Sturgeon tells Scotland: the only alternative to Labour incompetence and Tory cruelty is independence

The alternative was for Scotland to stand on its own two feet, she told more than 3000 delegates at the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen.

On independence Sturgeon said: "We believe that Scotland should be independent - we always have and we always will ... If we want Scotland to be independent then we've got work to do ... We must build the case and make it stronger. Convince those we didn't convince last year. And persuade the majority of Scots of what we already know to be true: independence is the best future for Scotland."

Accusing Labour of “incoherent” policy positions and attacking Corbyn as too weak to overcome his internal critics, Sturgeon said: “Labour’s failure to meet even the basic requirements of an opposition - to be united and credible as an alternative government - should make them deeply ashamed of themselves. Their disunity threatens to consign the UK to another decade of Tory government.

“That’s a tragedy for people all across the UK. But for more and more people in Scotland, Labour’s inability to mount a credible challenge for government will bring into sharp focus this fundamental truth. The only real and lasting alternative to Tory governments that we don’t vote for is independence for our country.”

Much of the speech flowed from the SNP’s general election triumph, with Sturgeon claiming the party was now the only effective opposition to the Tories in Westminster given Labour’s disarray, adding: "The SNP will be a strong voice, not just for Scotland, but for people of progressive opinion right across these islands."

She said: “As Labour divide amongst themselves and the Tories seek to divide our society, only the SNP stands united and focused on Scotland’s future. The election reflected the new, positive, post referendum mood in Scotland.

“We are a more confident country. We believe that our views matter and deserve to be heard. We are determined no longer to be sidelined or ignored. We sent this message ringing around the world - Scotland has found her voice and we are never, ever going to let our voice be silenced again.”

Drawing on the SNP’s new clout at Westminster to venture more into foreign affairs, she attacked David Cameron for playing “fast and loose” with the UK’s place in Europe with an in-out referendum, and said SNP MPs would vote against air strikes in Syria.

But she focused her wrath on domestic policy, calling cuts to tax credits “as right up there with the bedroom tax as the most iniquitous policy since Margaret Thatcher’s poll tax”.

She said that for some families the net loss in income would be equivalent to a basic rate of income tax of 90 per cent.

“It is nothing short of scandalous. For the Scottish Tories it presents this choice. Whose side are you on? George Osborne’s or the working people of Scotland. Because it can’t be both.”

A joke at Cameron’s expense also produced an outbreak of foot-stomping in the auditorium.

“The Prime Minister’s attitude to Scotland betrays the worst characteristics of his government - arrogant, patrician, out of touch. Pig-headed some might say.”

As for Cameron’s Labour predecessor, Gordon Brown, he should apologise “for acting as guarantor to the Tories and telling the Scottish people to trust the Tories on more powers”.

But most of the speech concentrated on devolved issues such as health and education, as Sturgeon looked ahead to the 2016 election.

“Independence matters and we will never waver in our commitment to it. But what we say about jobs, schools and hospitals matters just as much to people across Scotland.”

She promised a “revolution in early years education and childcare”, with more flexible childcare hours and extra qualified support for the most deprived nurseries.

To help the other end of the age scale, she said an extra £200m of capital funds would create new regional centres to perform more hip, knee and cataract operations.

Using new welfare powers, the SNP would also raise carers’ allowance to the same level as jobseekers’ allowance by 2021, a £40m a year commitment worth around £600 per carer.

Sturgeon referred repeatedly to “trust”, a tacit acknowledgement of the recent damage inflicted by rows over suspended MP Michelle Thomson and T in the Park cronyism claims.

“Trust us - trust me - to always do the best for you, for your family and for your community. And trust the SNP to always be stronger for Scotland.”

Describing Scottish Labour as a constant reminder never to become “arrogant, lazy and complacent”, Sturgeon said: “We will set ourselves the highest standards in government. If we fall short, we will learn lessons and strive even harder in the future. We will welcome scrutiny - no matter how tough it might sometimes feel.”

Responding to opposition claims the SNP’s record on health and education has fallen short, Sturgeon fiercely defended her record, and said activists should campaign proudly on it.

Listing a series of achievements such as reduced hospital waiting times, investment in schools, a fracking moratorium, crime at a 41-year low, and help for businesses, she said: “That’s our record. We should shout it from the rooftops. And when our opponents say they want to put it at the heart of the election, let us say, ‘Bring it on’.”

She also pledged that there would be no university tuition fees while she was still FM.

Describing the SNP as “the party of the future”, she said that by striving to do its best for Scotland, it would “win again and again”, and mentioned aiming for a fourth SNP term.

She said the SNP was a left of centre social democratic party for “mainstream Scotland” which had won seats and attracted members from every part of the country.

She said: “Commentators sometimes talk of political parties having heartlands. The SNP’s heartland? The SNP’s heartland is Scotland. We truly are Scotland's party.”

Scottish Labour’s public services spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP are starting to make the same mistakes Labour used to in Government – people will judge the SNP on their own experiences of schools and hospitals, not the First Minister’s rhetoric.”

Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: “Nicola Sturgeon seems content to put on a presidential show and comment on international issues, but she should be concentrating on the growing problems which exist in her own back yard.”

Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie accused Sturgeon of using “bluster” to cover up her shortcomings: “Despite a new leader, there is no change from this SNP Government.”