Nicola Sturgeon pledged a referendum

With just under two weeks to go before polling, the Scottish Socialist Party has questioned the credentials of the SNP in its campaign for an independent Scotland.

However, the SNP has responded by saying that it can deliver an independent Scotland within the European Union because it is the only party able to challenge Labour and ensure change.

Frances Curran, of the SSP, said the nationalists would delay seeking independence if in power.

A vote for the SNP on the first of May is vote for a referendum within our first term in office to allow the people of Scotland to choose whether or not they want to move to independence Nicola Sturgeon, SNP

She said nationalists would seek to tie Scotland's future to the EU and await change from Westminster instead of believing in the "sovereignty of the Scottish people".

She said: "If the pro-independence parties win a majority in the parliament, we're in favour of a referendum in the first 12 months of the parliament.

"We also don't just want fiscal autonomy, nor do we want independence in Europe which is merely transferring rule by Westminster to Europe.

"We're obviously in favour of an independent socialist Scotland but all of this is regardless of whether the lord advocate or Westminster say it's legal."

Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP countered, stating that her party had always made its position "quite clear" on independence.

'Rightful place in Europe'

She said: "A vote for the SNP on the first of May is vote for a referendum within our first term in office to allow the people of Scotland to choose whether or not they want to move to independence.

"I want to see Scotland take its rightful place in Europe and the world, I want Scotland to play a constructive part."

Ms Sturgeon dismissed the suggestion that Scotland would continue to lose out in Brussels on key areas like the fishing industry, which has been subject to huge quota cuts, arguing that Scotland would be pushing for a "seat at the top table in Europe".

Challenged on when an SNP government would call a referendum on Europe, Ms Sturgeon said it would most likely be mid-term.

The first year in power would be dedicated to improving public services and the last year would mean focusing on the next election, she said.