An SNP MSP has been branded "utterly delusional" after claiming that Scottish independence would not necessarily bring about an end to the union.

Emma Roddick, who previously served as equalities minister under Humza Yousaf, was sacked when John Swinney took over as First Minister.

Speaking to the National, she claimed Scotland could still be in "some sort of union" with the rest of what is currently the UK if it voted to leave.

She said: "I don’t want Scotland to be independent and then act on our own, I want us to be a voice on the world stage and promote international cooperation.

"It would be daft not to include England, Wales, and Ireland in that.

"I would love to have an independent Scotland be in some sort of union or cooperation agreement with the rest of what is currently the UK."

She added: "As independence is up to Scotland, it would of course be up to England if they wanted to be in a union with us, but I would personally love that.

"I think we need to go back to basics on what independence means because it has become such a heightened debate.

"You see a lot of folk who are iffy about independence because they love England or they’ve got family there or they’ve worked there, and that’s great [that they feel that way about England].

"I want close relationships with our neighbours."

But the Scottish Tories dubbed her remarks "utterly delusional".

Meghan Gallacher, spokeswoman for the constitution, told the Scottish Daily Express: "There’s no end to the SNP’s fantasy tales about independence, but Emma Roddick’s latest guff is utterly delusional.

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"A hard border with Scotland’s nearest neighbours would jeopardise jobs and livelihoods with our largest trading partner – the rest of the United Kingdom."

She added: "While the SNP double down on their fixation with breaking up the UK – the only issue the warring party can agree on – the Scottish Conservatives are focused on the public’s real priorities, like fixing our ailing public services and reducing unacceptable NHS waiting times."