"Come with me and we will take this party and this country forward."

Credit: PA

So now we know the shape of the new leadership of the SNP.

Nicola Sturgeon has been confirmed as leader, taking over from Alex Salmond. She was elected unopposed and will become First Minister next week.

We also now know her deputy will be the Stewart Hosie, the MP for Dundee East.

His defeat of MSPs Keith Brown and Angela Contance is something of a surprise. Many observers had thought Mr Brown, a popular figure with MSPs, would win.

New Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon and new deputy leader Stuart Hosie after being voted in at the SNP annual conference at Perth Concert Hall, Scotland. Credit: PA

There was a huge cheer when Ms Sturgeon was confirmed as leader.She made a brief speech and set out three priorities for her leadership.

First, improving education, health and keeping Scotland safe - domestic matters for which the Scottish government she will lead has responsibility.

Second, holding the UK parties to their pledge of giving substantially more power to Holyrood.

And third to keep making the case for independence.

The atmosphere here at the SNP conference is extraordinary. You would be forgiven for thinking the Nationalists had won the independence referendum in September.

Joan Sturgeon (centre), Nicola Sturgeon's mum wipes a tear from her eye as her daughter is voted in as the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) at the SNP annual conference at Perth Concert Hall, Scotland. Credit: PA

But remember they didn't. They lost by a margin of 10%.

But with Scottish Labour divided and in the midst of a leadership contest after Johann Lamont's resignation, the SNP in on a high.

Alex Salmond speaks this afternoon for a valedictory address.

Ms Stugeon will make her big speech tomorrow when we will get perhaps a better feel for the direction she intends to lead her party and Scottish government.

Her rallying cry today was simple: "Come with me and we will take this party and this country forward."