THE TORIES have been branded “delusional” over leaked plans to co-opt the EU into the fight against Scottish independence. 

Rising support for leaving the UK has, in part, been linked to Brexit.

Despite 62% of Scots backing remain, Scotland will be leaving the EU on January 1.

The report, from political consultants, Hanbury, and leaked to Bloomberg, warns the UK Government that "there are not enough Leave voters to convert to the ‘No’ side to make up for the movement of Remain voters into the ‘Yes’ camp."

It suggests ministers in Boris Johnson's Brexiteer cabinet instead try to co-opt “the EU into demonstrating that there is no viable pathway to renewed membership."

The SNP MP John Nicolson tweeted: “Love the idea that Boris Johnson’s Brexit Tories think they’ve enough capital in the chancelleries of Europe to get pro-EU, post independence Scotland excluded. They’re delusional.”

Scotland’s Brexit minister, Michael Russell tweeted: “What a surprise.....    It is the Tory way to try and do politics.  Pay oodles to ‘political consultants’ and try any trick or deceit rather than listen to what the people of Scotland are saying.

“Particularly love the assumption in the leaked London Tory dirty tricks plan against Scotland  that the #EU will be happy to meekly do the UK’s bidding  even after the way they have been treated during #Brexit.   Tory arrogant exceptionalism has no bounds.”

Anthony Salamone from the Edinburgh Merchants political consultancy tweeted: “Needless to say, the European Union does not take advice from the UK, or any other third country, on who joins the EU. An independent Scotland would be strongly placed to become a successful EU member state”.

Nicola Sturgeon’s chief of staff, Liz Lloyd, said much of the suggestions in the report had already been “floated and rebuffed by unionists amongst themselves over the last few years”.

She added: “The best bit is that they plan on leaving the EU then asking EU for a favour to say bad things about indy.”

The memo, which wasn’t commissioned by the UK Government, was circulated to a group of people including Cabinet minister Michael Gove.

Yesterday, he told Parliament that it was the EU's fault that talks between London and Brussels had stalled.

Despite European offers to intensify negotiations, Downing Street later said there was "no basis to resume talks unless there is a fundamental change of approach from the EU”.