THE First Minister has responded to Scotland's EU Parliament election result, calling it a resounding endorsement of the SNP and a demonstration of the nation's opposition to Brexit.
With all 32 local authorities in Scotland now declared, Nicola Sturgeon praised the SNP's best ever result in an EU election.
The SNP also received the highest percentage of the vote of any UK party.
READ MORE: Scotland turns map yellow as final EU election result is confirmed
Sturgeon's party won 30 of Scotland's 32 local authority areas, and was just 846 votes away from winning all of them.
The party's lowest result - 24% in Orkney - was higher than the Tories' best result - 21% in Dumfries in Galloway.
Speaking from Dublin, where she is carrying out a series of engagements, the First Minister said: “This is an historic and spectacular victory for the SNP, and an overwhelming rejection of Brexit by the people of Scotland.
“The UK political system has failed - and it has failed Scotland utterly.
“Scotland said no to Brexit in 2016. This result makes clear, we meant it.
READ MORE: Stirling Tories are taking the EU election result REALLY badly
“The message from Scotland today is that we will not accept a Brexit process that silences our nation, that treats our parliament and government with contempt and that fails to represent the interests of people in Scotland.
“The SNP will continue working with other parties to stop Brexit and all the ensuing economic damage to Scotland.
“If all Westminster has to offer is more chaos and confusion – potentially under the premiership of an extreme Tory Brexiteer – then more and more people will come to the conclusion that Scotland’s future is best served as an independent country.”
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