Nicola Sturgeon should use Brexit to secure new powers for Scotland and bring about "neo-independence", former SNP minister Alex Neil has said.

Mr Neil, who stepped down from the cabinet after May's Holyrood election, urged the Scottish Government to exploit the "golden opportunity" presented by the vote to leave the European Union (EU).

Ms Sturgeon has pledged to "explore all options" to protect Scotland's interests in Europe and said another referendum on independence is "highly likely".

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Neil instead urged SNP ministers to publish a list of demands including continued access to the single market and the transfer to Scotland of EU-related powers over farming, fishing, employment law, environmental protection, social policy and consumer protection.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats said the former minister's comments showed the SNP were "all over the place."

Mr Neil said: "Rather than wait until (PM Theresa) Mrs May eventually gets her act together, the Scottish Government should immediately publish its 'list of Scottish demands' for the Brexit negotiations.

"Don't wait for Whitehall. Set the agenda now. Force the UK Cabinet to acknowledge Scotland's priorities.

"Pre-empt any attempt by the UK Government to place unacceptable limitations on Scotland's Brexit ambitions."

Mr Neil said immigration policy should also pass to Edinburgh along with control over VAT.

He said the argument that VAT could not be devolved because the EU prevents rate variations within member states was now invalid.

The Airdrie and Shotts MSP argues the funding associated with these powers should also be transferred, along with Scotland's share of contributions to the EU budget, estimated to be worth around £800m a year net of the funding Scotland currently gets from the EU.

He said: "With this money, post-Brexit, the Scottish Government could continue to finance all the projects currently supported by the EU in Scotland to the same level of funding as at present, and still have another £800m or so a year left over to invest as we choose.

"The accumulation of all these new powers and finances would bring about 'neo-independence' for Scotland, creating the ideal platform for advancing to full sovereignty for the Scottish people in the early 2020s."

He also called for the Scottish Government to organise a "Brexit coalition" of the nations and regions of the UK.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "The rifts in the SNP are getting wider and deeper with this intervention from Alex Neil. Nicola Sturgeon's headlong rush towards independence over the summer has been criticised by a host of party grandees from Kenny Macaskill to Joan McApline and now the former Health Secretary.

"Alex Neil's wants to slam on the brakes to prevent a rushed referendum because he knows that people in Scotland don't want a referendum and don't want independence.

"The SNP are all over the place on what to do which is why Nicola Sturgeon needs to bring an end to this damaging uncertainty and rule out another independence referendum."