Sturgeon: SNP will 'engage positively' with Westminster

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the SNP will seek to "engage positively" with David Cameron's government "but will exercise the influence that Scotland has given us"

She told ITV News: "The result of the election in Scotland can’t simply be ignored by David Cameron’s government. Scotland spoke overwhelmingly for an end to austerity, for greater investment in public services, for a more empowered Scottish Parliament.

"We’ll seek to engage constructively but we’ll be very firm that Scotland’s voice has to be listened to".

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the SNP is not "changing its tune" on Scottish independence after her predecessor Alex Salmond said their landslide election victory had brought it closer.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Sturgeon said her promise during the campaign that the vote was not about independence still stood and said she was determined to unite the country.

"As First Minister, as leader of the SNP, I've got a responsibility to try to unite Scotland and I'm determined that I do that."

Ms Sturgeon also said there are "big issues" to discuss with David Cameron in the wake of the SNP's general election success.

"Scotland voted overwhelming for change and I think that has to be heeded", she added.

Nicola Sturgeon has said that SNP's job "is to stand up for Scotland against the Conservatives."

The nationalists, who won just six seats in 2010, have soared to 56 seats as Labour's support north of the border suffered a massive collapse.

Nicola Sturgeon has promised to "make Scotland's voice heard at Westminster" after the SNP won 56 seats.

The SNP have won the final Scottish seat of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk from the Lib Dems.

This brings their total number of seats to 56 out of a possible 59 and makes the party the third largest in the Commons.

The economy was the most talked about issue on Facebook in the constituency that Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander lost.

Over the course of the election campaign, the economy, environment, tax, health and Europe were the most discussed issues in the Inverness constituency.

Labour have lost out on another seat - with the SNP taking Paisley and South Renfrewshire.