The SNP will lead a new "national conversation" on independence, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

In speech to all SNP MSPs, MPs and MEPs in Stirling, the First Minister called on party members and parliamentarians to lead a "listening exercise" with at least two million Scots.

The SNP leader said a new debate was required following the UK's vote to leave the EU and the possibility of "years and years" of Conservative governments following Labour's leadership crisis.

Sturgeon called independence an "alternative to just hoping for the best from Westminster".

She said: "All of that makes the idea of Westminster as some sort of safe harbour for Scotland completely redundant. But there is an alternative to just hoping for the best and Westminster.

"Yes, it would present its own challenges and complexities. But it would allow us to take control of our own destiny, to build our own prosperity on strong and stable foundations, create a fairer society and safeguard our place in the world.

"That is why I believe it is right that our party does now lead a new debate on independence."

The initiative will run from Friday until St Andrew's Day on November 30.

Members of the public will be able to make their opinion known on a second independence referendum through a website launched by the party.

The First Minister's spokesman said no taxpayers' money would be spent on the project - it will be funded fully through party funds.

He described it as an "internal party" project and refused to commit to publishing any of the data in a briefing to journalists after the First Minister's speech.

Sturgeon asked all SNP members to ensure they recruit five people every month to complete the survey.

She has also tasked all SNP parliamentarians across the three parliaments to hold at least one "town hall event" in their constituencies.

The First Minister also announced the establishment of a "growth commission" which will "inform" the party's thinking of how to develop Scotland's economy.

As part of the commission's deliberations, the currency an independent Scotland would use will also be considered.

The body will be chaired by former SNP MSP and Edinburgh businessman Andrew Wilson.

Opposition party leaders have called on the SNP leader to drop any plans for a second referendum in recent weeks.

The Scottish Conservatives have launched a petition against the referendum and encourage her party's supporters to sign it.

The party's leader, Ruth Davidson, said: "The SNP's record on independence over the last five years has been one of evasion, downright lies and broken promises.

"This is a party which will say or do anything to keep its separation obsession alive.

"People in Scotland have had enough: the SNP should drop the obsession with independence and get back to the job we pay them to do."

On Thursday, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale encouraged Sturgeon to drop her constitutional politics and focus on "bread and butter issues".

In response to Sturgeon's speech, the secretary of state for Scotland David Mundell said: "The last thing Scotland needs is another drawn out debate on independence.

"Today's new poll could not be clearer: people in Scotland do not want another divisive referendum. Nicola Sturgeon should take the idea off the table and concentrate on the issues that people really care about.

"Constant talk of a second referendum is creating uncertainty that is damaging our economic prospects.

"And in the past few days, the Scottish Government's own deficit figures have highlighted the huge advantages of being able to pool and share resources across the whole UK.

"They showed the UK is the vital union for Scotland, not the EU."