NICOLA Sturgeon has promised to lead a “renewed debate” on independence ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

The First Minister said the SNP would stand on its record in government as it seeks a historic third term in office but also that it would look to quickly build a majority in favour of independence.

In a debate in the Scottish Parliament involving the party leaders she listed what she perceived as SNP successes in government in education, health, policing and housing and said there would be plans outlined to “build on those foundations”.

And she returned to independence and predicted a majority would support it in a few years.

She said: “I believe as strongly today as I always have that independence is the best future for our country.

“That is why, in the months to come, we will also lead a renewed debate about how the enduring principle of the that case, that decisions about Scotland are best taken by people who live here, is relevant to, demanded by, the circumstances of the world we live in today.

“We will make that case positively and powerfully, and we will do so in realistic and relevant way.

“In so doing, I am confident that over the next few years, we will build majority support for that position.”

Labour said SNP election adverts this week were a “sales pitch” promising to deliver change that could have been delivered over the last eight years.

Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, said: “One phrase in her adverts did ring true. They “will never stop campaigning.”

“Nearly a decade into government. It's time she stops campaigning and start truly governing.”

Ms Dugdale said the SNP had put politics before delivering change.

She added: "Every time we have pressed them, pushed them, pleaded with them to deliver the change Scotland needs, they have had to be dragged there kicking and screaming.

“Every time they choose the easy politics of grievance over the hard choices of radical change.”

The Conservatives said there must be no second referendum.

Scottish party leader, Ruth Davidson, said the foundation of the Tories campaign would be its “support, head, heart, body and soul, for Scotland's place in the UK”.

She added: “I am not as naïve as the Labour Party leader.

“The SNP must be held to its pledge to guarantee there will be no second referendum for a generation, and I will never apologise for standing up for the union.”