Nicola Sturgeon believes Scotland will be independent by 2025.

The SNP leader said she had not changed her timetable for a second Scottish independence referendum.

She also said the country should not be told to "shut up" by the rest of the UK during the Brexit negotiations.

Asked in an interview on ITV's Tonight programme if she thinks the United Kingdom will have broken up by 2025, she replied: "I think Scotland will be independent, yes, but that's a choice for the Scottish people."

Pressed on the date, she added: "I believe Scotland will be independent, I've always believed that."

The First Minister was interviewed on May 31 and the programme will be broadcast on Monday.

Speaking about Scotland's place in the Brexit negotiations, Sturgeon said Scotland had voted No in the 2014 independence referendum in part "to protect its place in the EU".

"In 2016, we were told to vote remain to protect our place in the EU - we did that," she said.

"We were then told that the UK is a family of nations and Scotland's voice would be heard, that the Prime Minister wouldn't trigger Article 50 until there had been a UK position.

"So, basically, what we're now being told is 'shut up, Scotland, because nobody in the rest of the UK is interested in what you want to say'. That is a democratically unsustainable position."

Sturgeon said her timetable for holding a second vote on Scottish independence is "as it's always been", having previously said it would be between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

She said: "The point of principle for me is the end of the process. Now, why I set out those dates is that that is what Theresa May is telling us right now the end of the process will be.

"She has said that the terms of the Brexit deal, the new relationship with Europe, will be known before the UK exits the EU in the spring of 2019."

Theresa May has repeatedly insisted"now is not the time" for a second independence referendum despite a majority of MSPs backing SNP plans for a fresh vote.

The Prime Minister says an independence vote north of the border would disrupt UK attempts to get the "right deal" with the European Union during Brexit negotiations.

Labour opposes a second referendum, although party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would not block one "if the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people want it".

Speaking on the campaign trail on Monday, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Scots voters are "just fed up with the SNP", adding: "They want to put an end to the constant threat of another divisive independence referendum."