| UPDATED: 12:33, Thu, Jan 14, 2021
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Nicola Sturgeon has ‘no option’ but independence says expert
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Polling for Scottish independence in 2020 showed a sustained level of support for a Yes vote as the SNP's grip on Holyrood looks set to strengthen. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly warned Westminster that Scotland will join the EU as an independent country, sparking heated debate across the UK. While this eventuality looks increasingly likely, questions still surround how long it will take Scotland to secure its place in the bloc, and what the economic implications could be. Others have warned that, for Scotland to conform to the EU's standards, it will have to endure austerity to bring the Scottish deficit down towards three percent of GDP – the level required by Brussels.