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Sturgeon says Scotland is 'open for business' in post Brexit-vote era Emotional Nicola Sturgeon pledges children in care review
(35 minutes later)
Nicola Sturgeon has addressed her party's conference saying that Scotland was "open for business" in the post-Brexit vote era. An emotional Nicola Sturgeon has told her party's conference that she is to undertake a "root and branch review" of Scotland's children in care system.
The SNP leader has brought down the curtain on the SNP's Glasgow gathering with a speech proclaiming a "new political era" in the UK. In addition she pledged more choice to parents over pre-school childcare.
She plans to set up a trade hub in Berlin, along with new trade staff in a bid to boost exports across Europe. The SNP leader's keynote speech also focused on Europe and what she termed Scotland's "home-rule" journey.
The first minister also spoke about her domestic policy priorities. Ms Sturgeon said that those in the Tory Party, "intent on a hard Brexit", had caused "insecurity and uncertainty".
Many delegates at the SNP conference at the SECC in Glasgow have sought to illustrate policy differences between the Scottish and UK governments.
Ms Sturgeon is to underline this with her keynote speech, while criticising "utterly shameful" rhetoric from the Conservatives on immigration.
'Deeply damaging'
She said: "Make no mistake, the growth of our economy right now is threatened not just by the prospect of losing our place in the single market - disastrous though that would be.
"It is also the deeply damaging - and utterly shameful - message that the Tories' rhetoric about foreign workers is sending.
"And the uncertainty that message brings to our public services and Scottish employers. More than ever, we need to tell our European friends that Scotland is open for business."
Ahead of the leader's speech, a demonstration in favour of a second Scottish independence referendum took place outside the conference venue.
During Ms Sturgeon's address to the 3,000 delegates, she set out a four-point plan to boost trade and exports. This will include:During Ms Sturgeon's address to the 3,000 delegates, she set out a four-point plan to boost trade and exports. This will include:
The first minister told members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us. She told members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us.
"They are retreating to the fringes of Europe, we intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs."They are retreating to the fringes of Europe, we intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs.
"We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas."We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas.
"A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world.""A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world."
Earlier in the conference, Ms Sturgeon issued a direct warning to Prime Minister Theresa May that she would not hesitate to call a second Scottish independence referendum to protect Scotland's ties with Europe. 'Their stories have moved me deeply'
However, she has insisted she is not "rushing towards" a second vote, despite a forthcoming consultation on a draft referendum bill. But it was on domestic policies where she received some of the biggest cheers.
She talked of the ambition her government had to improve the lives and education of the country's children.
And in an emotional address, Ms Sturgeon added: "Recently, I've been spending some time with young people who have grown up in care.
"Some of them are here today. Their stories have moved me deeply.
"These young people have challenged me to accept Who Cares? Scotland's pledge to listen to 1,000 care experienced young people over the next two years.
"And then to use what they tell me to help make their lives better. I've accepted that challenge."
Analysis: By BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim
It was, as Nicola Sturgeon promised, a speech characterised by a word starting with the letter i.
"No, not that one!" she quickly noted, as 3,000 delegates drew breath to holler "independence!"
Ms Sturgeon's word was "inclusion" - and it rather summed up the message the SNP have been hammering away at for the whole conference.
They have sought at every opportunity to illustrate the great contrast between themselves and the Tories. They cast the "inclusive", "socially just" SNP against the "xenophobic", "hard-right" Conservatives.
This is a handy tactic both domestically and in any future constitutional debate, and indeed thoughts of that other i-word "independence" were never far from the surface throughout the speech and indeed the conference as a whole. As always, they drew the loudest cheers when voiced.
But I would suggest that a third "i" came to the fore during Ms Sturgeon's speech - "international".
Yes, there was focus aplenty on "the day job", with the NHS and education boxes ticked.
There was real emotion in parts of this - in particular when Ms Sturgeon spoke about the life chances of children who grow up in care, a group of whom held up heart-shaped cards in front of a first minister with a genuine tear in her eye.
But the SNP leader often seemed to be speaking from a global perspective. Alongside talk of Glasgow and London, there was mention of Berlin, of Syria, of Norway. She pictures an outward-looking, globalist Scotland, opposed to an inward-looking, insular UK; two visions which seem far from compatible.
Ms Sturgeon has been very careful not to commit herself too far down the road of a second independence referendum. But her rhetoric of choice, hammering away at that Holyrood/Westminster contrast, at times sounds like she's already campaigning in one.