Humza Yousaf has urged people who support independence to vote SNP at the General Election to make sure it is still “on the table”.

The First Minister launched the SNP election campaign in Glasgow with a pitch for voters to back his party if they support Scotland becoming independent.

He declined to say how he would achieve independence but instead said it has to be kept on the agenda.

READ NEXT: Homeowners angry in unfinished estate after firm goes bust

At Oran Mor in the West End the party’s candidates for the election which has yet to be called, but will be this year, gathered to hear from their leader and Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.

Glasgow Times:

Yousaf said Keir Starmer is going to be the next prime minister but added he doesn’t need seats in Scotland to do so.

With support for independence remaining stable but the SNP polling lower than before the most recent General Elections, Yousaf attempted to persuade pro-independence voters to continue to back his party.

Asked how he will achieve independence, Yousaf said: “The way we achieve that is by making sure independence is very firmly on the table.

“Let’s make no doubt about it, the independence cause is winning when the SNP is winning.

READ NEXT: Subway will see longer opening but not yet says SPT boss

“It’s taken off the table, of course, when those parties who oppose independence say that they’ve got a mandate for further Westminster control.”

Asked what his strategy for independence was he said: “You can talk process until we’re blue in the face. The point is you’re going to get independence when we make sure we have that consistent majority.

Glasgow Times:

“So, we’ll continue to work to bring that consistent majority forward. But, of course we are going to use that next General Election to put the proposition very simply to the people, vote for the SNP is a vote for independence.”

Yousaf said the SNP was willing to work with a UK Labour Government on a number of issues but said Scots don’t need to vote Labour for him to replace the Tories in Downing Street.

He added: “I would hope they would take up the offer. We’ve not seen any evidence of that from Sir Keir Starmer.

“Kier Starmer has said you can’t fight poverty you can’t increase investment in the NHS , you can't abolish tuition fees. You can’t do all these things simultaneously.

 “Actually, in Scotland, we’ve shown you can.”

He said he wanted the SNP to take the remaining six Conservative seats in Scotland.

Yousaf said: “To people right across the country, our message will be very clear.
 
“Vote SNP for a Scotland free from Tory MPs.”

Labour said the speech was a "desperate attempt to reset the SNP’s failing political strategy".

Deputy leader Jackie Bailie said: “From talking down the influence that Scottish voters have to desperately moving the electoral goal posts, it is clear that the SNP is in trouble."

Craig Hoy Scottish Conservatives chairman, said: "It’s clear that Humza Yousaf intends to spend from now until polling day sticking his fingers in his ears and repeating ‘independence, independence, independence’ in a desperate bid to shore up his feuding, scandal-ridden party’s dwindling base."