A Scottish Government minister will address 800 pro-independence supporters at a conference in Glasgow on Saturday.

Angela Constance, the equalities secretary, will give a speech at the Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) gathering in the city.

Organisers of the campaign describe it as an opportunity to "to build the knowledge, the infrastructure and the movement for the future independence campaign".

Ahead of the conference, Constance said: "The strength of the independence movement is its breadth and depth, representing all walks of life and reaching into every community in Scotland.

"This conference is an exciting opportunity for the movement to consider how we move forward together; to a fairer and independent Scotland."

Constance's decision to attend the conference was criticised by former Labour MSP Graeme Pearson, who now heads the anti-independence campaign group Scotland in Union.

He said: "There is much more to be getting on with in Scotland currently. We have got problems we should be addressing.

"For a Cabinet secretary to decide to take time out of her busy government day to go and talk about referendums again just seems negative to me."

He added: "It just seems we are caught in this loop of going round and round in a circle going nowhere fast."

On Tuesday, the First Minister told STV News she would not be holding a second independence referendum this year.

The event will also be addressed by Scottish Greens co-convener Maggie Chapman, SNP MP Tommy Sheppard and former SNP minister Jim Mather.

Chapman said: "The events of the past weeks and months have shown that there is a real need for radical change in Scotland.

"We have shown that it is possible to have a progressive and inclusive campaign for change.

"Now more than ever we need to work together to build a stronger case for independence."