An independent Scotland is “within touching distance”, the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon claimed today in her first major address of the general election.

As campaigning for the December poll entered its first weekend, Ms Sturgeon described the first winter election in almost a century as the most important in “modern times”.

Jeremy Corbyn has not ruled out granting permission for Scotland to hold a second independence referendum if he wins the election, but has described it as not “desirable or necessary”.

Speaking at a pro-independence rally in Glasgow, the Scottish first minister told supporters: “A vote for the SNP is a vote to escape Brexit, and to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands – not Boris Johnson’s.

Ms Sturgeon said: “This election really is the most important one Scotland has faced in modern times. So much is on the line – people are completely fed up with the mess at Westminster.

Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Show all 10 1 /10 Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election North East Fife Currently held by the SNP with a majority of 2 Getty Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Kensington Currently held by Labour with a majority of 20 Getty Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Perth and North Perthshire Currently held by the SNP with a majority of 21 Getty Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Dudley North Currently held by independent, formerly Labour, MP Ian Austin with a majority of 22 LivingInMediocrity Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Newcastle-under-Lyme Currently held by Labour with a majority of 30 Derek Harper Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Southampton Itchen Currently held by the Conservatives with a majority of 31 Rob Candish Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Richmond Park Currently held by the Conservatives with a majority of 45 Robin Webster Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Crewe and Nantwich Currently held by Labour with a majority of 48 Jaggery Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Glasgow South West Currently held by the SNP with a majority of 60 Alec MacKinnon Top 10 marginal seats to watch at the general election Glasgow East Currently held by the SNP with a majority of 75 Christine Johnstone

“An independent Scotland is closer than it has ever been. It really is within touching distance. What is needed now is another clear win for the SNP to bring it even closer still.”

Ms Sturgeon’s remarks come after she used her keynote address to the SNP conference in Aberdeen last month to insist a second independence referendum “must” take place in 2020, whoever the prime minister may be.

She will formally request the power for Holyrood to stage a referendum from the UK government before the end of this year. A section 30 order – which Boris Johnson has so far refused to consider – would mean a legally binding ballot could be held.

But Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard insisted: “The last thing Scotland needs is another divisive independence referendum.”

Mr Leonard, who was campaigning in Coatbridge on Saturday, said: “While Nicola Sturgeon is speaking to her own supporters, Labour is out on the streets of Scotland speaking to voters.

“We are putting forward our positive case for a Labour government that will scrap universal credit, introduce a £10-per-hour real living wage and deliver £70bn of extra investment in Scotland’s public services.”