Patrick Harvie: “This is an important step by the SNP’s National Council, and I hope the Scottish Government now acts on it.”

The opportunities that independence offers Scotland are vast.

At a time when we must be maximising our efforts to decarbonise our heating and transport systems, this scale of increased demand for Scotland’s renewable electricity is incompatible with achieving Scotland’s net zero targets.

I urge the First Minister to launch a public consultation on this as soon as possible.

The expansion to Strathclyde is a major step forward, but it must not become an excuse for further delay elsewhere.