WESTMINSTER is hostile to the “very existence of the Scottish Parliament”, Nicola Sturgeon has said as she laid out the details of the SNP’s Special Democracy Conference.
Due to be held in Edinburgh on March 19, the SNP’s conference was called to discuss the route forward to independence following the Supreme Court ruling that Holyrood could not hold indyref2 without Westminster's consent.
In a document sent to party members, Sturgeon said the conference was “being asked to consider options for advancing the right of the people of Scotland to choose the form of government which is, in the words of the Claim of Right, best suited to Scotland's needs”.
The SNP’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has laid two options before the party for discussion, with the “preferred route” of a referendum out of reach.
The first would see the next General Election treated as a “de facto” referendum. If more than 50% of the electorate votes for the SNP or other independence-supporting parties, that would be taken as a mandate to begin negotiations for the end of the UK.
The second option is for the vote to be taken as indicative of support for a second independence referendum. An SNP victory would be seen as a mandate to demand the transfer of powers to Holyrood to allow Scotland’s parliament to legislate for indyref2.
Sturgeon said in her introduction that the SNP NEC considered both of these options “credible and deliverable”.
She goes on: “However, it is recognised that others may propose different approaches and given the importance of this decision to both party and nation, the NEC wishes to enable the fullest possible debate.
“Accordingly the Conferences Committee, in accordance with the constitution, will consider amendments to the motion, or alternative motions on the same subject from branches, constituencies and affiliated organisations and will consider these for the final agenda.
“Our intention is to allow for the maximum consideration and debate, leading to a clear conference decision that commands unity in delivering Scotland's democratic choice.”
SNP convenors and secretaries have until 9am on Friday, February 17 to submit any amendments or motions.
The final agenda for the conference will be published the following week, on February 24.
The conference is to be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Sunday, March 19. Debate it set to run from 10:30am until 5pm.
You can read the message sent to party members from Nicola Sturgeon in full below:
This Conference has been called by the National Executive Committee because of the recent judgment of the UK Supreme Court which concluded that the Scottish Parliament does not have power under the Scotland Act 1998 to legislate for a referendum on independence without the agreement of the UK Government.
While the SNP respects the Court's judgment – accepting that its function is to interpret, not make the law – the outcome puts beyond doubt that the current law and constitution is inconsistent with respect for Scottish democracy or the notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership of nations.
It is therefore in the light of this judgment – and the continuing anti-democratic stance of the UK government regarding both the mandate of the SNP/Green Government to hold a referendum and the wider issue of how the voluntary partnership can be democratically dissolved – that Conference is being asked to consider options for advancing the right of the people of Scotland to choose the form of government which is, in the words of the Claim of Right, best suited to Scotland's needs.
This right – the right of every nation to self-determination – is universally recognised. The question now is how Scotland can exercise that right if it continues to be denied by Westminster.
For the avoidance of doubt, a referendum remains the SNP's preferred route to establishing the will of the people of Scotland on the issue of independence. To that end, the Scottish Government will continue all reasonable efforts to reach agreement with the UK Government on the necessary transfer of power to enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.
However, should a referendum continue to be blocked by Westminster and if Scottish democracy is not to be negated and set aside as a consequence, an alternative means of ensuring that the will of the people of Scotland on their future governance must be offered.
It is clear that such alternative means can only be through a national election.
An election is, by definition, a lawful and constitutional democratic process. It is important to be clear, however, both as a matter of principle and a prerequisite of achieving international recognition of our independence, that Scotland can only become independent if that is the choice of a majority of those eligible to vote and exercising their right to do so when the question is clearly put.
This principle applies if a national election is to be the means for deciding on Scotland's constitutional future, just as it would in a referendum.
It is also important, given that one of the arguments in favour of independence is better governance, more responsive to the needs, aspirations and values of the people of Scotland, that any election-based route to independence is fully consistent with the SNP's responsibility – sought by and given to us by the people of Scotland in 2007, 2011, 2016 and most recently in May 2021 – to govern Scotland selflessly, responsibly and to the best of our abilities.
This is particularly important given the significant challenges currently experienced by individuals, businesses and public services, in the greatest part caused by the UK Government and its disastrous policies, and exacerbated by Westminster hostility to devolution and the very existence of a Scottish Parliament.
Consequently the NEC proposes to lay before Conference the motion below. The motion presents two possible alternative approaches to a plebiscite election. These are the options which, in the opinion of the NEC, are credible and deliverable. There are arguments for each of these options relating, for example, to the timing, franchise and nature of the different elections.
However, it is recognised that others may propose different approaches and given the importance of this decision to both party and nation, the NEC wishes to enable the fullest possible debate.
Accordingly the Conferences Committee, in accordance with the constitution, will consider amendments to the motion, or alternative motions on the same subject from branches, constituencies and affiliated organisations and will consider these for the final agenda.
Our intention is to allow for the maximum consideration and debate, leading to a clear Conference decision that commands unity in delivering Scotland's democratic choice.
Nicola Sturgeon
Party Leader
