This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63195532

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sturgeon: Renewables could form basis of Scots economy Nicola Sturgeon tells SNP: 'We are the independence generation'
(about 11 hours later)
Scotland could establish a sustainable new economy based on renewable energy if it becomes independent, Nicola Sturgeon is to claim. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told SNP members they were "the independence generation" in a keynote speech.
The first minister will set out details of her economic prospectus during her SNP conference speech in Aberdeen. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told SNP members they were "the independence generation" in a keynote speech.
She will tell delegates that Scotland's "massive renewable energy resources" could form the basis of a new system. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told her party members they are "the independence generation" in her keynote speech at the SNP conference.
And she will attack the UK government's "aggressive unionism" as undermining the very thing it seeks to protect. The SNP leader told delegates that independence was "essential".
The UK government has refused to engage with Ms Sturgeon's calls for an independence referendum in 2023, something she says is a "denial of democracy". She also told the conference in Aberdeen that she would unveil a new economic prospectus next week.
SNP conference: A calm event amid stormy times Ms Sturgeon said this would include a proposal to use oil revenues to set up a £20bn investment fund if Scotland became independent.
She also announced an increase to a child benefit bridging payment.
Will there be another Scottish independence referendum?
The latest headlines from Scotland
Read more stories on Scottish politics
In her rallying cry to party members, Ms Sturgeon told the conference: "We are the independence generation
"I believe - firmly - that we will be the first, in the modern world, to live in an independent Scotland."
While the SNP leader warned independence was not "a miracle economic cure", she insisted it was "essential to escape Westminster control and mismanagement".
She urged the "independence generation" to keep in mind two points.
"First is the fundamental right of the nation of Scotland to self-determination," she said.
"And the second is what history teaches us – the overwhelming power of democracy to triumph."
This speech - and the reaction to it - underlined how united the SNP is under its leader, and how firmly they believe that independence is coming.
Nicola Sturgeon talked about the "arc of history" moving towards it, about being part of "the independence generation".
There are still major questions over how that will actually happen, and in all honesty there were long spells over the weekend when this did not feel like a gathering of a party which is one year out from a referendum.
But the process issue is on hold for today, deferred to the Supreme Court, which will become the focus of the debate from tomorrow morning.
And as ever Ms Sturgeon's speech was the spark that energised the entire conference.
There was ovation after ovation for her promises that "the overwhelming power of democracy" would triumph.
There was a message to staunch unionists too, with the first minister promising that "whatever happens in future, Scotland belongs to you as much as it does to us".
But for the most part this was a speech for the faithful in the room - and they clearly loved every moment of it.
At the first in-person conference since 2019, the first minister said her party would publish a paper next week which would make the economic case for independence.
It is the third in a series of papers being published by the Scottish government.
She said this would include plans for a fund which would deliver up to £20bn of investment within the first decade.
The SNP leader said this would be funded from remaining oil revenues and by using borrowing powers.
"It will set out how we can build a new, sustainable economy based on our massive renewable energy resources," Ms Sturgeon said.
"It will show how in an energy rich, independent Scotland, we can deliver lower prices and stronger security of supply."
The speech comes ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the Scottish parliament's ability to legislate for an independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said that if the court rules in her favour, the Scottish government will hold a referendum on 19 October 2023.
If not, she said she would respect the rule of law and then "put our case for independence to the people in an election".
"I will never - ever - give up on Scottish democracy," the first minister said.
Sturgeon 'will never give up' on independenceSturgeon 'will never give up' on independence
Ms Sturgeon has already promised to publish a new paper setting out the economic case for independence in the days following the conference. What are the questions facing the Supreme Court?
This is expected to cover issues including currency and how quickly institutions such as a central bank could be set up. Five things we learned from the SNP conference
The SNP leader is expected to tease further details during her party conference speech, including promises to repeal legislation regulating trade unions and expanding the minimum wage to young workers. She insisted that independence could help Scotland forge closer ties with its near neighbours.
She will promise not to lift her government's effective ban on fracking, and will paint renewable energy as the potential basis for a whole new system. Ms Sturgeon said that England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland would always be "the closest of friends".
She will say: "Our economic prospectus will set out how we can build a new, sustainable economy based on our massive renewable energy resources. "We will always be family.
"It will show how in an independent Scotland, we can deliver lower energy prices and stronger security of supply. "But we can achieve a better relationship - a true partnership of equals - when we win Scotland's independence."
"With independence we will show how we can break with the low productivity, high inequality Brexit-based UK economy - and use the full powers of independence to build an inclusive, fair wellbeing economy that works for everyone." She also said the NHS would be protected in a written constitution after independence and confirmed two new cancer diagnosis centres are opening - one in the Borders and one in Lanarkshire.
Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon took aim at the UK government during her speech
Watch: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for - Nicola Sturgeon Ms Sturgeon – who announced her desire to continue as first minister for "quite some time yet" – told the conference that the government would double the funding for this year's final quarterly bridging payment to 145,000 school age children. This will rise from £130 to £260 as part of a £19m investment.
Ms Sturgeon ran into controversy on Sunday after telling the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for" The bridging payment, which is delivered by councils on behalf of the government, was introduced in 2021 to provide support until the Scottish Child Payment is extended to eligible under 16s.
Conservative minister Nadim Zahawi described this as "dangerous language", while former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said it "traduced a quarter of the Scottish voting population". She went on to take aim at Liz Truss's UK government, who were accused of overseeing "chaos and catastrophe".
But Ms Sturgeon later told the BBC she did not regret her choice of words, insisting that she was "referring to Tory policies and values, not individuals or Tory voters". Ms Sturgeon highlighted recent comments from Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who said it was her "dream" to see asylum seekers deported to Rwanda.
Sturgeon faces backlash for 'I detest Tories' jibe The SNP leader responded: "My dream is that we live in a world where those fleeing violence and oppression are shown compassion and treated like human beings... not shown the door and bundled on to planes like unwanted cargo."
She will continue this criticism in Monday's speech, accusing the UK government of "aggressive unionism" which is undermining the partnership between nations. The first minister also expressed solidarity with people facing oppression and violence in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran.
She will claim that it is "Westminster's denial of Scottish democracy, full frontal attacks on devolution and basic lack of respect" which are "causing tension and fraying the bonds between us".
The Scottish Conservatives said this claim was "incoherent nonsense", insisting that a referendum was "the wrong priority at the worst possible time".
Meanwhile Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray said Ms Sturgeon was "right to highlight the Tories' failure", but said she had ignored her own government's "deplorable record over the last 15 years".
The economy has always been viewed as a pivotal, yet tricky issue in the debate over independence.
But amid market turmoil and UK government u-turns, we have arrived at the point where the SNP feels it might be a campaign asset rather than a challenge to overcome.
The worse the economic outlook under the present system, the more they can present independence as a sensible investment rather than a gamble.
There are still many questions to answer, and there will be intense scrutiny of Ms Sturgeon's latest paper when it is eventually published.
But right now if a UK government minister were to ask the SNP leader what her currency plan is, she might feel she could ask them back: "What's yours?"