BREXIT SHOCK: Germany's bid to boost relations with SCOTLAND as Sturgeon plots EU re-entry

BAVARIA’S economics minister is heading to Scotland to boost the relationship between the regions - despite Scotland leaving with the rest of the United Kingdom after Brexit.

By Katie Harris, Political Reporter

14:37, Tue, Apr 23, 2019 | UPDATED: 23:02, Tue, Apr 23, 2019

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Hubert Aiwanger’s visit comes as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is making fresh demands for a second independence referendum in a bid to keep Scotland in the EU. The Bavarian minister admitted that he hopes Brexit will be cancelled. He added that this “connects” him to Scotland where two-thirds of the nation voted against leaving the bloc.

Mr Aiwanger said: "My hope is still that the UK will stay in the EU.

“This desire connects me to two-thirds of Scottish citizens who voted against leaving in 2016.

“I want to get an idea of the current mood locally. We will discuss with Scottish government representatives how we can further expand our cooperation in the future."

It comes as the First Minister is due to give a 30-minute speech in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow calling for independence amid the “Brexit confusion”.

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Hubert Aiwanger visited Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon is calling for a second independence referendum (Image: GETTY)

She will set out her "thoughts on independence and how that relates to where the country currently finds itself".

Ms Sturgeon’s spokesman said: "The First Minister will give a detailed and substantive statement setting out the path forward for Scotland amid the ongoing Brexit confusion at Westminster.

"The First Minister will take time to set out her thoughts on that front and in doing so she will seek to strike an inclusive tone."

The SNP leader’s independence speech comes days before her party’s conference in Edinburgh.

Her spokesman added that Ms Sturgeon had opted to make the statement "at the first available opportunity" since Brexit was delayed to October 31.

The latest polling from December, published on the What Scotland Thinks website, suggests another referendum would be 51 percent to 45 percent against independence.

Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg.