Trade union leaders have backed Nicola Sturgeon in her comments about 'detesting the Tories'.

At the SNP conference, the Scottish Government was challenged to give a fair pay rise to all public sector workers and use its powers to create a fairer tax system for working people.

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, said: “I give my fullest support to the First Minister about detesting the Tories' policies.

“She is right to detest all they stand for and detest their policies.

“This is a Government that has declared class war on the working people and we need to stand up and resist that.”

READ MORE:''I detest the Tories' says Nicola Sturgeon but wants to be a 'friend' to Liz Truss

Ms Foyer was speaking at an SNP trade union group meeting at the conference, where she said the Scottish Government had to be 'bolder and protect workers’ wages'.

She said: “It is taking a different direction to the UK Government but we need to see it going further and faster and be bolder.”

"The Scottish Government", she added “needs to do everything they can with current powers. We can’t wait for independence."

Ms Foyer paid tribute to the cleansing workers, who she said “took action that benefits all local government workers".

She said teachers, health workers and other public sector workers need a pay rise from the Government too.

She said: “Workers shouldn’t need to take strike action to get a decent pay rise out of this Government.”

“We know finances are challenging but this is a humanitarian crisis.

“We need you to tax the rich, we need you to divert the wealth.”

READ MORE: Glasgow Conservatives hit out at Nicola Sturgeon's 'I detest the Tories' comment.

Ian Hodson, of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, also backed the First Minister.

He said: “When you’re talking about detesting the Tories, I absolutely detest their policies, like sending people to Rwanda.

"When refugees are seeking safety they should be welcomed.”

He added the Tories are 'looking after their own people'.

He added: “What’s important is class and that we fight for our people the way they fight for theirs.”

Glasgow South West MP Chris Stephens urged SNP members to support workers on picket lines.

He said: “I will be doing everything to fight the Tory party. I want to see SNP members at picket lines.

"We need to be on the right side of this, saying enough is enough and show we are on the side of working people in Scotland.”

He added: “The Tory Government was in place for nine days and they crashed the economy in front of our eyes. Every announcement was to help their pals. Watch the Tory party donations in the next few months.”