Nicola Sturgeon breaks down in tears as she is shown her 'highlights reel' at SNP conference after receiving a hero's welcome while successor Humza Yousaf faces row over independence struggle
A tearful Nicola Sturgeon put her successor Humza Yousaf firmly in the shade at the SNP conference today as she was given a hero's welcome and treated to a video montage of her 'greatest hits' from her time as First Minister.
She arrived in Aberdeen today to cheers and a scrum of camera for her first party gathering since she quit power and was arrested by fraud probe detectives.
And once in the main hall she received a standing ovation as the clips of her nine years running Scotland - despite failing to achieve her party's main raison d'etre - achieving independence.
It comes six months after she suddenly quit as FM and four since her house was raided by police investigating the whereabouts of £600,000 in independence campaign funds. She was later released and denies any wrongdoing.
It cames as Mr Yousef found himself mired in a major internal row over the party's approach to independence that was hammered out under her leadership.
He held off the threat of a major defeat on the first day of the SNP's conference in Aberdeen by agreeing to change his approach to the next general election.
He agreed to water down his previous plan and only declare a mandate for independence if the SNP wins a majority of the seats, rather than more seats than any other party as previously proposed.
She became emotional when a video montage of her nine years in power was played on a big screen in the hall
The former First Minister arrived at event in Aberdeen to cheers from supporters this afternoon
It comes six months after she suddenly quit as FM and four since her house was raided by police investigating the whereabouts of £600,000 in independence campaign funds. She was later released and denied all wrongdoing.
It comes as her successor Humza Yousef finds himself mired in a major row over the party's approach to independence.
He also declared that there was 'no shortcut' to independence and that winning the majority of seats would be used to demand another referendum, or alternatively, the devolution of powers to hold one.
In a desperate plea to the 800 members who attended the debate on independence strategy yesterday, he also urged them to unite behind the new plan after his 'challenging' first six months in the job.
He also agreed that the SNP would add the words 'independence for Scotland' onto the ballot paper next to the party name and logo - a move that could kill attempts to persuade pro-Union voters that they will stand up for all of Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon told reporters the SNP's new position on independence has her 'full unequivocal support'.
The position agreed at the conference on Sunday differs from the de-facto referendum position she set out before standing down as first minister and SNP leader earlier this year.
Speaking to journalists at, she said: 'I've been watching from afar. This is a very different conference experience for me than the ones I've been used to.'
She continued: 'You know that I think Humza is doing a fantastic job as leader of the party and as First Minister.'
Asked if she had spoken to the police again following her arrest in the investigation into the SNP's finances, she said 'no'.
The SNP's deputy leader says his party would still have a mandate for independence negotiations if it won the most seats in Scotland on fewer votes than in the previous election.
Keith Brown defended his party's latest independence strategy, saying Labour and the Tories would have to answer if they refused the 'democratic mandate' of winning the most seats at the general election.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'Nicola Sturgeon must be living on a different planet if she doesn't think her appearance is overshadowing Humza Yousaf's first conference as party leader.
'Activists and the media were falling over themselves to meet her and hear what she had to say. It is clear that the former first minister is still the star attraction at SNP conference, eight months on from when she stood down.
'Humza Yousaf may have publicly said he was delighted to see his predecessor turn up in Aberdeen, but privately he must find it utterly galling that she's stealing the limelight away from him.
'He's finding himself having to pick up the pieces of the divided party she left behind as well as the fallout from Nicola Sturgeon finding herself at the heart of a police investigation.
'Nicola Sturgeon's presence at the SNP conference has only upstaged Humza Yousaf and undermined his attempts to try and stamp his authority on his party.'
