Addressing the SNP spring conference in Aberdeen on Saturday, Alex Salmond has delivered a humorous, impassioned, and inspirational speech.

He made clear that a Yes vote was not a vote for a single person or political party, but for self-determination, stating

'A people exercising their right to self-determination in a lawful, agreed, respectful, democratic manner is a not a threat but a noble thing.'

A Yes vote in September will be followed by a general election in 2016. As Alex Salmond pointed out, the government formed will be decided by the Scottish people, whether it be SNP, Labour, or a coalition. Echoing remarks made in a speech by Nicola Sturgeon on Friday, he said that severing ties to Westminster could rejuvenate Scottish Labour and allow that party to return to its core values.

Gender inequality and childcare also featured strongly in the speech. Independence is needed to gain powers to enforce the Equal Pay Act and address the pay discrepancy that still exists between men and women. The First Minister took the opportunity to lead by example and announced the increase of female representation in the Scottish Cabinet to 40%.

In his closing remarks, Salmond stated that the world is watching what is happening in Scotland with great interest, and that a Yes vote represents a remarkable and positive opportunity for Scotland to take its place in the world. He said

'Let’s keep the eyes of the world on Scotland.

'Not to see how we are voting but to watch in admiration at what we will be building.

'Building a new and better Scotland.

'Let’s take all our ideals, all our talent, all our commitment and our energy.

'Let us build a nation that carries itself with pride and humility in equal measure.

'That looks to its own but which gives of itself to the world as much as it possibly can.

'Which yields to no one in compassion and to no-one in ambition.

'And that, come independence day, walks tall among the nations of the Earth - on that day, and on every day thereafter.

'This is our moment.

'To be a beacon of hope.

'A land of achievement.

'Our country, our Scotland.

'OUR INDEPENDENCE.'

The full speech can be watched at the following link.