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SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon appointed party leader SNP conference: Nicola Sturgeon appointed party leader
(6 days later)
Nicola Sturgeon has taken over the leadership of the SNP from Alex Salmond, pledging to continue the fight for Scottish independence.Nicola Sturgeon has taken over the leadership of the SNP from Alex Salmond, pledging to continue the fight for Scottish independence.
At the SNP conference she also set a target for her party to win the 2015 UK election for Scotland.At the SNP conference she also set a target for her party to win the 2015 UK election for Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon, who will become Scottish first minister next week, said the SNP was a party with "the wind in its sails" but there was still much to do.Ms Sturgeon, who will become Scottish first minister next week, said the SNP was a party with "the wind in its sails" but there was still much to do.
Meanwhile, MP Stewart Hosie succeeded Ms Sturgeon deputy SNP leader.Meanwhile, MP Stewart Hosie succeeded Ms Sturgeon deputy SNP leader.
Mr Hosie beat the perceived frontrunner for the role, Transport Minister Keith Brown, in a contest also featuring Youth Employment Secretary Angela Constance.Mr Hosie beat the perceived frontrunner for the role, Transport Minister Keith Brown, in a contest also featuring Youth Employment Secretary Angela Constance.
Ms Sturgeon told the conference in Perth that leading the party she joined as a teenager was "the biggest privilege of my life".Ms Sturgeon told the conference in Perth that leading the party she joined as a teenager was "the biggest privilege of my life".
Despite the vote against independence in September's referendum, which promoted Mr Salmond to stand down, she told delegates: "I believe today as strongly as I ever have, perhaps more strongly than I ever have, that we will be independent."Despite the vote against independence in September's referendum, which promoted Mr Salmond to stand down, she told delegates: "I believe today as strongly as I ever have, perhaps more strongly than I ever have, that we will be independent."
"But that will only happen when a majority of our citizens vote for that in a referendum."But that will only happen when a majority of our citizens vote for that in a referendum.
"So our task remains as it has always been - not to impose our will, not to berate those who disagree with us but to persuade - respectfully and intelligently through the strength of our arguments and the power of our actions - to persuade the majority of our fellow Scots that the best future for our country, the way to build a more prosperous more successful country and a fairer society, is for us to become a normal independent nation.""So our task remains as it has always been - not to impose our will, not to berate those who disagree with us but to persuade - respectfully and intelligently through the strength of our arguments and the power of our actions - to persuade the majority of our fellow Scots that the best future for our country, the way to build a more prosperous more successful country and a fairer society, is for us to become a normal independent nation."
Ahead of the UK election, Ms Sturgeon added: "I want this party to leave this conference this weekend with the intention of winning the Westminster election for Scotland next May.Ahead of the UK election, Ms Sturgeon added: "I want this party to leave this conference this weekend with the intention of winning the Westminster election for Scotland next May.
"I want strong SNP MPs at Westminster and I want that for one reason and one reason only - when the SNP is strong, Scotland is strong. Our voice will be heard, our interests will be protected.""I want strong SNP MPs at Westminster and I want that for one reason and one reason only - when the SNP is strong, Scotland is strong. Our voice will be heard, our interests will be protected."
Ms Sturgeon said such a result would leave "no hiding place" for the UK parties who pledged to deliver more Scottish Parliament powers in the event of a referendum "No" vote.Ms Sturgeon said such a result would leave "no hiding place" for the UK parties who pledged to deliver more Scottish Parliament powers in the event of a referendum "No" vote.
Looking forward
Ms Sturgeon also promised to govern Scotland with "competence, energy, commitment, imagination and vision".Ms Sturgeon also promised to govern Scotland with "competence, energy, commitment, imagination and vision".
She said the SNP was now Scotland's biggest party "by a country mile", adding: "The wind is in our sails, but in politics there is no room for complacency or for self congratulation.She said the SNP was now Scotland's biggest party "by a country mile", adding: "The wind is in our sails, but in politics there is no room for complacency or for self congratulation.
"We must always look forward as a party, as a movement, as a country and ensure we do our best for the people we serve.""We must always look forward as a party, as a movement, as a country and ensure we do our best for the people we serve."
Ms Sturgeon also paid tribute to Mr Salmond - who will address the conference later - saying: "We owe him the most enormous debt of gratitude. Lets us thank him from the bottom of our hearts."Ms Sturgeon also paid tribute to Mr Salmond - who will address the conference later - saying: "We owe him the most enormous debt of gratitude. Lets us thank him from the bottom of our hearts."
Later the party is expected to announce changes to rules allowing non-members to stand as candidates in the general election.Later the party is expected to announce changes to rules allowing non-members to stand as candidates in the general election.
The move is designed to appeal to activists who campaigned for a "Yes" vote in the independence referendum.The move is designed to appeal to activists who campaigned for a "Yes" vote in the independence referendum.
Mr Salmond will later reaffirm his belief that Scotland will become an independent nation, and set the SNP a target of bringing its membership to 100,000 before next May's general election.Mr Salmond will later reaffirm his belief that Scotland will become an independent nation, and set the SNP a target of bringing its membership to 100,000 before next May's general election.
SNP chiefs have said that, despite the outcome of the independence referendum, the party was well placed for further electoral success, with its membership going from 25,000 to more than 84,000 since 18 September.SNP chiefs have said that, despite the outcome of the independence referendum, the party was well placed for further electoral success, with its membership going from 25,000 to more than 84,000 since 18 September.
And they said polls indicated the party was at about 46% on Westminster voting intentions, with the figure at 48% for the Scottish Parliament.And they said polls indicated the party was at about 46% on Westminster voting intentions, with the figure at 48% for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Salmond, who has been Scottish first minister for seven-and-a-half years, will address the conference on Friday afternoon, with Ms Sturgeon making her first speech as party leader 24 hours later.Mr Salmond, who has been Scottish first minister for seven-and-a-half years, will address the conference on Friday afternoon, with Ms Sturgeon making her first speech as party leader 24 hours later.
The outgoing first minister will describe the day of the referendum as the "most significant breakthrough in Scottish political history".The outgoing first minister will describe the day of the referendum as the "most significant breakthrough in Scottish political history".
He will add: "Why? Because despite everything that the Westminster establishment threw at Scotland, 45% of the people - 1.6 million women and men living and working in Scotland - chose hope over fear, a much higher number than our opponents ever thought possible when we started this campaign."He will add: "Why? Because despite everything that the Westminster establishment threw at Scotland, 45% of the people - 1.6 million women and men living and working in Scotland - chose hope over fear, a much higher number than our opponents ever thought possible when we started this campaign."
Mr Salmond is expected to say: "After the referendum, those very opponents believed that Scotland had been quietened, that we'd had our day in the sun and we should be politely put back in our box.Mr Salmond is expected to say: "After the referendum, those very opponents believed that Scotland had been quietened, that we'd had our day in the sun and we should be politely put back in our box.
"They thought it was all over… well it isn't now. Because in truth, delegates, everything in Scotland is now different. All has changed and changed utterly."They thought it was all over… well it isn't now. Because in truth, delegates, everything in Scotland is now different. All has changed and changed utterly.
"Because of the 55% who voted 'No', many did so on the last minute promise of radical constitutional reform within the Union.""Because of the 55% who voted 'No', many did so on the last minute promise of radical constitutional reform within the Union."