A SCOTTISH independence group has postponed a convention it had planned for St Andrew's Day to avoid a clash with a memorial for Alex Salmond.
Independence Forum Scotland (IFS), a group made up of 21 regional and national member organisations which encourages co-operation across the independence movement, was set to host a national convention on Scotland’s future on November 30 – St Andrew's Day.
However, the family of the former first minister announced on Sunday that a service will be held at Edinburgh’s St Giles' Cathedral on St Andrew's Day.
The group has now said event will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 as it has "no wish to be in any way a distraction" for activists paying tribute to Salmond.
IFS convener Ian Grant said: "The Memorial Service will be an opportunity for people throughout Scotland, whether or not they are present at St Giles’s Cathedral, to reflect on Alex Salmond’s life and achievements, and to say a proper farewell to him.
"We have no wish to be in any way a distraction from that, and postponing our own event is clearly the right thing to do."
He added: "In choosing this date we’ve taken into account the need to give due notice to colleagues, partner organisations, and individual participants, and to avoid clashing with other events arranged for the same date.
"We are grateful to our hosts, the Charteris Greyfriars Centre in Edinburgh, for their understanding and flexibility and very much hope that the new date will be suitable for those already registered."
During the next few days IFS said they will be in touch with all of those who registered to participate in the convention, or who expressed an interest in it, to confirm the new arrangements.
Key topics up for discussion include sovereignty and the constitution, industrial strategy, land reform and health and wellbeing.
