NICOLA Sturgeon is to outline the SNP's "democratic case" for independence by highlighting a range of Westminster policies consistently opposed by a majority of Scots MPs on all sides.

The Deputy First Minister will say today that the UK Government's so-called bedroom tax and plans to privatise the Royal Mail are examples of a "democratic gap". She will highlight infrastructure spending cuts, moves to replace the UK's nuclear deterrent and the Iraq war, saying all were opposed by most Scottish MPs.

Ms Sturgeon, who is responsible for the Government's referendum strategy, will tell an audience at Edinburgh University Scotland has had little influence on Westminster elections.

Speaking ahead of the event she said: "There are many flaws with the current Westminster system of government.

"However, the biggest problem with Scotland's current constitutional position – that majority Scottish opinion on issues that affect our everyday life can always be outvoted – cannot be dealt with through change at Westminster.

"Scotland now faces a choice of two futures. We can continue to make up less than one-tenth of the MPs in Parliament whose decisions on welfare, defence and the economy routinely disregard our wishes. Or we can become a truly equal partner through independence."

Ms Sturgeon will say in 34 of the last 68 years Scotland has been governed by parties that were elected to fewer than half of Scottish constituencies as further evidence of the "democratic gap".