THE agenda for the SNP’s upcoming party conference has been published and is set to include a two and a half hour review of the General Election result led by John Swinney.
Some party members had previously expressed concern that the draft conference agenda, which was drawn up before the General Election, did not include a reflection on the party’s results, which saw the number of SNP MPs reduced from 47 to 9.
However, on Tuesday a final conference agenda was sent to members with the inclusion of an “Internal Election Review led by Party Leader” on the first day of the conference, which is due to take place at the EICC in Edinburgh from August 30 to September 1.
A resolution submitted by the SNP trade union group urging the party to use “existing land and tax powers as part of a push to increase revenue and transform Scotland’s economy” has also been selected for debate.
Other resolutions selected for debate include enshrining the right to abortion in the future constitution of an independent Scotland, which was brought forward by the party’s Elgin branch.
Noting the impact of the US Supreme Court’s ruling which overturned Roe vs Wade, it states that the party should commit to “safeguarding women’s reproductive rights against any potential political or legal regression”.
Another motion proposes backing the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use in a bid to bring down drugs deaths in the country, which was proposed by MSPs Christina McKelvie and Audrey Nicoll.
It reads: “Conference supports the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use - allowing people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded.
“Conference appreciates that decriminalisation is no longer a radical proposal, and that thirty countries around the world have now recognised the harm caused by criminalisation and moved to change their drug laws.”
A motion is also being brought forward by MSPs Colette Stevenson and Bob Doris on ending Westminster austerity.
“Conference resolves that the austerity regime imposed on Scotland by the UK Government since 2010 must now come to an end,” it states.
“Conference recognises that successive UK budgets have fallen far short of what Scotland needs to deliver further investment in social security, public services, and infrastructure, and that the wellbeing of the people of Scotland is consistently undermined by Westminster decision-makers.
“Conference resolves that only the full powers of an independent state will allow Scotland to be free of the regressive and damaging social, fiscal, and economic policies of the UK Government, and to pursue the vision of a fairer, more prosperous Scotland.”
Despite Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar promising that there would be “no austerity under Labour,” Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced huge cuts to public spending after accusing the Tories of a “cover up” in relation to the true state of the UK’s finances.
