First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told the SNP's conference that "Scotland will one day become an independent country".

Referring to her now 30-year membership of the party, Ms Sturgeon said she had never doubted that, one day, Scotland would separate from the rest of the UK.

"And I believe it today," she added, to enthusiastic applause in the hall.

The Brexit vote - in which 62% of voters in Scotland backed Remain - was a key part of the leader's address.

Sturgeon: 'Every chance of a referendum'

Vowing to avoid "the fate of a hard Brexit", Ms Sturgeon said she would work "with others across the political divide" to evade such an outcome.


But if the UK ended up leaving the EU's single market, she said her government would propose new powers to help keep Scotland in the trading area.

Hinting at a new independence referendum, she said of the Conservative government at Westminster: "If it insists on taking Scotland down a path that hurts our economy, costs jobs, lowers our living standards and damages our reputation as an open, welcoming, diverse country, then be in no doubt Scotland must have the ability to choose a better future.

"And I will make sure that Scotland gets that chance."

Ms Sturgeon told the conference earlier in the week that the Scottish Government would publish a draft independence referendum bill next week as part of a consultation exercise.

Sturgeon pledges to 'protect' Scotland's interests

Ahead of the UK's exit from the EU, Ms Sturgeon told delegates that Scotland was establishing "permanent trade representation in Berlin", to help keep Scotland at the "very heart" of Europe.

There were also three further measures "to boost trade and exports".

The Scottish government is to get a new "board of trade".

There will be a "trade envoy scheme", in which "prominent Scots" will be asked to help "boost our export effort".

And the number of "Scottish development international staff" working across Europe is to be more than doubled.

The First Minister was scathing about her political rivals.

She described the Tories' vision for the UK as "xenophobic, closed, inward looking, discriminatory", saying: "Let's be frank, the Tories are no longer the Conservative and Unionist Party.

"After last week, we should call them what they are - the Conservative and Separatist Party. Or Ukip for short."

At Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said the SNP would "continue to provide the strong opposition that Labour is failing to deliver".