By Steve Bargeton, political editor

SNP leader Alex Salmond yesterday told his party Scotland was “six months away from a date with destiny.”

Delivering his keynote speech to the party conference in Perth, he told delegates to “think big” as they prepare for government after the Holyrood elections next May.

And there was no watering down of the key message of independence.

“We are not an ordinary political party,” he said.

“Our objective is to break the power of the unionist parties over the Scottish people. Our objective is independence.

“Today, I am the SNP candidate for Gordon, I am standing for First Minister and we are running to win.

“We are six months away from a date with destiny and we have a great task in hand.”

Mr Salmond said that after seven years of devolution Scotland had been let down by the lack of ambition of the Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive.

“It is what they have not done, as well as where they have failed,” he said. “This lot have raised mediocrity to an art form.”

And he poured scorn on First Minister Jack McConnell and his favourite and oft-used slogan “Scotland is the best small country in the world.”

“This one phrase encapsulates everything that is wrong with the First Minister and the Executive and with our national tourist agency—the only one in the world named after a website,” he said.

“It combines the worst of ‘wha’s like us’ with the worst of an inferiority complex.

“We are not the best wee country in the world, not by any measurement. Perhaps we could be, but not now.

“But why should we think of ourselves as a small country? Scotland is only small to those who think small.

“It’s time to think big.”

Referring to comments made by the new head of the Army, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Dannatt, who said that the presence of British troops in Iraq is exacerbating the situation there, Mr Salmond called for British troops to be brought home.

“We went into Iraq as a political misadventure,” he said.

“We are still in Iraq and people are still dying, to save the faces of Labour and Tory politicians.

“The head of the Army has said in his professional opinion our continued presence in Iraq exacerbates the security position in Iraq and elsewhere in the world. Finally, the truth.

“Surely it is time to bring our brave troops home.”

Mr Salmond revealed policies that will feature in the SNP election campaign. There was a commitment to abolishing the student loan system and wiping out existing student debt for all students living in Scotland.

Every first-time housebuyer will be entitled to a £2000 grant.

Within 10 years one million Scottish homes would be fitted with wind turbines or other source of micro energy generation and there will be massive investment in tidal power and other renewable energy sources.

There was a commitment to smaller class sizes and new “high-tech highs”— specialist schools focusing on science and technology.

For business, there were promises of lower corporation tax at 20%, a third lower than the current UK rate, more funds for research and development and investment in capital projects, particularly transport.

But it was on the SNP’s foundation policy of independence that Mr Salmond urged delegates to think big. “Gordon Brown’s proudest boast is that he took the opportunity to give independence to the Bank of England,” he said.

“Delegates, our proudest boast is that we will deliver independence and opportunity for the nation of Scotland.”