ABOLISHING the Scotland Office, more powers over immigration, new anti-racism measures following the rise in the far-right, and calls for a detailed new economic case for independence are all proposals on the SNP’s conference agenda.
The 29-page document outlines a list of what will be debated at the party’s national conference in Aberdeen next month.
The finalising of the agenda comes after the SNP'S conference committee voted down a bid for debate on how to advance independence at next month's event.
More than 50 branches, as well as the party's largest affiliate body, had called on the party to consider an updated strategy on how to secure independence, outlined in an amendment drafted by former policy development convener Toni Giugliano.
The strategy included building consensus on a route to independence, increasing support via a national campaign, using the next General Election as a defining vote on Scotland's “right to choose” and creating an “independence delivery unit” to find solutions to the big questions about the transition away from the Union.
However, the Conferences Committee (CC) decided last week which amendments and motions would be carried forward to the party conference next month.
After discussion lasting over an hour, the CC was split on the amendment, voting six for and six against, with national secretary Alex Kerr casting the deciding vote. It was ultimately rejected.
You can read the SNP’s full conference agenda below.
1. YES, AND HERE'S HOW: THE MODERN CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE
Conference notes that support for independence is strong and enduring, but that many undecided voters remain to be persuaded, and that the questions most often raised by those voters concern the economy, their pensions, their mortgages, their household security, currency, and the public finances.
Conference believes that these are legitimate questions that deserve clear, honest, and specific answers. That the evidence based case for independence is strong, stands up to scrutiny, and should be made with confidence rather than shied away from. That this case is best built and communicated with the public over time, well ahead of any future referendum campaign, rather than during it, and that equipping members and supporters to answer these questions is essential groundwork for winning.
Conference further believes that independence is the essential foundation for the fairer, greener, and more prosperous Scotland this party seeks. That securing it means persuading those not yet convinced, not only those who already agree, and that we cannot ask people to take a leap of faith when what they want is certainty, and it is our job to provide it.
Conference resolves that the SNP should prioritise the development of clear, accessible, evidence-based resources addressing the economic and practical questions undecided voters most commonly ask. That these resources should be made widely available to members, activists, and the wider Yes movement to support everyday conversations with undecided voters.
That the party's leadership, elected representatives, and spokespeople should actively make and promote these arguments at every opportunity, so that undecided voters hear the case made clearly and with confidence, and are persuaded by it. That this work should draw on economic and academic expertise to ensure it is credible and robust; and that the party should treat building public confidence in the economic case for independence as a continuing priority in the period before any future referendum.
Conference commends Young Scots for Independence for its work in this area and calls on the party, its elected representatives, and the wider movement to take forward this preparation with urgency and seriousness, because the dream of a better, independent Scotland is too important to lose twice.
YOUNG SCOTS FOR INDEPENDENCE.
2. SCOTLAND'S JOURNEY TO EU MEMBERSHIP
Conference reaffirms its belief that Scotland's best future lies as an independent state in the European Union. Conference praises the work of activists, branches and representatives to continue making the case for Scotland's EU membership and to promote closer ties with the European Union.
Conference believes in the importance of an independent Scotland fulfilling the Copenhagen Criteria as a precondition towards successful membership of the European Union.
Conference further acknowledges and congratulates the key work of civil servants and ministers to ensure harmonisation with the EU acquis through the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, which ensures that in areas of devolved competence the Scottish Government remains aligned with EU legislation. Conference notes that such a step is vital to ensure a smooth accession process as well as demonstrate our good faith towards our European neighbours.
Conference notes that one of the first steps towards acceding to the EU is the completion of the Screening Questionnaire which is sent to all applicant countries to assess what additional steps are required to ensure alignment with the EU acquis before opening up accession negotiations. Conference further notes that such questionnaires have been sent to states such as Montenegro, Ukraine, Albania and Moldova, all states likely to be EU members within the next 5-10 years.
Conference therefore calls on the party to establish a sub-committee to undertake the work required to complete the screening questionnaire drawing upon publicly available examples, so that the necessary policies, legislation and institutions can be established as far in advance of the application as possible, thereby speeding up Scotland's accession process.
Conference calls on this sub-committee to be established by April 2027 and that the sub-committee submits its report by April 2028.
LONDON BRANCH, ALYN SMITH MSP, CRAIGENTINNY & DUDDINGSTON BRANCH.
3. FURTHER DEVOLUTION TO THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
Conference believes that Andy Burnham’s commitment to devolution must include meaningful further devolution to Scotland.
Conference notes that immigration remains reserved to the UK Parliament, despite its profound impact on Scotland’s population, labour market, public services, housing, communities, and effects on the fiscal framework. Scotland deserves a migration system which meets our distinct demographic and economic needs.
Conference is concerned that refugees and people seeking asylum continue to face unacceptable delays, destitution, homelessness, restrictions on the right to work and inadequate support.
Conference therefore calls on Andy Burnham to begin urgent negotiations with the Scottish Government on a comprehensive transfer of responsibility for migration, asylum, refugee resettlement and support for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Any transfer must include the necessary financial resources and human rights safeguards for Scotland to establish a welcoming and sustainable immigration system tailored to its needs.
GLASGOW EASTERHOUSE & SPRINGBURN BRANCH.
AMENDMENT
Add at end:
Conference recognises that this and other calls for Westminster to acknowledge and act on the Scottish Parliament as the rightful place for these and other powers called for at Conference have been ignored in past and may well be ignored again. If no meaningful response has been obtained from Westminster within a reasonable period - not to exceed four weeks after Scottish Government officially calling for discussions on increased powers – then Scottish Parliament should be called upon to act with legislation brought forward as below.
Conference believes legislation can and should be introduced in Holyrood where a direct mandate from the Scottish people would be sought in the form of a referendum on the Scottish Parliament having the ability to refer questions on any increase in its powers directly to the Scottish people by means of future referendums on constitutional matters. A further initial referendum on some specific powers could refer to such matters as energy, immigration and capital taxation where polling has already shown majority support in Scotland for Holyrood holding such powers.
Conference notes there are no decisive legal barriers to taking forward this argument in a Scottish court, if challenged. Letting Westminster’s Scotland Act place restrictions on the Scottish Parliament that override our right to decide sets an English assertion of Westminster parliamentary sovereignty over the sovereign rights of Scotland’s people and treats Scotland more akin to an annexed territory than a partner in an agreed union.
Conference also notes that if the Scottish people’s right to decide this issue by referendum is challenged in a Scottish Court, the approach taken by that court will show whether the present Scottish legal establishment respects either our legal and constitutional traditions or our people’s democratic rights. Ultimately, as some legal academic opinion confirms, this is as much a matter of politics as of law.
NEWINGTON & SOUTHSIDE BRANCH.
4. ABOLISH THE SCOTLAND OFFICE
Conference notes that spending by the UK Government's Scotland Office has reached record levels in direct contrast to its diminishing role as powers are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Conference believes that the Scotland Office and the role of the Secretary of State for Scotland are now just expensive anachronisms from a time when there was no Scottish Parliament to make decisions on Scotland's behalf, and hence serves no useful purpose today.
Conference resolves that the Scotland Office should be closed and the role of the Secretary of State for Scotland be abolished, with all monies saved diverted to the Scottish Parliament.
MILNGAVIE AND BEARSDEN NORTH BRANCH.
5. STRENGTHENING SCOTLAND'S GYNAECOLOGY WORKFORCE
Conference notes that: Women and girls across Scotland continue to experience unacceptably long waits for gynaecological care, with 64,535 waits for an appointment or procedure recorded in November 2025.
The shortage of specialist workforce is one of the factors contributing to these pressures.
Gynaecology is essential to women’s health, including the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, menstrual disorders and gynaecological cancers.
The Scottish Government has recognised gynaecology as a priority within the Women’s Health Plan 2026–2029 and is developing a National Plan for Gynaecology.
Recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of doctors into appropriate specialties is essential to ensuring that NHS Scotland can provide timely, high-quality care.
Therefore, Conference calls on the UK Government to Strengthen overseas connections and increase recruitment pathways for foreign students and doctors.
Further, Conference calls on the SNP Scottish Government to:
A. Establish a targeted Gynaecology Workforce Incentive Scheme to encourage more doctors to enter and remain in gynaecology training and consultant posts in Scotland.
B. Work with NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Boards, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the medical profession to determine the most effective incentives, including enhanced training opportunities, retention payments and additional support for doctors working in areas experiencing the greatest workforce shortages.
C. Ensure that the scheme considers flexible and family-friendly working arrangements, career development, training opportunities and measures to improve the long-term attractiveness of gynaecology as a medical career.
D. Include specific consideration of recruitment and retention in rural and remote communities, where workforce shortages can have a particularly significant effect on access to specialist care.
E. Set measurable targets for increasing recruitment into gynaecology training and improving retention, with progress reported publicly through the National Plan for Gynaecology.
Conference believes that investing in the specialist workforce is essential to tackling Scotland’s gynaecology waiting times and delivering the SNP’s commitment to improving women’s health and ensuring timely access to high-quality NHS care.
CLLR NICOLA PATRICK, DAVID TORRANCE MSP.
6. DEVOLUTION OF RETAIL TAXATION
Conference cautiously welcomes the comments from the new UK Prime Minister to strength and widen devolution and calls on the Scottish Government to constructively argue for the further devolution of taxation to Holyrood, specifically the key retail tax powers over Alcohol, Tobacco and Fuel as well as other emerging taxes in on products such as Vaping and Electric Car Charging.
This Resolution does not propose how we should use or alter these with any new powers but rather that it is for Holyrood and those chosen by the Scottish people to decide what levels they should be set at.
Scotland should not be made to request changes to Taxation to suit or needs but rather should have the power to do so itself.
Currently these taxes bring in around £45bn with the over £3.5bn generated in Scotland roughly equal to Scotland's share of population and UK tax revenues.
Devolving these powers to Scotland would allow Holyrood to shape the taxation in ways that better suit Scotland's particular circumstances and needs, making Holyrood better able to address them.
In addition a widened tax base allows Holyrood the flexibility to reshape already devolved taxes such as Income Tax which are currently too restricted, narrow and limited to allow real change to be achieved.
These changes along with the possibility of a review of the Barnett Formula would allow its to constructively move towards the Party’s short term objective of full fiscal autonomy prior to Independence, allowing us to begin the transition from the United Kingdom to a fairer more effect taxation system post Independence.
DINGWALL & DISTRICT BRANCH.
7. A SCOTTISH CONVERSION PRACTICES BAN
Conference notes that the Westminster Government has published a draft Bill aimed at banning conversion practices.
Conference further notes that the draft Bill only covers practices including ‘serious abuse’ and that it fails to adequately protect the expression of an individual’s gender or sexuality.
Conference notes that the draft Bill includes an explicit exemption for conversion practices which are ‘similar to forms of medical or surgical care’, which would exempt both regulated and unregulated professionals and any other health care staff.
This would not only make it hard to deal with abuses committed by NHS staff or private care providers but would also encourage other organisations to simply try and pass off their conversion practices as therapy or other kinds of health care.
Conference recognises that all forms of conversion practices, including those performed in medical environments by healthcare staff and those performed in religious settings, are ineffective, harmful, and lead to lasting trauma for those subjected to them.
Conference recognises that this harm and trauma remain evident even for those who report initially ‘consenting’ to these practices, and that ‘consent’ to these practices among victims is typically led by systemic misinformation and an attempt to avoid community stigma surrounding an LGBTQIA+ identity or experience.
Conference recognises that conversion practices cause harm and trauma to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including trans and non-binary people.
Conference therefore identifies that the only acceptable ban on conversion practices is a complete ban that includes medical and religious settings, includes conversion practices inflicted with the ‘consent’ of the person, and any conversion practiced against trans and non-binary people.
Conference recognises the Scottish Government’s resolve to attempt to pass a UK-wide ban first to provide maximum protection to the LGBTQIA+ community, and their resolve to seek to put a bill through the Scottish Parliament if Westminster fails to create an adequate bill by the end of this year.
Conference asserts that the draft bill produced by Westminster is inadequate and will lead to further harm and victimisation of LGBTQIA+ people by creating loopholes under which conversion practices can still be enacted without breaking the law.
Conference therefore condemns Westminster’s draft bill and calls on the Scottish Government to impose a comprehensive ban on all conversion practices, to be introduced within the first year of this Parliament, in line with the Party’s manifesto promises.
This ban must–
• cover all medical and religious settings,
• have no loophole for 'consent', recognising that informed consent to these practices is impossible given their documented harm, ineffectiveness and evidence of coercive control implemented in these environments,
• must include conversion practices targeted at all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including trans and non-binary people.
Conference identifies that only a complete ban on conversion practices will adequately protect LGBTQIA+ people in Scotland from harm and maintain Scotland’s proud tradition of protecting and advancing human rights for all.
OUT FOR INDEPENDENCE, KIRSTY BLACKMAN MP, SADIE MATTHEWS - NATIONAL EQUALITIES CONVENER, MICHAEL GIBBONS - DISABLED MEMBERS CONVENER, EDINBURGH CENTRAL BRANCH.
8. SCOTTISH BONDS TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE
Conference considers that Investing in Ourselves is key to securing the long-term future prosperity of Scotland. It is also consistent with, and required by, the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act 2026.
Conference therefore calls for an SNP-led Scottish Government to ensure that any bonds issued by the Scottish Government should be retail bonds, and should be sold to individuals and institutions domiciled in Scotland.
Conference further proposes that an SNP-led Scottish Government could work with and assist COSLA in creating a Scottish Local Government Bond Unit. This unit would create and provide appropriate templates, instructions and assistance to Scottish councils to enable them to issue Retail Bonds attractive to local residents, for example with the purpose of funding council house building by our councils.
The houses built would provide security for the bonds, and the rents paid would cover the interest and capital repayment.
Council bond issuance could enable a large council house building programme while at the same time providing savers with a safe asset paying an attractive interest rate.
Likewise, those savers will have the added satisfaction of knowing their savings are being invested in their community and directly benefitting others in their communities.
Local authority bonds could also be directed at individuals and public sector pension funds.
Conference recommends that when the Scottish Government has control over taxation, Scottish bonds should be made eligible to be held in Scottish ISAs.
SNP TRADE UNION GROUP, WEST FIFE & COASTAL VILLAGES BRANCH.
9. PARITY OF ESTEEM
Conference reaffirms its commitment to parity of esteem between all elected members regardless of the sphere of government to which they are elected, and to addressing barriers to elected office for under-represented groups.
Conference commits its support to the outcome and recommendations of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) Review published in February 2022.
Conference notes that this review was undertaken with a view to reducing barriers to elected office, with extensive evidence detailing that low pay and financial insecurity has been a significant barrier to recruiting and retaining councillors, and especially those from under-represented groups, including women.
While Conference welcomes the progress which has been made to moderately increase councillors’ salaries, it believes there is much work still to be done to fully implement the recommendations and to make the role of a councillor as accessible and as appealing as possible, to help attract the best and most diverse talent to stand for election.
Conference notes that both MSPs and MPs have a resettlement grant awarded should they stand down or lose an election, with awards being dictated according to length of service.
Conference further notes that a similar resettlement grant was proposed by SLARC and recently agreed at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) for Councillors, albeit with a caveat that those who stand for re-election but lose a seat might not be able to be covered without primary legislation in time for the May 2027 local government elections.
Conference therefore expresses profound disappointment at the current decision of the Scottish Government not to uphold the agreement at COSLA to implement such a scheme in time for the local government election next May.
Consequently, Conference asks SNP MSPs to work with the Scottish Government to reverse this decision and to legislate to implement the SLARC recommendations in full in advance of the May 2027 elections.
Conference believes that resettlement arrangements should be introduced in this timeframe - at an absolute minimum for those who stand down, as agreed at COSLA, if primary or indeed temporary legislation cannot be implemented in time to cover all situations.
Conference agrees that this would uphold the SLARC recommendations and demonstrate the SNP's commitment to elected members and their considerable hard work, in all spheres of government.
ASSOCIATION OF SNP COUNCILLORS, CLLR KATY LOUDON – LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONVENER, HEATHER ANDERSON MSP.
10. BUILDING PARTY CAPACITY
Conference recognises and welcomes that the Scottish National Party has done much to strengthen Governance and improve Party Unity under the Leadership of Party Leader and First Minister John Swinney.
There are however further ways to improve how we operate and to make us a stronger and more cohesive Party able to respond to internal and external pressures.
Conference notes that members vote at National Conference to fill a range of officer and committee positions, each for a period of one year. Which means, each year there is the potential for a significant number of successful candidates having to start from scratch.
This annual changeover can be detrimental to the operation of the Party if too many new appointments are made all at the same time and if each of these takes a substantial period to understand and get to grips with their role.
Conference recognises that as well as creating a hiatus in Party business there is also the potential loss of knowledge and experience gained by those in post over the previous year if not reappointed.
It takes time to build that knowledge and more needs to be done to maximise use of this beyond the current period of one year.
The annual elections and the resulting lack of continuity from year to year hinders utilising the contribution which could be made by hard working and committed members and is detrimental to the Party.
Conference agrees that the Party explores changing annual appointments to two-year appointments, staggered in introduction to ensure everyone doesn’t leave at the same time.
This will ensure best use is made of accumulated knowledge and experience in relevant positions and limits the year-to-year disruption experienced presently.
SNP WEST DUMFRIES BRANCH, GALLOWAY & WEST DUMFRIES CA
11. SUPPORTING ISLAND BRANCHES IN ATTENDING ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL COUNCIL
Ensuring delegates from all regions and islands of Scotland are able to attend party decision making events is important – not only to ensure representation from these areas, but also to harness the expertise and knowledge available. It is also valuable for delegates to learn from all the fringe events and activities.
Attending National Council and Annual Conference can be cost prohibitive for Island Branches. It is welcome to note that, this year, attendance will be possible online for those unable to attend. However, for those who wish to attend in person, the cost can be prohibitive for small island branches.
Conference notes and appreciates efforts to help with transport costs – for example the 30% discount on rail fares offered to delegates attending National Conference. For Island groups, we have no train to catch. A train ticket from the south of Scotland to Aberdeen is £114.60 return – so £80.22 with 30% discount. Travel on the Northlink Ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen is £170.40 and on Loganair from Sumburgh to Aberdeen £249.98. (prices checked online when this resolution was drafted).
Conference asks that the National Executive Committee review the travel cost of attendance for delegates and put in place a support package (such as a form of pooled fare system) to boost attendance for Island Delegates/Branches at Annual Conference and National Council.
SHETLAND BRANCH, NA H-EILEANAN AN IAR BRANCH
AMENDMENT
Insert in final paragraph after pooled fare system “taking account of both geography and members ability to pay, with the expressed intention”
GLASGOW EASTERHOUSE & SPRINGBURN CB
12. EQUALITIES MECHANISM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE SELECTION
Conference reaffirms the SNP's commitment to ensuring that its elected representatives reflect the diversity of the communities and country we seek to represent.
Conference recognises that women, disabled people and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities remain under-represented within elected local government, and that structural and practical barriers can prevent talented members from progressing through candidate approval and selection processes.
Conference further recognises the experience of equalities mechanisms used in previous local government selection processes and believes that lessons from those processes should inform arrangements for the next local government elections.
Conference mandates that measures designed to address under-representation must be evidence-based, proportionate and transparent.
Conference notes that increasing representation must not result in tokenism. All SNP candidates must continue to meet the standards expected of those seeking elected office and must be selected for their ability, experience, commitment, values and capacity to represent their communities effectively.
Conference therefore instructs the National Executive Committee, prior to the commencement of the local government candidate selection process, to establish and publish an Equalities Mechanism designed to address demonstrated underrepresentation among SNP local government candidates.
The mechanism shall address, separately and appropriately, the representation of:
- women;
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic members; and
- disabled members.
Conference instructs the NEC to ensure that the mechanism:
- is evidence-based, using the best available and relevant demographic, electoral and party data to identify and assess under-representation;
- seeks gender balance across the overall body of SNP local government candidates, while allowing sufficient flexibility to take account of local circumstances, incumbent councillors and the practical operation of multimember wards;
- provides for meaningful BAME representation, taking account of regional and local population demographics and demonstrated levels of underrepresentation;
- provides for meaningful representation of disabled members, recognising both the prevalence of disability within Scotland and the limitations of available party data where disability is dependent upon self-identification;
- seeks improved representation across Scotland, taking account of regional and local demographics and the availability of eligible candidates within individual local authority areas, while avoiding the unnecessary concentration of candidates from under-represented groups in seats with limited electoral prospects;
- ensures that equalities measures operate alongside robust candidate approval standards, so that the mechanism expands opportunity for capable candidates and does not reduce individuals to representatives or tokens of a protected characteristic;
- ensures that reasonable adjustments and accessible processes are available throughout application, assessment, selection and campaigning, so that disabled members are not disadvantaged by the process itself;
- takes account of electoral prospects and opportunities for election, so that increased diversity amongst candidates is capable of translating into increased diversity amongst elected SNP councillors;
- is developed in meaningful consultation with the relevant SNP equalities organisations, affiliates and office bearers, including those representing women, disabled members and BAME members, together with the Party's local government structures, and requires relevant affiliate or lived-experience representation within the candidate vetting and assessment process; and
- sets out clearly the evidence, methodology and reasoning upon which any intervention or target is based, allowing members and local parties to understand why particular measures are being applied.
Conference instructs the NEC to put these arrangements in place before local government selections commence and as a matter of urgency.
Conference believes that removing barriers and ensuring that talented members from under-represented groups have a genuine opportunity to become candidates will strengthen the SNP's candidate pool, strengthen our representation in local government and better enable the Party to represent modern Scotland and deliver independence.
SADIE MATTHEWS - NATIONAL EQUALITIES CONVENER, MICHAEL GIBBONS – DISABLED MEMBERS CONVENER
13. PROGRAMME OF RULE REVISAL
Conference notes the successful outcome of the Constitutional Conference held on 22 March 2025, and the further progress made since then in improving Party governance.
Conference believes that, just as democratic government depends upon the rule of law, democratic party governance depends upon modern, clear and accessible rules applied fairly and consistently.
Conference notes, however, that no Rules of the Party have been promulgated to reflect the constitutional amendments agreed in 2025 and subsequently; that many rules were not updated when the Revised Constitution was adopted in 2018; that some rules, including the Code of Conduct for Members, have not been substantially revised or updated since the previous constitutional rewrite in 2004; and that there are bodies of the Party, including Regional Steering Committees, the Policy Development Committee, the Conferences Committee, the National Office Bearers Committee and the Financial Scrutiny, Audit and Risk Committee which do not have rules approved to guide their work.
Conference therefore instructs the National Secretary to lead a comprehensive programme of review, reform, and renewal of the Codes of Conduct, Standing Orders, and Rules of the Party to reflect constitutional changes, modern practice, and recent lessons learned, with fair process, transparency, and good governance as the guiding principles.
Conference also requires the National Secretary, in preparing proposals, to consult appropriately with committees affected by any changes and with other interested members, drawing upon and developing the best ideas emerging from that consultation, before submitting the consultation outcome and result to the National Executive Committee, or other Party body with constitutional authority for approval.
Conference expects that the rule revisal programme will include, as a minimum, the following core components—
(a) with all involved in the management of the Party, preparing a new and comprehensive Scheme of Delegation under Paragraph 32.4 of the Constitution, which will ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities in the management of the Party, including between the Chief Executive, National Office Bearers, the National Office Bearers Committee and the National Executive Committee;
(b) after suitable engagement with delegates, drafting Standing Orders for National Council, with a particular focus on enhancing opportunities for delegates to scrutinise and discuss Party governance as well as policy;
(c) with all involved in the finances of the Party, drafting Rules for the Financial Scrutiny, Audit and Risk Committee under Paragraph 39.3 of the Constitution, to ensure oversight and further transparency in the Party’s finances;
(d) after consulting the whole membership, proposing a motion under Paragraph 5.3 of the Constitution to adopt a modernised Code of Conduct for Members, including conduct on social media, establishing clear minimum standards of behaviour expected of members;
(e) with the Disputes and Complaints Committee, the Member Conduct Committee and the Conduct Appeals Committee, developing a Standards Breach Policy under Paragraph 6.5 of the Constitution to ensure that where a breach has been found, any sanction is determined under a clear, proportionate and consistent framework, with sanctions sufficient to uphold appropriate standards of conduct and to deter other breaches;
(f) after adoption of a revised Code of Conduct for Members, and after consultation with the Parliamentary Groups and the Association of SNP Councillors, drafting Codes of Conduct for the other classes of members under Paragraph 5.1 of the Constitution, such as office bearers, candidates and publicly-elected members, where higher standards of conduct are required;
(g) with the Member Engagement Convener, and after gathering information on best practice for party meetings, proposing considered amendments to the Branch Rules and the Constituency Association Rules to encourage effective, inclusive and participatory meetings under Paragraph 46.2 of the Constitution;
(h) with the Campaigns Convener, working to regularise the operation of “Other Local Campaign Bodies” under Paragraph 17 of the Constitution, including the Glasgow Regional Association and the Edinburgh City Association;
(i) with the Policy Development Committee and the Conferences Committee, drafting rules for their operation, to include any joint working arrangements under Paragraph 23.3 of the Constitution, to streamline the process of policy adoption in the party and to assist in its transparency, including in relation to rejected resolutions;
(j) engaging with the Parliamentary Groups and Association of SNP Councillors to promote greater consistency, clarity and effectiveness in their Standing Orders, with any resulting amendments being presented to the National Executive Committee for approval under Paragraph 45 of the Constitution;
(k) engaging with affiliates to ensure that all of their constitutions are approved under Paragraph 38.2 of the Constitution, with the Chief Executive providing any assistance needed on membership system support;
(l) working with the Chief Executive, developing a Privacy Policy for Members that more clearly provides for the appropriate sharing of member and local office bearer contact information where members would reasonably expect such information to be shared.
The National Secretary must report to each meeting of National Council and National Conference on the progress of this programme, including which workstreams have been completed and what work remains to be done, until its completion, with the objective of concluding all rule revisions by the end of the first meeting of National Council in 2028.
EDINBURGH NORTH WESTERN BRANCH
14. PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – FINANCIAL SCRUTINY, AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
In Paragraph 39.2(c)
Delete all after “retired qualified accountants” and insert
“or have significant Risk Management experience in at least one large organisation, or have substantial experience as a member of a Risk and / or Audit Committee in a large organisation”.
PETER GRANT, NATIONAL TREASURER ALEX KERR, NATIONAL SECRETARY
AMENDMENT
Replace words after “insert” with “have experience as members of similar committees, or other appropriate qualifications or experience specified in the Rules of the committee”.
EDINBURGH NORTH WESTERN CB
15. PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – RIGHT OF MEMBERS TO RAISE CONCERNS
"Paragraph 46 (Rules and Standing Orders) - add new sub paragraph after 46.3(b)
(c) A process by which any member who has concerns about possible misconduct or unlawful contact by any member or office bearer may raise these concerns in confidence;
and renumber accordingly”
PETER GRANT, NATIONAL TREASURER ALEX KERR, NATIONAL SECRETARY
16. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Insert at beginning of Paragraph 4.1,
“Membership of the Party is open to all who support its Aims, Policy and Direction.”
After Paragraph 4.3(a), add
“( ) act in contravention of a requirement of the Constitution, Standing Orders, Rules, or Policies on member behaviour of the Party”.
After 4.4 (c) add
“( ) leaves a Party Group in the UK or Scottish Parliament, or on a local authority, but does not vacate their seat;”
and relabel subsequently.
After Paragraph 4.4, add new sub-paragraph—
“( ) Rules of the Party may define other activities, including activities in support of other political parties, which make a member ineligible for membership of the Party.”
ALEK KERR, NATIONAL SECRETARY
ANGELA CONSTANCE, SNP CONVENER
Session 4
14h00 Fraternal Address from Plaid Cymru
14h20 Resolutions
15h55 Topical and Emergency Resolutions
16h10 Address by Jenny Gilruth MSP, Deputy First Minister
16h30 Close of session
17. IT'S SCOTLAND'S ENERGY
1 - Conference recognises that reckless political decisions taken at Westminster, such as the Energy Profits Levy, have cost thousands of Scottish jobs in the energy industry; and believes that Scottish industry must be protected from devastating Westminster de-industrialisation that has left scars in many communities.
2 - Conference acknowledges the generational challenge of the Climate Emergency that is already damaging communities across Scotland and the rest of world and reaffirms Scotland’s world-leading commitment to reach net zero by 2045, and play its role in tackling it by becoming a renewable energy superpower, while also reducing high energy bills in an independent Scotland.
3 - Conference notes that the global energy landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, with geopolitical developments such as the ongoing impact of Russia's war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East causing extreme volatility and risks to energy supplies and prices.
4 - Conference agrees that Scotland has a bright energy future, particularly in the North East, and agrees that any policy must be built on sustainability and long term planning that takes into account our climate responsibilities and our contribution to our neighbours, especially in the rest of Europe, in providing greater energy security.
5 - Conference acknowledges that our renewables sector is thriving because of the existing skills, expertise and infrastructure of Scotland's oil and gas industry, but notes that the economic benefit from renewables must be felt by Scotland's communities with meaningful action to lower bills and investment in a just transition that benefits everyone in Scotland.
6 - Conference demands that all further income from oil and gas resources taken by the UK Treasury is placed in a Future Generations Fund that will grow Scotland’s renewables industry, support the communities who have generated hundreds of billions of pounds in taxation for Westminster, and strengthen the supply chain to ensure ongoing investment and job creation in Scotland.
7 - Conference notes that Scotland and the wider UK currently relies on oil and gas for our energy needs such as heating, transport and industry, and believes that reducing reliance on hydrocarbons while accelerating the capacity of renewable energy should go hand in hand with protecting jobs, strengthening energy security and supporting a managed and fair transition for workers and communities.
8 - Conference notes that, in the interests of energy security, protecting Scottish jobs, and securing funding to accelerate growth in renewables, the utilisation of domestic production, reviewed by climate compatibility assessments, is clearly preferable to importation, where international imports have a bigger carbon footprint. And agrees that the SNP should champion policies that safeguard Scottish jobs and skills, reduce reliance on imported fuels and use the economic benefits of Scotland's remaining oil and gas resources to help fund the transition to a net-zero economy.
9 - And finally, calls for Scotland’s energy to be in Scotland’s hands, not controlled by Westminster, so we can power a system that truly delivers for the people who live here.
STEPHEN GETHINS MSP, JACK MIDDLETON MSP, LARA BIRD MP
AMENDMENT
Insert after article 8 a new 9, and renumber subsequent articles:
Conference notes that carbon pollution has a global impact and that the Scottish Government has already adopted principles such as accepting the climate emergency, the need for a net-zero economy, a "polluter pays" principle on all pollution, and the need for a Just Transition.
Therefore conference asks the Scottish Government to call upon the UK Government to increase profit levies on fossil fuel extractors and on polluting industries to match the social cost of the pollution caused by these activities.
If the UK Government will not do this, the Scottish Government should explore any and all devolved powers (such as land taxes, a Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), new environmental levies, or individual wealth taxes) as well as non-tax powers such as planning permission and public procurement to the same effect.
Conference calls for such revenue accruing to the Scottish Government or Local Authorities to be invested in accelerating Just Transition (especially in the north east) and zero-carbon housing retrofits.
SNP TRADE UNION GROUP
18. SCOTLAND NEEDS TO INCREASE ITS FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Conference recognises that national food security is a broad concept related to ensuring all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Food self-sufficiency is a narrower idea that focuses specifically on a nation's ability to produce enough food domestically to meet its population's needs without relying on imports.
While the UK ranks ninth in the world for food security (Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands are in the top five), about 11% (280,000) of households in Scotland experience low food security.
Conference commends the Scottish Government for its response to food insecurity, underpinned by the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 and introduction of ‘Cash First’, a £1.8 million, two-year scheme that aims to reduce reliance on food banks by providing direct financial assistance to households.
Conference notes however, that the UK is absent from the list of the top 50 most food self-sufficient nations. European countries such as Latvia, Romania, Estonia and Croatia appear in the top 20.
Conference believes the climate change catastrophe will require food production to be developed on an industrial scale across the whole of Scotland with the Netherlands’ huge glasshouses providing an example of how this might be accomplished.
Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to work with farmers and their representatives, academia, researchers and specialist companies to develop urgently a national strategy and detailed action plan to encourage and enable Scotland to greatly increase self-sufficiency in domestic food production.
BRAIDBURN BRANCH
19. ENDING AN OUTDATED MODEL OF COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION
Conference recognises that Community Councils were established over fifty years ago to provide a mechanism for local community engagement, but that they operate within a governance model designed for a very different social, democratic, and technological context.
Conference notes that Community Councils have no statutory powers, highly variable levels of activity and effectiveness, and are frequently uncontested or poorly attended, resulting in low participation and limited representativeness, while formal recognition of their role can give disproportionate weight to the views of a small and unrepresentative minority.
Conference further notes that the continued reliance on Community Councils can duplicate or complicate other forms of engagement now used across Scotland, including participatory budgeting, place-based engagement, citizens’ panels, and digital consultation, potentially diverting resources and attention away from more inclusive and accessible approaches.
Conference agrees that effective community engagement should be modern, inclusive, transparent, and representative of the full diversity of Scotland’s communities, and that public participation should not depend on uneven or outdated structures that vary significantly by geography.
Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to explore bringing forward proposals to establish a modern, consistent framework for local democratic engagement, ensuring that any framework strengthens participation, broadens access, and supports Scotland’s wider objectives on housing delivery, climate action, and community empowerment.
ELGIN BRANCH
20. STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST THE FAR RIGHT, ISLAMOPHOBIA AND RACISM
Conference notes with deep concern the rise of far right activity, Islamophobia, racist abuse, discrimination and attacks on minority communities across Scotland, including a 17% year on year rise in recorded racist hate crime, the highest level in twenty years, and a series of stabbing attacks in Edinburgh in June 2026 which left five men injured, several outside a mosque, with the accused subsequently charged with terrorism offences.
Scotland has long seen itself as a welcoming and inclusive country, yet many Muslims, Black and minority ethnic people, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants increasingly feel unsafe in their own communities. Conference condemns those who exploit economic hardship, pressure on public services and political frustration to divide people and scapegoat minorities, including the organised far right activity seen at protests against asylum accommodation in Falkirk and Perth, and welcomes the First Minister's willingness to consider measures such as buffer zones in response.
Conference believes that Islamophobia, racism, antisemitism, xenophobia and all forms of hatred must be challenged wherever they appear. No one should fear going to work, taking their children to school, attending a place of worship or walking through their community because of their race, religion or background.
Conference also recognises the powerful role of the media and public figures in shaping opinion. Inflammatory headlines, misinformation, stereotyping and the repeated portrayal of Muslims, migrants and refugees as threats can create a climate in which hatred becomes normalised. Freedom of the press must be protected, but it must also come with responsibility.
Conference believes that legitimate public debate about the speed, transparency and fairness of the asylum and immigration system, and about illegal entry and enforcement, is a separate matter from organised racism and political violence, and that the party must be able to hold both positions clearly, without either one crowding out the other.
Conference calls on the Scottish Government to:
Bring forward, in consultation with Police Scotland and local authorities, buffer zone measures to prevent intimidation and harassment around accommodation used to house asylum seekers and refugees, and to set out clearly how such measures would be defined and enforced.
Work with Police Scotland and the Crown Office to improve the recording, investigation and reporting back of hate crime, with specific measures to address the currently low reporting rate, around one in five incidents, among Muslim and refugee communities.
Press the UK Government to reduce the asylum backlog and reliance on hotel accommodation through faster decision making, to strengthen action against the organised criminal gangs behind illegal Channel crossings and trafficking, and to ensure the fair and swift removal of those found to have no right to remain in the UK.
Establish a clear, published protocol requiring meaningful local consultation before any decision is made to use a community for asylum accommodation.
Conference further calls for investment in housing, public services, employment and measures to tackle poverty and inequality, so that communities are supported rather than turned against one another, and for stronger support for community organisations, anti-racism education, youth work and programmes that bring communities together.
Conference resolves that the SNP will work with trade unions, faith groups, anti-racist organisations and community organisations to oppose the far right, will ensure that those most affected by racism and Islamophobia are heard, and will engage directly and honestly with public concerns about the immigration and asylum system, rather than leaving that debate to be owned by those who exploit it for division.
Conference sends a clear message. Scotland belongs to all of us. We will not allow fear, division and hatred to define our country. There is no place in Scotland for the politics of hate.
SCOTS ASIANS FOR INDEPENDENCE
Motion 20 (Amendment)
AMENDMENT
Amend Paragraph 2 first sentence – after Black – delete “and minority ethnic people,” and Insert and People of Colour, people from racialised minority communities, to read as follows:
Amend paragraph 3 – after “Islamophobia,” delete Black, and insert “Anti-Black racism,”
Amend paragraph 4 – second sentence – after Muslims, migrants, insert Black and Peoples of Colour from racialised minority communities, before “and refugees” to read as follows:
Delete at paragraph 3 “Black and minority ethnic communities and replace with “Racialised minority communities, Black and Peoples of colour”
Insert new Paragraph 3
“Conference notes the community summit held by community leaders and the STUC to address the crisis of racist mobilisation in our streets; commends anti-racist and anti-fascist counterprotesters and highly commends the emergence of local community-led anti-racist initiatives – for example as Falkirk for All and anti-racism groups in Springburn, Maryhill, Govanhill and Possil in Glasgow, and Edinburgh North and Leith”
Bullet point 2:
Insert after Muslim “, Racialised minority, Black and Peoples of Colour,”
Delete in bullet point 3 “and to ensure the fair and swift removal of those found to have no right to remain in the UK.”
Insert new bullet points 5 and 6:
Make representation to press and media organisations as regards their prejudicial and negative representation of Muslims, refugees, and of Black and Peoples of Colour from racialised minority communities in their reporting – in particular around the late Cambridge and Glasgow Professor Jason Arday.
Support community-led anti-racism community initiatives with funding in the Programme for Government as more effective rather than funding further policy research into the effects of racism.
GLASGOW EASTERHOUSE AND SPRINGBURN BRANCH
21. DEVELOPING PLANS FOR A SYSTEM OF LAND TAXATION IN SCOTLAND
Conference recognises wealth inequality as one of the major issues of our time, and believes the balance of taxation needs to be altered to better target wealth.
Conference is appalled that Westminster has not devolved the powers to Scotland that would allow us to properly address wealth inequality – and recognises that only with the full powers that will come with self-government will we be able to design a system that fully meets Scotland’s needs.
Conference recognises that land ownership is a form of wealth, and that while there has been significant progress made in land reform in Scotland by the SNP Scottish Government, that a land tax tailored to Scotland’s needs would be a useful tool to help reduce the unacceptable concentration of land ownership in Scotland.
Conference believes that community-led entrepreneurship and locally-led economic regeneration are key to unlocking community wealth, and understands a land tax design for Scotland could support further community ownership, local development and economic growth.
Conference reiterates the importance of the principles of full transparency for land ownership in Scotland, as power over land use and sale decisions should not rest with an elite minority whose identities are too often hidden behind offshore trusts.
Therefore, that Conference supports the Scottish Government in developing plans for a system of land taxation, based on international examples of best practice, recognising appropriately taxing land can benefit the whole of society, while protecting and growing rural employment and community-owned estates and assets.
HANNAH MARY GOODLAD MSP, JENNY GILRUTH MSP
AMENDMENT
Add after paragraph 5:-
Conference urges early action by the Scottish Government:-
To ensure compliance by two thirds of the 1500 foreign firms owning Scottish land who are absent from the Land Register including a radical increase of penalties for failure to comply with registration of beneficial ownership.
To resource prosecutions for non-compliance
GLASGOW KELVIN & MARYHILL BRANCH; LARGS BRANCH
22. PSO/AIR DISCOUNT SCHEME
Conference recognises the support provided by Scottish Government to the communities of Barra, Tiree and Campbelltown through their Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, and welcomes the fact that 50% of the cost of eligible airfares across other island routes are paid for by the Scottish Government through the Air Discount Scheme for island residents.
Conference however notes with concern the extreme costs that continue to face island residents and family members whether it be travelling for work, hospital appointments or family occasions.
Conference also notes the ongoing uncertainty facing some of the seemingly less commercially viable routes on the current network, despite the critical nature of these transport connections, with a commercial operator in the position at present of making decisions on lifeline services.
Combined with the challenges of demographic change, the difficulties of ferry and road travel due to weather disruption in the winter, as well as the opportunities inherent in the local revitalisation and repopulation improved transport links would bring, Conference believes that examples should be drawn from other countries who successfully provide lifeline air services to their islands and rural areas.
Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term aviation strategy for Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, with a view to expanding the number of island air routes that are designated as PSOs and ensuring routes and timetables meet passenger needs, increasing reliability and long-term sustainability of air services, while lowering costs for passengers.
Conference further notes that the ADS was introduced more than two decades ago and believes that the time has come to modernise and integrate the scheme within a wider set of reforms to Highlands and Islands air travel, to ensure that island residents pay a fair and sustainable price for vital air travel.
NA H-EILEANAN AN IAR BRANCH, SHETLAND BRANCH, HANNAH MARY GOODLAD MSP, LONDON BRANCH, CRAIGENTINNY & DUDDINGSTON BRANCH
23. RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL MEDIA USE
Conference is appalled by the revelations earlier this year that Grok AI, integrated into X (formerly twitter) has been producing abusive content, including non-consensual deepfake nudes of women and sexualised images of children.
Conference believes that responsible use of social media is essential for any party, public-facing service, or public entity to maintain public trust and demonstrate their values. Conference notes the potential reputational harm in campaign messages appearing alongside abusive content.
Conference also believes that the party, our elected representatives, councils, Scottish Government, and other public bodies have a responsibility both to the public and to their employees to not make use of harmful platforms that harbour abusive content necessary to access information or communicate with the public.
Conference notes that many publicly owned services, such as ScotRail and CalMac, continue to conduct their comms, emergency announcements, and customer service near-exclusively on X, where this essential information requires logging into a platform that hosts and produces abuse imagery.
Conference further notes that, as viewing of indecent images of children is a strict liability offence, continuing to use X as the predominant communications platform puts our candidates, elected representatives, the public and workers at risk due to the way X's algorithm makes it impossible to control how your content appears and what a user sees.
Conference therefore:
• Resolves that HQ should review the party's social media policies and, in particular, mandate that candidates, branches, elected members, and other relevant bodies withdraw from X
• Supports a UK-wide ban on X and Grok AI
• Calls for public bodies and nationalised services like Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, ScotRail and CalMac to move from X to alternative platforms
• Calls for the Scottish Government to remove itself from X
• Calls for the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body to remove Scottish Parliament-linked accounts from X
SOUTHSIDE CENTRAL BRANCH; LOCHABER AND NORTH LORN BRANCH; PRESTON, SETON AND GOSFORD BRANCH; MICHAEL GIBBONS, DISABLED MEMBERS CONVENER; SADIE MATTHEWS, EQUALITIES CONVENER; OUT FOR INDEPENDENCE
Session 6
14h00 Resolutions
14h45 Topical and Emergency Resolutions
15h05 Address by John Swinney MSP, Party Leader and First Minister
16h00 Close of Conference
24. MAKING PLANNING WORK FOR COMMUNITIES
Conference notes that the pace of onshore renewable energy development in Scotland is a key part of a just transition, but has placed growing pressure on local planning systems, and has contributed to increasing public concern around transparency, community ownership, and environmental impact.
Conference recognises that while planning teams expose public-facing portals for publishing planning applications, these platforms can be difficult to navigate, and are not well-suited to visualising the scale or wider impact of proposed infrastructure.
Conference believes that planning transparency is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring that infrastructure development, including renewable energy projects, proceeds in a way that is open, accountable, and beneficial to affected areas.
Communities should be able to easily understand what is being built and the impact on their local areas, and should be able to readily access environmental assessments, visualisations, and community benefit commitments.
Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to work with local planning teams to develop a national framework for modernised, accessible planning portals, with minimum standards to ensure that:
Planning applications are presented in clear, user-friendly formats with interactive maps, timelines, and visual tools
Historical and cumulative development data can be browsed and compared by the public and community groups
Information on community benefit provisions, developer engagement, and environmental assessments is transparently published and archived
Local authorities are supported with funding, technical guidance, and capacity-building to implement reforms effectively
Conference believes that improving public access to planning data is a practical, low-cost reform that will empower communities, improve decision-making, and strengthen confidence in the planning system as Scotland continues its transition to renewable energy.
WEST FIFE & COASTAL VILLAGES BRANCH
25. GROWING SCOTLAND'S FORESTS, BROADENING SCOTLAND'S OWNERSHIP
Conference notes that:
Post-war governments rightly supported productive woodland through grants and favourable tax treatment. Today, Scotland's woodland market has changed fundamentally, attracting institutional and carbon offset investment. Scotland accounts for around 85% of the UK market for land suitable for woodland creation, while the Scottish Land Commission reports forestry land values rose about 73% between 2021 and 2022. The Royal Society of Edinburgh has called for an end to commercial conifer subsidies and a review of woodland tax reliefs.
Conference further notes that:
Despite decades of land reform, Scotland's rural land remains among Europe's most concentrated, and concentration is increasing. Andy Wightman's 2024 analysis found 433 landowners owned half of privately owned rural land; the Scottish Land Commission's latest figures put the number at just 408 individuals, corporations, asset-management groups and foreign trusts.
Scotland has no shortage of reports.
What Scotland needs is delivery.
Conference therefore affirms that:
• Public investment in woodland should support Scotland's climate ambitions and its land reform ambitions.
• Climate action should widen opportunity, not narrow ownership.
• Public money should not unintentionally reinforce the concentration of land ownership.
• Land reform should shape every policy that materially affects the ownership and value of Scotland's land.
Conference therefore calls upon the Scottish Government to:
Establish a cross-government Ministerial Taskforce, led by the Minister responsible for Land Reform and reporting to Cabinet, to deliver within twelve months an integrated Woodland and Land Reform Strategy aligning woodland grants, fiscal incentives, climate goals and land reform.
Restrict woodland creation grants to projects where public support is necessary, ensuring taxpayers do not subsidise commercially viable investments. Require repayment where public funding contributes to significant commercial gains on disposal, with recovered funds recycled into community woodland, farm woodland, native woodland creation and land buyout programmes.
Develop measures of success that assess not only woodland creation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity, but also diversity of ownership and wider public benefit.
Make formal representations to the UK Government seeking reform of reserved forestry tax reliefs where they materially undermine Scotland's devolved land reform objectives.
INVERNESS CITY BRANCH
