IN the wake of the disappointing Supreme Court ruling, The National can exclusively reveal the launch of Scotland’s largest Progress To Yes conference.
The event is set to take place at the Aberdeen Altens Hotel on the weekend of February 25 and 26, 2023, and will be hosted by the Aberdeen Independence Movement (AIM).
Yessers across Scotland are being invited to attend the two-day event which will feature high-profile figures, including Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp (Business for Scotland), Karen Adam MSP, Kelly Given (Channel 4’s Make Me Prime Minister), Alistair Heather (writer and presenter), Blair Jenkins (chief executive of 2014 Yes Campaign), and many more to be announced.
To bring you the largest Progress To Yes Conference yet, The National is teaming up with AIM and other key drivers of the independence movement, including:
- Women for Independence
- Business for Scotland
- Believe in Scotland
- Bella Caledonia
- Scotland's Choice
- The Bottom Line
- National Yes Network
- English Scots for Yes
- Yes to EU
Earlier this year, the first Progress To Yes conference was hosted by AIM and was attended by more than 300 people over the one-day event.
The upcoming conference will kick off with interactive panel discussions on Saturday morning. The afternoon will be dominated by mapping out the way ahead for the independence movement, giving attendees a voice on the process.
Saturday night will see like-minded individuals come together for a Burns supper at the venue, with leading figures set to join.
Sunday will host more panels and workshops in the morning. After lunch, the event will change format, with AIM and the Sunday National hosting its first Progress To Yes rally in the venue, with live music, speeches and comedy.
Co-founder of AIM Alan Petrie said: “With the Supreme Court findings, it’s vital that the movement meets to work out the way ahead and get ready for the campaign ahead. This two-day conference allows us to come together.
“Our last conference was a huge success and led to steps being taken to build a new civic campaign group. With the UK Government and opposition parties turning their back on democracy, the need for a new civic campaign group has never been greater.
“As an organiser, I will do all I can to facilitate the building of that new civic democracy movement, and I can’t see a better platform to progress to yes than the Progress To Yes conference.
“Whatever we agree on, we must be ready to hit the ground running in the new year and campaign like never before.
“We hope and expect the democracy movement will back this much-needed conference. We will make sure views expressed on the day are fed back to leaders in the campaign.
“In fact, most of them will be in the room listening. At the last Progress To Yes conference, we took the first steps to build a winning civic movement. Let’s push on and continue that work in February.”
Early bird tickets are now on sale, with various options for attendance, including one-day, weekend, and all-inclusive tickets which will accommodate the Burns supper.
The National’s deputy editor Stewart Ward said: “We’re really excited to be involved with this event – and excited for the drive and debate it will manifest.
“Keep an eye on our pages for updates!”
For more information click HERE.
