‘THE SNP could hold the balance of power at Westminster’.

That’s the view of incoming First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who vowed that the SNP would never do a deal with the Conservatives in the event of a hung parliament in 2015.

The former Greenwood Academy pupil was speaking at her party’s conference in Perth where she officially took the reins as leader from Alex Salmond in front of beaming parents Joan and Robin Sturgeon.

And Joan could hardly contain her pride during her daughter’s keynote speech, wiping away tears as she addressed the packed audience.

The North Ayrshire Provost later said on Twitter: “Home after the most amazing SNP conference ever ... so proud of our girl ... lots of tears ... but very happy ones #SNP2014”.

With a hung parliament a possible outcome for the general election, Ms Sturgeon immediately quashed any notion that the SNP would do a deal with the Tories.

She said: “Scotland could well hold the balance of power in a Westminster parliament with no overall majority.

“If that happens, I promise our country this. You won’t need to have voted Labour to keep the Tories out, because that’s what we’ll do.

“My pledge to Scotland today is simple - the SNP will never, ever, put the Tories into government.

“But I ask you to think about this.

“Think about how much more we could win for Scotland from a Westminster Labour government if they had to depend on SNP votes.” In addition, she also pledged that the Scottish Government would double the hours of childcare available to three and four-year-olds from 16 hours a week to 30 hours a week if they seal Scottish Parliament victory for the third time in 2016.

Ms Sturgeon’s predecessor Alex Salmond heaped praise on her during his farewell speech, stating that she would “make history” by leading Scotland to independence.