BREXIT alone will not deliver independence, and the SNP still needs to persuade people on a host of other issues to win next time, according to the MEP standing to be the party’s deputy.

Alyn Smith, a member of the First Minister’s Standing Council on Europe, said Brexit had changed the political weather, but was only “one factor among many” for voters.

His comments are more cautious than those of Nicola Sturgeon, who within hours of last month’s UK-wide Brexit result said it had made a second independence referendum “highly likely” given Scotland voted 62-38 for Remain.

Smith is also less gung-ho than his rival for the deputy leadership, Angus Robertson, who said on Friday that Scotland was “on the brink of independence”.

Smith, who last month received a standing ovation in Brussels for his defence of Scotland's place in Europe, warned the EU issue was not enough for a future Yes win, despite hopes of a post-Brexit boost.

He said: “It’s going to come down to the whole range of options that we saw in the last referendum. People want competence, they want vision, they want inspiration, they want reassurance, they want stability.

“I think it [Brexit] is very much part of the picture and it’s changed the dynamic. It’s given people the opportunity to reassess. It will push some people over the top.

“It’s one issue amongst many - a really important one - but it’s one issue amongst many.

“We need to persuade people [independence] is indeed the best option and make sure there’s a sustainable majority for that, and I don’t think we’re there yet.”

In the 2014 referendum, EU membership ranked as the voters' seventh place priority.

With the SNP Treasury team exploring currency options for an independent Scotland, Smith said he was “pragmatic” about the choice, and was open to the Euro.

“I don’t think anything should be ruled out at the moment. That doesn’t mean it [the Euro] is a likely option. But this is so much in flux, so much up in the air. For me currency is a question of pragmatism and what’s going to work best. I would consider all options and all scenarios.”

He said public hostility to the Euro was softening.

“It’s shifted for a lot of people, including within the financial services sector. A number of people who used to do stuff in Sterling are now looking at the Euro as the more stable option.

“It’s a sign of strength that we’re willing to alter our mind as circumstances change.

“Right now, all options should be looked at and tested on their merits.”

The SNP’s current depute leader, Stewart Hosie, will stand down at the party’s conference in October - a decision he announced in May after it emerged he was having an affair.

Smith, 42, an MEP since 2004, is campaigning to succeed him with a pitch centred on Brexit, arguing his job in Brussels makes him uniquely placed to promote Scotland’s case in Europe and cement relationships that could help an independent Scotland stay in the EU.

Also in the running for deputy are Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard, and Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny.

Robertson made EU relations a key plank of his campaign, but Smith suggested the Moray MP already had his hands full.

“What distinguishes me from Angus is I have time to do it," he said

“Angus is our Westminster group leader. That’s quite a big job, quite a busy job.

“Holding the most right-wing government in recent memory to account is going to be a non-stop daily grind.”