HELENSBURGH'S MP has labelled Scottish independence a "beacon of hope" as the clock ticks down towards the UK's exit from the European Union.

Ahead of the UK's departure at 11pm on Friday, January 31, Mr O'Hara said an independent Scotland offered an alternative to "an insular, Brexit-obsessed, Boris Johnson Britain".

Mr O'Hara, who was re-elected to Westminster last month with an increased majority, repeated his forecast of the economic and social damage to Argyll and Bute and Scotland from Brexit.

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He said: “As the UK prepares to leave the EU this week, Scotland must be given a choice over its own future.

“At a time when the Tories are ready to turn off the European light in the UK, an independent Scotland provides a beacon of hope to those who want to protect their rights as EU citizens - rights which are under threat if Scotland remains part of the UK.

“People in Scotland have consistently overwhelmingly rejected Brexit at the ballot box, and with the winning 80 per cent of Scotland’s seats in 2019 General Election, the SNP has a cast-iron democratic mandate to give Scotland a choice.

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“It is completely untenable and unsustainable for Boris Johnson and his Tory government to stand in the way of the democratic will of the people of Scotland.

“Scotland has been consistently sidelined through the Brexit process, with our people, our Parliament and the Scottish Government consistently ignored by Westminster.

“It’s now crystal clear that Scotland needs the full powers of independence so Scotland can take its place alongside other independent European nations, rather than being dictated to by a Tory government with no mandate to govern in Scotland.”

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