THE First Minister will demand a “common sense alternative” to Brexit in a major speech tomorrow which would leave a way clear for Scotland to stay in the single market and the customs union.

A new paper, called Scotland’s Place In Europe: Our Way Forward, will also be published. It will argue that the “UK Government’s false choice of a bad, possibly blindfold, Brexit deal or no deal at all should not be accepted”.

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The Sunday National understands the paper will provide the clearest roadmap yet of an alternative plan from the Scottish Government on Brexit.

The publication coincides with the First Minister’s speech at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London.

The First Minister said ahead of the speech: “The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union less than six months from now – but both a Withdrawal Agreement and a clear, detailed statement on the future relationship must be concluded much sooner.

“As things stand, we still have no guarantee of a transition agreement or a detailed proposition setting out the future trading relationship between the UK and EU.

“The UK Government seems intent on presenting a false choice between whatever bad, possibly blindfold, deal they manage to conclude and a no deal scenario.

“However, the Scottish Government will this week set out our common sense, workable alternative and make clear why we believe there is now an opportunity to seize an alternative path.”

Sturgeon confirmed at the SNP autumn conference last week that the party’s 35 MPs at Westminster would be in favour of a second Brexit referendum on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.

SNP MPs at Westminister will have a key role to play in the coming months as Theresa May’s UK Government struggles to finish Brexit negotiations in Brussels and control Conservative Party Brexiteers, as well as manage their relationship with the DUP.

Sturgeon will use tomorrow’s speech to emphasise the potential damage which could be done to Scotland’s economy, universities, and cultural links to Europe if Brexit goes ahead, reminding the UK Government of their “public duty” to protect Scotland who overwhelmingly chose to stay in the EU.

The First Minister said: “It is not too late for public duty and calm heads to prevail and for a no-deal or bad, possibly blindfold, deal outcome to be averted.

“MPs and the wider public should not accept the false choice that is being presented – there is an alternative, and our proposals are the only way to truly protect our businesses, people and communities from the worst effects of Brexit.”

Scottish Government analysis shows leaving the European Single Market could cost around £2300 per person by 2030.