Jack McConnell has vowed to press ahead with plans to expand the number of migrants entering Scotland.

Dismissing a Tory assault on the "fresh talent" initiative, the first minister said the Scots economy needs trained workers if it is to compete with the rest of the UK and the wider European economy.

"Devolution gives us a chance to face up to the greatest challenges facing Scotland," he told Labour's annual conference.

"And our declining population is one of the greatest long-term threats to Scotland's prosperity.

"But Labour is acting to reverse this decline. We will nurture and retain more homegrown talent."

McConnell said the government wanted to "attract ex-Scots from all over the world back home".

"And we will welcome fresh talent from the rest of the UK - and new people from elsewhere too," added McConnell.

"This is an issue of great national importance, one where we had built a consensus across political boundaries.  Until two days ago."

Tory opposition to the executive's proposals would "deny Scotland the new people that our country needs".

"The Scottish Tories have broken the national consensus," he said.

"They are wrongly bidding for short-term electoral advantage, against the long-term interest of Scotland.

"Labour will stand up for Scotland, we will speak against intolerance, prejudice and ignorance. 

"We will not let the Tories hold Scotland back. Their appeal to prejudice must not win."

Ahead of his conference address the SNP demanded that the Scottish parliament be given more power over immigration issues.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "Scotland's population is in freefall. Without real action to reverse the decline, it will dip below five million by the end of this decade and 4.5 million within the next 40 years.

"Jack McConnell claims to understand the gravity of the situation and the dangers it poses to our economy and public services, but he has so far failed to propose anything of substance as a solution.

"We need to attract 10,000 people to Scotland each year just to keep the population steady at five million. The Executive's Fresh Talent Initiative will come nowhere near meeting that target.

"So, if Jack McConnell is serious about facing up to this challenge, he must stand up today and demand that Holyrood be given power over immigration."