• Nicola Sturgeon told the SNP conference in Aberdeen that Scotland has got "in abundance" what it takes to be a successful independent country
• The first minister said "we are the independence generation" and she told delegates that independence was "essential"
• A new economic prospectus will be unveiled next week
• Ms Sturgeon said this would include a proposal to use oil revenues to set up a £20bn investment fund if Scotland became independent

• The government will double this year's final quarterly bridging payment to 145,000 school-age children. This will rise from £130 to £260 as part of a £20m investment
• The speech comes ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the Scottish Parliament's ability to legislate for indyref2
• Sturgeon said that if the court rules in her favour, the Scottish government will hold a referendum on 19 October 2023
• The FM said if not, she would respect the rule of law and then "put our case for independence to the people in an election".

That's all from our live coverage. Thanks for being with us.

A speech for the faithful - and they loved itpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 10 October 2022

16:56 BST 10 October 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

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.

Looking to bring an independent future into realitypublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 10 October 2022

16:45 BST 10 October 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The speech included a broad mix of immediate policy pledges the government will take on now, future plans for independence, and political arguments aiming at bringing that future into reality.

From the first category, the government is to pump almost £20m into support for low-income families who are not yet eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, ahead of Christmas.

There was a whole range of post-independence policies, like the notion of protecting the NHS in a written constitution – as well as pledges to carry forward existing ones, like the effective ban on fracking.

There was also a trail of the next paper of campaign policies – this time focused on the economy – which is due to be published on Monday next week.

That will include a £20bn “building a new Scotland fund” using remaining oil revenues and borrowing powers, which would be used to build houses and renewable energy projects and cut fuel bills and poverty.

And there was also some significant rhetoric, like the first minister’s attempt to reach out to reassure opponents of independence that “whatever happens in future, Scotland belongs to you as much as it does to us”.

Image source, pa

Bringing her speech to a close, the first minister says Scotland will see "a better future as an independent nation".

"In tough times, let us inspire with hope in our hearts."

Ms Sturgeon adds: "Friends, with optimism, confidence and determination, we can now finish the job. And we will."

The first minister is met with cheers and another standing ovation.

Nicola Sturgeon says she knows some see independence as Scotland turning its back on the rest of the UK.

She says it is not that, but instead recasting the relationship as one of equals.

The SNP leader says independence is actually the best way to protect the partnership on which the United Kingdom was founded.

She adds that, right now, aggressive unionism is undermining that partnership.

"Westminster’s denial of Scottish democracy. Full-frontal attacks on devolution. A basic lack of respect.If there is tension, that is what is causing it," she says.

Image source, PA Media

"Independence is essential," says the first minister.

"It is essential to escape Westminster control and mismanagement," she adds.

Sturgeon says independence is essential to "build a new partnership of equals with the other nations on these islands".

It is also essential if Scotland wants to be back in the European Union, Sturgeon says."And it is essential if we want the people who live here to determine the future of this extraordinary country."

A week ago, one of the most famous men in the history of the independence movement -– Ian Hamilton – died at the age of 97.

As a young man in 1950, he was part of a group of students which repatriated the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, Ms Sturgeon reminds delegates.

With a change of the times she says now they no longer face "such impossible odds".

"We are the independence generation."

"We are the inheritors of the cause kept alive by Ian Hamilton and his generation."

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says she will publish a paper next week making the economic case for independence.

This will set out how Scotland can build a new, sustainable economy based on renewable energy resources.

"It will show how in an energy-rich, independent Scotland, we can deliver lower prices and stronger security of supply," she says.

The SNP leader gives a commitment that the Scottish government will not be issuing licences for fracking.

Image source, pa

To resounding applause, Sturgeon tells the conference: "Independence is normal."

She says: "For countries of Scotland's size or even smaller, independence is an outstanding success".

The first minister points to the Scottish government paper that looked at these other countries.

"They are among the most successful societies the world has ever known."

She says it is their success in areas including reducing poverty that Scotland should aim to match.

Nicola Sturgeon says some Tories are now openly arguing for an insurance-based alternative to the National Health Service.

"With independence, that will never happen," she says.

"We will protect its founding principles."Sturgeon says that an SNP government in an independent Scotland would embed a universal NHS in a written constitution.

"A constitutional right to health care, free at the point of need," she says.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says one of the ironies of the independence debate is that so many of the institutions that people associate with Britishness are under threat from the UK government dismantling or undermining them.

She uses the NHS as an example.

The SNP leader says the Scottish government is delivering record investment and doing everything it can to give NHS workers a fair pay rise.

"But the fact is, our ability to fund it properly depends on decisions taken at Westminster," she says."When they cut our budget, or when they crash our economy, that makes it harder for us to protect the health service."

A party right behind its leaderpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 10 October 2022

16:08 BST 10 October 2022

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

There was a run of three standing ovations in the middle of Nicola Sturgeon’s speech, which underlines where the hearts of party members lie.

The first was a huge cheer when she said – unscripted – that she intends to be first minister for quite a while yet.

The second was for her pledge to hold an independence referendum in October 2023, should the Supreme Court back it.

And the third came seconds later when she said she would put the case for independence to the public via a general election, should the court case go awry.

None of this was really news; we have known Ms Sturgeon’s independence strategy for months now.

But the reaction in the hall underlines how dedicated party members are to their leader, and how fully they support her plans.

The first minister turns to the polls and says support for independence now stands at 52%.

She is tempted to say "the arc of history is moving firmly in its direction", however it is for the SNP to make sure of this and "win the argument".

"Scotland belongs to all of us," the first minister says and the SNP must "persuade, reassure and inspire".

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says that, starting tomorrow, the Supreme Court will consider whether the current law allows the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum."If the Court decides in the way we hope it does, on 19 October next year, there will be an independence referendum," she says.If the court doesn’t decide that way then she will respect that judgment, Sturgeon says.

But she says the choice then becomes about putting the case for independence to the people in an election or give up on Scottish democracy.

"I will never - ever - give up on Scottish democracy," she says.

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Prior to today, Nicola Sturgeon’s last three SNP conference speeches combined featured precisely one mention of the Labour Party.

Today, there was a whole section dedicated to Sir Keir Starmer and his party, tying them to Brexit and accusing them of “aiding and abetting” the Conservatives.

Following the 2014 referendum, the SNP sought to crush Labour and absorb its electoral base – successfully capturing heartlands like Glasgow and Fife.

The SNP and Conservatives were quite happy to contest Scottish politics as a binary constitutional row, as the parties of independence and the union, shutting Labour out as a third wheel.

But the shifting sands at Westminster have prompted a change in tack, and far more of an effort to take on Labour directly.

The SNP do not want votes picked up after the 2014 referendum to slip back again just when the SNP hopes to be building up to another.

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon says Brexit was imposed on Scotland against its will, doing real and lasting damage.

She says Labour is now just as committed to Brexit as the Tories.

"At least the Tories believe in it," she says. "Labour doesn’t."

Sturgeon accuses Labour of abandoning all principle for fear of upsetting the apple cart.

"Bluntly - they are willing to chuck Scotland under Boris Johnson’s Brexit bus to get the keys to Downing Street," she says.

Image source, PA Media

To a huge cheer, the first minister tells the conference "we need Scotland's independence".

Ms Sturgeon says independence is "about hope for a better future".

She says she intends to be first minister for "quite some time yet".

Again she is greeted by cheers.

"For as long as I am first minister, I will do everything in my power to build the better Scotland we all want to see."

Nicola Sturgeon says, that back in 2014 before the independence referendum, the Westminster establishment was saying that the UK’s standing in the world and its economic strength made independence impossible."Now they say it’s the UK’s isolation, its weakness and instability - the very conditions they created - that means change can’t happen," she says.

Westminster has delivered more austerity, hardship and hundreds of thousands in poverty, Sturgeon adds."That is not strength and stability," Sturgeon says. "It is chaos and catastrophe."

Image source, PA Media

The first minister says her government will increase the Scottish Child Payment again, this time to £25.

This will be introduced in five weeks and at the same time it will be extended to families with children up to the age of 16.

She also says the quarterly “bridging payments” of £130 will be doubled to £260.

"I hope this investment of almost £20m will bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need it most."

The SNP leader says Liz Truss's justification for her actions is that she is going for growth.

Sturgeon insists the PM is growing the gap between rich and poor, the rates of poverty and the pressure on the NHS.

"And, without any doubt, growth in the deep disgust the public feel for all of it," she says.

Sturgeon adds that massive hand-outs for the wealthiest at the expense of everyone else only "turbo-charge inequality".