Nicola Sturgeon has rallied her troops to win over No voters as she told Theresa May that a second independence referendum will happen.
The First Minister tasked the fired-up SNP faithful in her conference speech with taking the independence case to sceptical Scots.
Her address came after a momentous week in which she demanded a breakaway vote in 2018/19, only to have the plan kyboshed by Theresa May three days later.
The SNP leader dismissed Theresa May’s refusal to enter talks about another secession vote before Brexit, declaring: “There will be an independence referendum.”
In a command to SNP activists for the secession campaign, she said: Our job is not to talk to each other.
“It is to reach out to those not persuaded – to put ourselves in their shoes.”
She urged restraint from delegates amid fears the constitutional debate could descend into acrimony.
“Let us resolve to argue our case with passion and commitment, yes, but – at all times – with courtesy, understanding and respect,” she said.
In a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, she said a denial of a fresh poll on independence on the terms set out by Holyrood would “shatter beyond repair any notion of the UK as a respectful partnership of equals”.
But the Glasgow MSP said she will is willing to open talks about the timing of the referendum, which Conservative ministers have said cannot happen before Brexit happens and its impact is known.
On the domestic front, the First Minister used her speech to announce a guarantee that all childcare staff will be paid at least the Living Wage, as part of the extension of free nursery hours to 1,140.
She also hailed a new £36m pot to improve the digital skills of the nation and outlined measures to bolster mental health support, including increasing the size of the workforce.
Jackson Carlaw, the Scottish Conservative deputy leader, accused Ms Sturgeon of “pursuing her own narrow agenda to the detriment and against the wishes of ordinary Scots.”
“This is the week that Nicola Sturgeon gave up being First Minister and instead put her obsession with independence before the day job,” said.
“This was a disappointing and negative speech. Nicola Sturgeon seems to be more interested in complaining about the UK government than talking up her own.”
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said education barely got a mention and mental health was given a “few scraps”.
“Instead of hunting for division the First Minister should sort out the problems on her own doorstep,” he said
