More powers for the Scottish Parliament are a mere “stepping stone” to independence, according to a north MSP.
Mike MacKenzie said the Smith Commission must give Scotland the powers to harness its natural resources and grow a prosperous economy.
But he warned that walking away with more responsibilities without real economic levers would be a “poisoned chalice”.
Delegates at the SNP conference in Perth unanimously backed the need for more economic powers to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Mr MacKenzie, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said he was delighted that the referendum campaign had “put to bed” the notion that Scotland was too small or too poor to be independent.
As a result of the campaign, everyone had been given an education in economics, politics and finance, and that meant unionist politicians could no longer pull the wool over the eyes of Scottish voters, he suggested.
Mr MacKenzie said the country had great economic strengths such as North Sea oil and gas, “enormous renewable potential” and massive food and drink exports.
“They all have one thing in common, not one of these world-class economic sectors can be outscored or done cheaper elsewhere,” he said.
“That is important because it is this economic advantage that gives us the basis for an increasingly prosperous and sustainable economy.”
Mr McKenzie argued that it is important, as a result, to approach the negotiations of the Smith Commission on further devolution in a way that does not constrain the economy.
“We must not merely become tax collectors with added responsibilities but with no real powers. This is a pit into which we must not fall, that would be a poison chalice,” Mr MacKenzie said.
“We must ensure that we have the full fiscal and economic movers and the powers necessary to empower our economy and take advantage of these immense economic opportunities.”
He added: “We must approach this with the knowledge that gaining these powers is merely a stepping stone on the road to independence because I don’t believe that the people of Scotland voted No on September 18 they merely voted Not Yet.”