LABOUR'S days of "holding back Scotland" must be brought to an end at the 2015 General Election, according to First Minister-in-waiting Nicola Sturgeon.

Alex Salmond's successor called for Labour supporters who voted Yes or No in the independence referendum to back the SNP in May's poll.

Ms Sturgeon was speaking at the third of her rallies, during a six-week tour of cities to introduce herself to SNP members and lay out her vision.

She told the meeting at Caird Hall: "During the referendum campaign, I appealed to Labour supporters to vote Yes to win independence for Scotland and, in the process, to reclaim their party.

"Many heeded that call. Glasgow, North ­Lanarkshire, Dundee and West Dunbartonshire all voted Yes, and many other traditional Labour-voting areas came close.

"They voted Yes for a better country, while the party they have supported through thick and thin stood with the Tories to keep things just as they are."

Ms Sturgeon said that Labour had for too long put "position, prestige and Westminster vested interest" over the interests of the Scots.

She added: "The days of Labour holding Scotland back really must be brought to an end. Labour was once the party of progress in Scotland; today, they just stand in the way of progress."

She reached out to Labour-supporting Yes voters in the independence referendum, alongside those who voted No, to back the SNP in May's poll.

She added: "Lend us your vote so that we can remove the Labour roadblock to change. Vote SNP to keep alive that dream of a better country."

Ms Sturgeon tour's also takes in Inverness on Monday, the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on November 22 and - when more than 12,000 people are expected to pack into the arena - and the Music Hall in Aberdeen on December 7.

She is also taking part in online interview and ­Facebook question-and-answer session for new members in rural and remote parts of Scotland.