AT the first gathering of its kind in six years – after National Council was abolished in 2018 and reinstated in 2021 – Yousaf told delegates in Perth "only the SNP will put Scotland first".
He later told delegates the party could make Scotland "Tory-free". At the time, in that hall, no one really batted an eye at the phrase and the context.
One delegate did mention there was a lot of focus on sending MPs to Westminster but not leaving Westminster.
Later, in the press room, other titles were more focused on the campervan comments made by Stephen Flynn earlier in the day.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf urges members to send message to Scottish Tory MPs
It was only afterwards that both members and the press voiced concern over the phrasing.
My colleague Steph Brawn spoke to Jennifer Lees-Marshment, a professor in political marketing and management at the University of Dundee about the division.
She suggested the SNP may not go on to use the slogan widely in campaigning and may have been playing to an internal party audience.
“The message was put to an internal audience, you’ve got to bear that in mind. They may be more receptive to it than those who aren’t SNP voters.
“It could just be internal language to galvanise the grassroots at a time when they’re beginning to worry the SNP stronghold and share in the polling [is slipping]."
I believe that was the case, it was a space and message for delegates, not the public like conferences are. Did it work? Honestly, no clue.
It has taken on a life of its own in the media cycle – so much so that a lot of members might just leave the phrase in Perth.
The key message from the albeit short day was: National Council is back.
As one of the key policymaking bodies for the party, it had been long-missed.
I was informed the party constitution now states that two every year must be held - so possibly another in the diary before a General Election ...
READ MORE: SNP: Expert weighs in on Tory-free slogan debate amid party division
Elsewhere, member of grassroots groups were gathered in Linlithgow to campaign on what I was told, a sunny day breaking from some rain. I also saw on social media new members joining the Facebook groups of Believe in Scotland after meeting members.
The group is now gearing up for its launch of Creating Scotland - "a new style of indy event to introduce a new style of indy campaigning". The event will also be in Perth!
The First Minister has been invited to speak at an AUOB rally to present a “united front” from the Yes movement.
Humza Yousaf was asked to address a rally set to be held in Glasgow on May 4.
AUOB said in a letter that if he was unable to attend that event, Yousaf would be welcome to speak at one of the other three rallies currently on their 2024 calendar.
These are: Stirling, June 22; Elgin, August 3; and Edinburgh, September 7.
No speakers have been announced yet, so we shall keep an eye out ...
Also, The National will be putting extra copies of our newspaper in shops for the next four weeks.
We want to make sure that people the length and breadth of Scotland are able to secure their daily print edition. We've been finding more and more can't get their copy – which we are happy to say is because of strong sales.
Our team is so pleased that in a time of digital dominating the journalistic world this is the position we find ourselves in.
So, thank you – and make sure you pick up your copy ... or two!
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