THE SNP has taken over Glasgow’s cavernous SECC, but independence is literally not on the agenda.
It’s been noted by plenty in the party, and plenty of the party’s opponents, that over the course of three days, not one of the resolutions to be debated by delegates mentions another referendum on Scotland’s constitutional question.
That’s not to say independence hasn’t or won’t been mentioned.
John Swinney, the first big name to address conference told delegates: “We meet today to rededicate ourselves to the cause of Scotland.
“We re-dedicate ourselves to independence – the best possible future for Scotland. We re-dedicate ourselves to a future filled with possibilities for our young people and for our nation.”
His colleague, Michael Russell, opening the first debate, which was on Brexit, said he was in no doubt voters in Scotland would get the chance to choose their constitutional future again.
“We’re not there yet,” he cautioned the party faithful.
The National spoke to delegates yesterday about how they felt about independence not being on agenda.
Hannah Salome, from Strathalmond in West Lothian said: “I think amongst members themselves it’s certainly an issue people talk about. I’m not so sure this won’t be an issue.”
“On the last day of conference this could come up,” she added.
Ross McConnachie from Dalbeattie disagreed: “I’m not bothered by it. Obviously I want independence but I think at the moment it just needs to keep a lid on things. Looks like we’re doing a good job in government.
“I think what will happen is Brexit. I think independence will come after Brexit comes.”
Linda Rettig from Renfrew said: “What’s changed? We still want independence. But at the moment the SNP are in government, and they’ve got, as everybody says, a day job to get in with.
“It’s not just about independence. You’ve got a country to run. The two go hand in hand. We’re not going to change our stance on independence, everybody knows that.
“A lot has changed. It’s changing all the time. You can’t keep going on and on about it. We still want it at heart but in the meantime there’s other things that we can do.”
Jeff Frew from Lesmahagow thinks the party is too cautious of how the media will treat any talk of a second independence referendum.
“I think there’s a kind of fear,” he said, adding: “I say bollocks. That’s what we’re about. The SNP’s about independence. Why hide it?
“If people ask about it, of course we’ll say yeah of course we want independence. Why shouldn’t we talk about it at conference?”
For a group of SNP students sitting in the makeshift cafe in middle of the stalls and exhibitions, a motion on independence is utterly unnecessary.
“We’re the SNP. It’s article two of the constitution,” said Michael Gibbons.
Scott Blair added: “It will always be on the agenda for us, we don’t have to talk about it every single time we have a conference.”
Gaela Hanlon said: “Unless anything develops about it there’s no need to speak about it. We’ve got so little time as it is we don’t need three hours of speeches about independence. We get it.”
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