Nicola Sturgeon closed the SNP annual conference stating an independent Scotland would be better to lead the country out of the Covid -19 pandemic than Westminster governments.

She said: “Who is best placed to lead Scotland’s recovery and build a better future?

“Westminster governments we don’t vote for? Or independent Scottish Governments - of whatever party - chosen by us and with Scotland’s best interests at heart.”

She said: “We have the resources, the wealth and the talent.”

Ms Sturgeon said that the Scottish Government wouldn’t wait until independence to make a difference.

She announced a £100m fund to give £100 to low income families this year, whose children qualify for free school meals. She said it will also help homeless people and fund a programme to get older people online to help connect them with family and friends.

Ms Sturgeon said: “So as we set about the task of rebuilding our country, there’s a question that all of us in Scotland must ask ourselves.

“Who do we want to be in the driving seat of shaping Scotland’s future?

“Should it be Scottish Governments - of whatever party - elected by the people of Scotland and with the priorities and interests of Scotland at heart? Or Westminster governments that time and again we have rejected?”

Opposition parties accused the SNP leader of promoting division not unity and of grandstanding during a pandemic.

Anas Sarwar MSP, Scottish Labour’s Constitution Spokesman, said:

“Nobody should now be in any doubt – Nicola Sturgeon’s only priority is to further divide our nation at a time when we should be healing.

“We can’t come straight out of a pandemic and go straight into a divisive referendum.”

Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader, said: “She grandstanded about putting ‘independence on hold’, which would be a lot more believable if she didn’t launch a new Referendum Bill in September as a second wave of Covid was beginning.

“It’s completely out of touch with people across Scotland.