Nicola Sturgeon has declared it is "time for Scotland to become independent" and called on the SNP to make sure there is a "surge" in support for leaving.

Addressing her party's conference in Edinburgh, Scotland's first minister said events since the last Holyrood elections "have shown, beyond any doubt, that for Scotland the Westminster system is broken".

Referring to Brexit, Ms Sturgeon said that if the UK "cannot be persuaded to change course" and reverse it, "Scotland must".

She added: "We must have the choice of a better future. Scotland must have the choice of an independent future."

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Ms Sturgeon was addressing party activists just days after telling MSPs there should be a second independence referendum before the next Holyrood election in May 2021 - suggesting later that such a ballot could take place even if Brexit does not go ahead.

In her speech the first minister insisted that despite the UK government saying it will block another independence vote from taking place, there is a mandate for another public vote from "not just one but two Scottish elections" which has also been endorsed by the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Sturgeon cited a recent poll, indicating support for independence has risen to 49%, as an argument for Theresa May's Westminster government to drop its opposition to a second referendum on the matter.

On Thursday, David Lidington, the PM's de facto deputy, dismissed the prospect of a fresh independence vote, saying: "We don't see any evidence that there's a demand from the people of Scotland for changing the decision they took in 2014."

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But after polling by YouGov showed support for Scotland leaving the UK had gone from 45% last summer to 49%, Ms Sturgeon told the conference that the Tories were already being proved wrong.

She said: "On Thursday, they tried to justify their position by saying there was no upsurge in support for independence.

"Two days later the latest opinion poll was already proving them wrong.

"It shows support for independence already up. So our job now is to get it surging. And ensure that no Tory government can ever stand in the way of Scotland's right to choose."

In full: Sturgeon on new independence vote

Ms Sturgeon said a second referendum would not be a re-run of the 2014 campaign, when a majority of Scots backed staying in.

"The UK that existed then does not exist any more," she told party activists.

"Our approach must be different.

"We should not enter this campaign thinking of people as No voters or Yes voters, Remainers or Leavers, but as fellow citizens who all want the best for ourselves, our families and for Scotland's future.

"We must acknowledge the ties of family and friendship across the UK.

"And step up to the challenge of answering people's questions."

As well as Brexit and independence, Ms Sturgeon also addressed recent protests on climate change, declaring that there was a "climate emergency".

She said Scotland would "live up to our responsibility to tackle it".

With advice on Scotland's emissions targets to be published by the UK committee on climate change soon, she pledged: "If that advice says we can go further or go faster, we will do so.

"Scotland will lead by example."

Ms Sturgeon said: "I am making this public promise to the young people I met, and to their entire generation. "