ALMOST every party member at the SNP conference spoken to by The National seemed delighted with the First Minister’s speech yesterday.

Andy from Glasgow wasn’t, though. He said: “I wanted a date for the next referendum. I didn’t get it. We shouldn’t wait for Brexit to be a disaster. We know it’s going to be a disaster.”

Graham Esson, however, thought Nicola Sturgeon probably had the right approach to a second indy vote.

He said: “Very good. I thought she got the points right. Dealt with independence, which is not a thing we need to do just now, we need to deal with Brexit.

“Some of her announcements today are going to help Scotland and the people of Scotland.”

Nancy Leslie agreed: “I think she was excellent, but she always is, of course. I think she covered everything. I think a lot of people were hoping she might go that wee inch further on independence.

“But seriously it’s not the time right now. Wait until we know exactly how much of a disaster Brexit is going to be – which it obviously is – and then go for it. I think that’s the thing to do.”

Violet Ann Woods told us: “She has to pitch it correctly. It has to be at the right time. We have to reach out to those that are maybe not as confident.

“And we have to really say what’s happening with the country. She most certainly has not ruled out a referendum, she most certainly has ruled it in. We are the party of independence. There will be another opportunity for a referendum and I don’t think any of us need to know what that exact date is at this time.”

Gus Simpson was on the same page: “She’s got to play her cards, very, very carefully. We do not want to go for it and come close but no cigar again. I think the public are sick and tired of referenda.”

He was pleased with the Scottish Investment Bank announcement: “I hope it’s the kernel for a Scottish Central Bank which will then have its own currency, its own ability to trade wherever, maybe peg to the euro.”

For Wendy Miller the highlight was the state-owned energy company: “Just wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Generating our own power. Just wonderful news. All of the benefits, none of the shareholders.”