Nicola Sturgeon has said that she is "more confident than I've ever been that Scotland would be welcomed with open arms in the EU."

In an interview with Good Morning Britain, the First Minister said that Scotland would not have any issues joining the EU as an independent nation. 

READ MORE: SNP hit back at Gordon Brown over Scottish independence comments

Speaking to the programme, she said: "While I don't expect the European Union ever to interfere in the decision about independence, I am more confident than I've ever been, and I was pretty confident back in 2014, that Scotland would be welcomed with open arms by the EU.

READ MORE: Poll puts Brexit Party into second place in Scotland as pro Scottish independence parties gain

"If you look at 27 member states of the EU, about a dozen of them are countries similar in size to, or smaller than Scotland, so it's perfectly normal to be a small independent country"

The First Minister also weighed in on the "milkshaking" of politicians, after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage fell victim to the latest political protest yesterday in Newcastle. 

Speaking on the incident, the SNP leader said: "Whatever you think of Nigel Farage, and as you've probably gathered I am not a great fan, I don't think we should be condoning or encouraging people to behave in that way, not least because it took the attention away from a big story yesterday about where the Brexit Party gets its money from.

"I think the better treatment for people who oppose Nigel Farage is to ignore him, he hates being ignored, and then go out on Thursday and vote against him. 

"All politicians of whatever party should be able to campaign amongst the public and have a vigorous and robust debate, but not have to worry about things like that happening."