The venue was no accident.

Nicola Sturgeon chose the Royal Concert Hall in her home city of Glasgow, one of only four areas in Scotland to vote Yes last week, to launch her candidacy for the SNP top job today.

Her 'campaign' is a formality - so her pitch to party members was really her programme for the whole country.

Stepping up to a high-tech lectern glowing with the words 'moving Scotland forward,' she praised Mr Salmond but stressed: "I'm not Alex Salmond. I will be my own person and set my own course.

"The challenges and opportunities of tomorrow require a different approach.

"They will demand the ability not just to argue a case with determination and conviction but also to reach out, to work with others and seek common cause on the issues that unite us."

That new approach - more consensus, less confrontation - will be directed first towards winning more powers for Holyrood.

Ms Sturgeon was quick to reject Mr Salmond's view that "other routes" to independence would now be considered by the party.

A mandate to leave the UK could only be secured through a referendum, she said.

Will the SNP promise a second poll if they win the next Holyrood election in 2016? "I'm not writing our manifesto today," she said.

Ms Sturgeon said "circumstances in the future" and "the demands of the Scottish public" would determine the date of any new referendum.

If the main UK parties break their pledge to deliver more powers for Holyrood or if Scotland faces leaving the UK on the back of English votes, clamour for a referendum may be irresistible, she suggested.

But in the meantime her vow was to work with Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems to secure greater devolution.

She believes Yes and No voters form a "powerful majority for real and meaningful change".

She said she was prepared to be disappointed by what emerges from Lord Smith's devolution commission, but only in the most exceptional circumstances would she consider blocking new powers.

Ms Sturgeon, who was introduced by close friend and ally Shona Robison, also spoke with passion about using Holyrood's existing powers to govern as First Minister.

Her twin priorities will be to revive democracy at all levels, following the referendum's 85% turnout, and to tackle inequality.

She will order a comprehensive policy review, with a special focus on childcare and "early years" schemes."I can't wait to get to work," she said.

Ms Sturgeon will have to wait, if only for another few weeks, until Mr Salmond steps down.

But yesterday we saw a first glimpse of her new administration.