announced it is preparing to fight in May’s European Parliament elections as part of a desperate bid for Scottish independence. Mr Smith said both he and MEP Ian Hudghton would be candidates as he declared the SNP is “up for the cup” if there is a European election. The SNP MEP told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “It seems likely that there is going to need to be an extension because the idea of crashing out on Friday is just unconscionable.

A delay seems almost inevitable

Alyn Smith

“It’s Mrs May that has brought us here, be in no doubt about that, but the idea of crashing out just isn’t an option.

“So a delay seems almost inevitable. The question is, is it a long delay or is it a short delay.”

But the SNP MEP claimed the “best option” would be to revoke Article 50 and stop Brexit or hold a second Brexit referendum.

Without any Brexit extension, Britain will leave the EU at 10pm on Friday with no deal.

Mr Smyth added: “Nobody in the EU wants to see us leave at all, everybody regrets Brexit, there is a strong desire to try and find a form of words to keep us in, but nobody wants to be messed about and people increasingly in Brussels are feeling that the UK and Mrs May and the Tories – and everybody knows where the problem actually is – is messing us about.”

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed the country had been “sidelined” by Westminster, despite meeting with Theresa May last week.

She tweeted: “Tonight, 12 of the 27 EU member states that will decide the UK’s future have populations smaller than or similar in size to Scotland’s.

“If we become independent we get to sit at that table – enjoying the same solidarity shown to Ireland – instead of being sidelined by Westminster.”

After meeting with the Prime Minister, Ms Sturgeon told reporters: “The Prime Minister has not been very open about where her red lines might be removed and where she sees compromise on her part is.

“My concern is that in the rush to reach some compromise, with the clock ticking, is that a bad compromise could be reached.”

The SNP conference this month is set to discuss the Scottish case for independence amid the backdrop of Brexit.

Tory MP and former defence minister Guto Bebb claimed this month a soft Brexit would make the case for Scottish independence “more favourable”.

He wrote in The Times: “Brexit will have left Scottish manufacturing, service industries and the financial services sector with little or no influence through the Westminster or Scottish Parliaments.

“My Scottish Conservative colleagues have rejected the idea of a final say referendum despite polls showing that two-thirds of Scottish voters want one.

“They have done this because they fear that such a vote concedes the argument for a second independence referendum.

“I understand that fear. However, it depends on the view that a second referendum will not happen without such a precedent. Is that credible?

“An independence referendum, if secured after a soft Brexit, would be fought on ground that would be far more favourable for those wishing to break up the union.”

Prime Minister Theresa May will head to Brussels this evening for a crunch summit with EU leaders in hope of getting a delay to the Brexit process.

EU leaders are set to order Theresa May to accept a longer Brexit delay of up to 12 months.

European Council President Donald Tusk used a letter to EU leaders ahead of a gathering in Brussels on Wednesday to suggest a Brexit “rethink” as he warned the Prime Minister’s request for a short Brexit delay until June 30 at the latest was unrealistic.

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