THE SNP’s new Westminster leader believes the party can reboot the case for independence as a left-wing alternative to Tory austerity.

In what many could interpret as a reaction to Labour success and the 'Corbyn bounce' provided by its leader at last month's General Election, Ian Blackford said that the SNP must “talk about the fundamentals” of how independence will deliver social justice for Scots.

Blackford's rallying cry to independence supporters comes after Nicola Sturgeon promised to refresh the SNP's approach after a decade in government and promised a “forward- looking and ambitious” relaunch.

The SNP, he said, had “to demonstrate how much we could do to promote fairness and equity” under independence. And he promised the SNP would state clearly “what an independent Scotland would look like” in the years ahead.

Sturgeon had initially called for an independence referendum to be held in the autumn of 2018 or spring of 2019. But the First Minister told Holyrood last month she would delay her plans to introduce legislation for a referendum.

Blackford, who replaced former Moray MP Angus Robertson as the party's Westminster leader, said that the move freed up the SNP to stress the benefits of independence rather than getting caught up in an argument about a referendum timetable. He said that he would use his platform as leader of the third-largest party at Westminster to pursue the independence case based on social justice.

“I think that what has happened as a consequence of Nicola's statement is that we've taken away the focus from the timetable now and I'm gratified that gives us the opportunity to actually talk about the fundamentals and to talk about what an independent Scotland would look like. And I welcome that over the coming years,” he said.

Blackford denied suggestions independence would be put on the back burner by the SNP leadership at Westminster and Holyrood.

He said: "I joined this party because I believe in independence and it's up to us to win the trust of people in Scotland and we've clearly got a manifesto commitment from the 2016 election that says if there is a change in circumstances there's the question of a second referendum."

Adding, "I think it's a key task for all of us to compare and contrast the powers that we have and also demonstrate how we could do so much more [with independence] to promote fairness and equity. One of the things is to demonstrate how this Conservative government is pursuing policies that are harmful to Scotland."

Blackford, a former investment banker, strongly denied he was on the centre-right of politics.

The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP said the suggestion had been aired because of his background in finance, which included a stint working in the City of London. "I find it quite funny when I've heard people say that I'm on the centre-right. Bernard Ponsonby in an (STV) interview said to me you used to be on the republican left of the SNP. They both can't be right.

"I am perfectly comfortable with the SNP being a social democratic party. I want to see a fairer society in Scotland.

"I think anyone trying to describe me on the right is sadly mistaken. I suspect that if people are doing that they are doing it because they are making a judgement that I was in the financial industry.

"I'm a guy from working class roots who ended up getting the opportunity to work in the financial area. It's something that I must confess I enjoyed greatly because it gave me the opportunity to see how finance and the economy works.

"That doesn't determine that I'm on the right of politics. Far from it."

Robin McAlpine of the Scottish Independence Convention welcomed Blackford's intervention. He agreed the case for an independent Scotland should be rooted in social justice.

He said: "The Scottish Independence Convention is absolutely committed to developing the best possible case for Scottish independence. We are building the case with an open mind, but I don't think there can be anyone left who doesn't think that the fundamental pitch will be based on a rejection of what's happening now in London.

"Scotland has for many decades been a country which values strong public services and policies which protect the most vulnerable in society. The case for independence is grounded in a belief that we can do this better on our own," he said.

However, Labour MSP Neil Findlay, hitting back, claimed that a government led by Jeremy Corbyn would deliver social justice.

Findlay said: "The SNP have had 10 years in power and it is their failure to introduce any redistribution of wealth combined with their centralising agenda and timidity over taxation that has widened the gap between the rich and poor.

"What we need is a Labour Government committed to a manifesto that will deliver for the many not the few."

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser added: "It seems that the SNP hierarchy still hasn't got the message from the Scottish people that was sent to them so clearly at the recent General Election.

"People are fed up with the Scottish Government obsessing over independence and want them to instead focus on the job of trying to improve Scotland's economy and public services."