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Ms Sturgeon says it is her judgement there is a "risk of devolution going backwards" for the first time in 20 years.

The first minister asks if the status quo is not sustainable how can that be fixed.

"I will argue that independence offers the best future," she says.

That case is even more profound since the events started in 2014, she says.

Brexit has exposed a deep democratic deficit at the heart of how Scotland is governed, claims the first minister.

We need a more solid foundation on which to build our country she adds.

The first minister says ending free movement will restrict the opportunities of our own young people and will send Scotland's working age population into decline.

I am proud that parties across this chamber are willing to take on the many myths that surround migration, Ms Sturgeon says.

A smaller economy, restricted job growth, fewer people, narrowed horizons and greater pressure on public services will all be outcomes of Brexit, the first minister insists.

The first minister says the devolution settlement is now seen to be "utterly inadequate".

"In other words the status quo has been broken."

She says Scotland's voice has been ignored.

Ms Sturgeon points out cross-party votes at Holyrood have been disregarded time and time again.

Ms Sturgeon says the SNP proposed the compromise of single market and custom union membership, and also backs putting the question back to the people in another referendum.

We want to prevent a Brexit crisis across the whole of the UK but we must also protect the best interests of Scotland should the UK leave the EU, she states.

Whether we like it or not, the lack of clarity around Brexit impacts decision making the first minister says.

"The Westminster system of government simply does not serve Scotland's interests."

Ms Sturgeon says the view of the Scottish government is that the best way to end the deadlock is to have a second EU referendum.

She adds this chaos is down to incompetence from the Tories, as the UK government triggered Article 50 before it was ready.

Instead of trying to build consensus, the prime minister interpreted the hardest line of Brexit possible, adds Ms Sturgeon.

The first minister says faith in democracy has been damaged.

The first minister says the extension granted by the EU rescued the UK from leaving without a deal.

Planning for a no deal Brexit has been scaled down for the time being, she tells the chamber.

However, she expresses anger at the resources taken up by no deal planning which she argues the UK government should have ruled out.

If the only alternative is a no deal Brexit, the UK government should choose to revoke Article 50 Ms Sturgeon states.

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The first minister also offers her heart felt condolences to the families of the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, where the death toll has risen to 359, with more than 500 people wounded.

Nicola Sturgeon begins by expressing her heart felt condolences to the family and friends of murdered journalist Lyra McKee.

Theresa May, the president of Ireland, the taoisech, Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Blackford are attending Ms McKee's funeral service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

Ms Sturgeon says she wishes she had known Ms McKee as she was a symbol of hope for Northern Ireland.

Image source, BBC/ Thinkstock/UK Parliament Jessica Taylor/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon will now give a statement about the prospect of a second independence referendum.

Nicola Sturgeon called for a second referendum on independence immediately after UK voted to leave the EU - but shelved the plans after the SNP lost 21 seats at the general election in 2017.

She said in January of this year that she would give an update on her timetable for a referendum within "weeks", but has repeatedly said she needs to wait for more clarity about Brexit before doing so.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr last month, Ms Sturgeon predicated that it was "as inevitable as it is possible to be" that another independence referendum would be held.

Image source, bbc/PA/Getty Images

But she said she first needed to know whether the UK was definitely leaving the EU, whether it would be leaving with or without a deal or whether there might be another referendum on EU membership.

She added: "Before I set forward a path for Scotland I think it's reasonable for me to know what the starting point of that journey is going to be and the context in which we are going to be embarking on it."

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously insisted that "now is not the time" for a fresh vote on independence.

Image source, PA

Nicola Sturgeon will update MSPs on Brexit and her plans for a possible Scottish independence referendum this afternoon..

The first minister will make a statement on "Brexit and Scotland's future" at Holyrood from 1.30pm.

BBC Scotland understands that she will not announce a specific date for a further vote on independence.

Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "obsessed" by independence.

Labour and the Lib Dems also hit out in advance of the statement, while the Greens urged Ms Sturgeon to "fire the starting gun" on a new independence vote.

• Watch the statement on Holyrood Live from 13:30
• Sturgeon says indyref2 'is going to happen'
• Hunt: UK government would refuse permission for indyref2
• Read more here