Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Sturgeon said independence was still her aspiration but in the short-term she would be satisfied with “consensus and compromise” on Brexit.
If the UK achieves a so-called ‘soft Brexit’ and stays in the single market Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to “put aside” plans for independence.
Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Sturgeon said independence was still her aspiration but in the short-term she would be satisfied with “consensus and compromise” on Brexit.
The Scottish government has published a document on why staying in the single market is important as well as solutions if the UK opts to leave the single market – such as retaining controls on immigration.
Sturgeon said: “We want to try to work with others across the UK, across the political spectrum, to try to keep the UK in the single market.
"I think there's a lot of consensus starting to build around some of those additional powers, for example around immigration.
"We've put forward very detailed plans about how we avoid a hard Brexit and the reason it's important to avoid a hard Brexit, let's not forget, is because that will have a devastating impact on our economy and on jobs.
"So I'm in a sense willing to put aside my preferred option of independence in the EU to see if we can explore a consensus and compromise option."
Scotland is currently consulting on a draft bill for a second independence referendum. The consultation period closes on 11 January.
Sturgeon added: "Am I going to stop arguing for independence or believing in independence? Am I going to stop believing that Scotland is on a journey to independence?
"No, but we're talking here about the particular context and timescale of Brexit - and I'm putting these proposals forward in good faith."
