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| Alex Salmond's speech at SNP conference: Politics live blog | Alex Salmond's speech at SNP conference: Politics live blog |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.34pm: Delegates have passed a resolution on international aid suggesting that independence would help Scotland meet the UN target for 0.7% of national wealth to go on aid spending. "This 42-year-old target has been met by other small European nations such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Luxembourg, but not by the UK," it says. | |
| 2.27pm: This is not strictly relevant to today's conference proceedings, but Grainne Maguire's article for the Independent on what Scotland would be like without the BBC is a good read. | |
| Yes Scotland, after centuries of neglect, cultural condescension, not to mention The Highland clearances, you could finally sail your ship alone, but it would also mean missing out on Dr Who, so are you sure about this? As a child growing up in Ireland in the 1980s, I advise caution. | |
| Self determination is lovely but having to rely on a small, poorly-funded national broadcaster for your entertainment needs is cultural suicide. I speak from experience; Radio Telifis Eireann, the Irish National Television is, like most modest sized national broadcasters, unrelentingly, grindingly, auntie getting drunk and singing at a family wedding-awful. In my opinion it is every tedious, pointless, vaguely racist local newspaper put in motion. Scotland, imagine turning on your TV and discovering it was stuck on "and now news from your area" for all eternity and ask yourself if you really liked Braveheart that much? | |
| 2.05pm: And Burdz Eye View has also got the full text of the speech from Jill Evans, the Plaid Cymru president. | |
| 1.59pm: I'm still rounding up blog reaction to the Nato vote, and I've just found this: Burdz Eye View on her blog explaining why Alyn Smith's speech in the debate was a bit of a disaster. | |
| As for zeroes? Step forward Alyn Smith MEP. Apparently, he was a last minute addition to the speaker platform in the great NATO debate. That will be decision he might well live to regret. He achieved the remarkable feat of being heckled and boo-ed during his contribution, something I've never heard before at an SNP conference. Why? Because the gist of what he had to say was that important decisions on weighty matters like defence needed to be taken by "professionals" like him and that effectively, we delegates were too wee and too stoopit to know what we were doing. He also managed to give the meeja their quote of the day: apparently, the policy we had on defence, which had served us very well as a party since 2002 was "hopelessly naive and idealistic and showed that Scotland wasn't ready for the big league" . Not a good move for someone seeking re-selection as one of the party's European candidates in the near future. | As for zeroes? Step forward Alyn Smith MEP. Apparently, he was a last minute addition to the speaker platform in the great NATO debate. That will be decision he might well live to regret. He achieved the remarkable feat of being heckled and boo-ed during his contribution, something I've never heard before at an SNP conference. Why? Because the gist of what he had to say was that important decisions on weighty matters like defence needed to be taken by "professionals" like him and that effectively, we delegates were too wee and too stoopit to know what we were doing. He also managed to give the meeja their quote of the day: apparently, the policy we had on defence, which had served us very well as a party since 2002 was "hopelessly naive and idealistic and showed that Scotland wasn't ready for the big league" . Not a good move for someone seeking re-selection as one of the party's European candidates in the near future. |
| 1.20pm: Here's a lunchtime summary. | 1.20pm: Here's a lunchtime summary. |
| • Blair Jenkins, the head of the cross-party Yes Scotland campaign, has told SNP delegates to ignore the polls and to have faith that they can win the independence referendum. "It is far too early in the campaign to be looking at opinion polls," he said, in the wake of evidence showing that support for independence has fallen this year. "I believe we have the evidence. I believe we have the arguments. I believe we have the vision and the momentum." Jenkins also said that, if you framed the argument in terms of a question about whether an independent Scotland would vote now for a union with England (ie, if you turned the question inside out), it was impossible to imagine Scots voting for the union. See 12.41pm for a full summary. | • Blair Jenkins, the head of the cross-party Yes Scotland campaign, has told SNP delegates to ignore the polls and to have faith that they can win the independence referendum. "It is far too early in the campaign to be looking at opinion polls," he said, in the wake of evidence showing that support for independence has fallen this year. "I believe we have the evidence. I believe we have the arguments. I believe we have the vision and the momentum." Jenkins also said that, if you framed the argument in terms of a question about whether an independent Scotland would vote now for a union with England (ie, if you turned the question inside out), it was impossible to imagine Scots voting for the union. See 12.41pm for a full summary. |
| 12.45pm: It's not all good tempered at the SNP conference. My colleague Severin Carrell has sent me this. | 12.45pm: It's not all good tempered at the SNP conference. My colleague Severin Carrell has sent me this. |
| Scottish ministers confronted an angry and at times abusive crowd of anti-wind farm campaigners outside Scottish National party conference in Perth, with little love lost by either side. | Scottish ministers confronted an angry and at times abusive crowd of anti-wind farm campaigners outside Scottish National party conference in Perth, with little love lost by either side. |
| The crowd of perhaps 150 to 200 anti-wind farm activists – many dressed in tweeds, Barbour-style coats and Wellington boots - booed and hissed the Scottish health secretary Alex Neil as he walked past, with some in the crowd throwing v-signs and shouting "no more turbines". | The crowd of perhaps 150 to 200 anti-wind farm activists – many dressed in tweeds, Barbour-style coats and Wellington boots - booed and hissed the Scottish health secretary Alex Neil as he walked past, with some in the crowd throwing v-signs and shouting "no more turbines". |
| Stewart Stephenson, the former Scottish environment minister, and a champion of renewable technology, was booed too as he walked alongside the demonstration. He responded by pursing his lips and blowing – in imitation of the wind. | Stewart Stephenson, the former Scottish environment minister, and a champion of renewable technology, was booed too as he walked alongside the demonstration. He responded by pursing his lips and blowing – in imitation of the wind. |
| With a mocked-up coffin and protestors dressed as undertakers, one banner hung over the barrier featured Alex Salmond raising two fingers in a victory salute, with the slogan: "Two fingers to Aberdeenshire's landscape from the great windbag". | With a mocked-up coffin and protestors dressed as undertakers, one banner hung over the barrier featured Alex Salmond raising two fingers in a victory salute, with the slogan: "Two fingers to Aberdeenshire's landscape from the great windbag". |
| Salmond's proposals for a significant expansion of onshore windfarms – he wants the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's domestic electricity needs to be met from renewable sources – have met intense, vociferous criticism in the Scottish shires, and from some land conservation groups. One placard said: "Highland landscapes are unique: don't sacrifice them." | Salmond's proposals for a significant expansion of onshore windfarms – he wants the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's domestic electricity needs to be met from renewable sources – have met intense, vociferous criticism in the Scottish shires, and from some land conservation groups. One placard said: "Highland landscapes are unique: don't sacrifice them." |
| And here's a picture from Twitter. | And here's a picture from Twitter. |
| 12.41pm: The cross-party campaign for a yes vote in the independence referendum is called Yes Scotland and it is being run by Blair Jenkins, a former head of news at STV and BBC Scotland who is not a member of the SNP, or any other party. He has just addressed the conference. It was an interesting speech, which included a very powerful argument for independence, although one that also undermined his separate argument about the yes campaign being beyond party politics. Here are the main points. | 12.41pm: The cross-party campaign for a yes vote in the independence referendum is called Yes Scotland and it is being run by Blair Jenkins, a former head of news at STV and BBC Scotland who is not a member of the SNP, or any other party. He has just addressed the conference. It was an interesting speech, which included a very powerful argument for independence, although one that also undermined his separate argument about the yes campaign being beyond party politics. Here are the main points. |
| • Jenkins said independence campaigners should invite people to consider whether they would vote for union with England if Scotland were already independent. | • Jenkins said independence campaigners should invite people to consider whether they would vote for union with England if Scotland were already independent. |
| I think if you stand back and look at it, a campaign being run now to persuade Scotland to join the union in my view would be an impossible campaign to run. Just imagine some of the leading propositions, the case that would be put to the Scottish people: your main parliament will move hundreds of miles away, and your MPs will be in a tiny minority; you will get a government you didn't vote for; all your oil and gas revenues will be handed over to the London Treasury. The biggest nuclear weapons arsenal in Western Europe will be build on the River Clyde, 30 miles from your largest city. You will be joining a country where the health and education services are rapidly being privatised. | I think if you stand back and look at it, a campaign being run now to persuade Scotland to join the union in my view would be an impossible campaign to run. Just imagine some of the leading propositions, the case that would be put to the Scottish people: your main parliament will move hundreds of miles away, and your MPs will be in a tiny minority; you will get a government you didn't vote for; all your oil and gas revenues will be handed over to the London Treasury. The biggest nuclear weapons arsenal in Western Europe will be build on the River Clyde, 30 miles from your largest city. You will be joining a country where the health and education services are rapidly being privatised. |
| • He claimed that Yes Scotland represented "a new kind of politics" because it was non-partisan and non-ideological. | • He claimed that Yes Scotland represented "a new kind of politics" because it was non-partisan and non-ideological. |
| As far as Yes Scotland is concerned, all we ask of anyone is that you support the core principle, the core democratic principle, that the best people to make decisions about the future of Scotland and what is right for Scotland are the who of Scotland themselves … That is the only price of admission if you like … This is a cause that transcends political parties and, indeed, is a new kind of politics. | As far as Yes Scotland is concerned, all we ask of anyone is that you support the core principle, the core democratic principle, that the best people to make decisions about the future of Scotland and what is right for Scotland are the who of Scotland themselves … That is the only price of admission if you like … This is a cause that transcends political parties and, indeed, is a new kind of politics. |
| Theoretically, then, Yes Scotland is open not just to the SNP, but to people who want an independent Scotland to be an nuclear-armed, low-tax, minimum-regulation state - ie, like Texas, with mountains. But Jenkins undermined this point with his argument about imagining people being asked to vote for union with England (see above) and his claim that independence would allow Scotland to become more equal (see below). | Theoretically, then, Yes Scotland is open not just to the SNP, but to people who want an independent Scotland to be an nuclear-armed, low-tax, minimum-regulation state - ie, like Texas, with mountains. But Jenkins undermined this point with his argument about imagining people being asked to vote for union with England (see above) and his claim that independence would allow Scotland to become more equal (see below). |
| • He said independence would allow Scotland to create a more equal society. | • He said independence would allow Scotland to create a more equal society. |
We know that under successive Labour and Conservatives government, the UK has become one of the most unfair and unequal societies in the western world. That didn't happen as an act of God, it was an act of policy … | We know that under successive Labour and Conservatives government, the UK has become one of the most unfair and unequal societies in the western world. That didn't happen as an act of God, it was an act of policy … |
| I believe 2014 will be the year of yes and we will get the majority we are looking for. We are coming to a clear fork in the road, a choice of direction. Let's not be part of an increasingly unequal society, let's continue on the journey we have started. | I believe 2014 will be the year of yes and we will get the majority we are looking for. We are coming to a clear fork in the road, a choice of direction. Let's not be part of an increasingly unequal society, let's continue on the journey we have started. |
| The vision of an independent Scotland that many of us have is of a country where all of us look out for one another, and where our sense of duty and responsibility to other people don't begin and end at our own front door. | The vision of an independent Scotland that many of us have is of a country where all of us look out for one another, and where our sense of duty and responsibility to other people don't begin and end at our own front door. |
| He also said that Scotland had a "strong collective ethos" and that "we do look out for one another and we do value one another". | He also said that Scotland had a "strong collective ethos" and that "we do look out for one another and we do value one another". |
| • He said Yes Scotland was attracting support from people from most parties. The Green would play "a substantial role" in the campaign, he said. The new group, Labour for Independence, was "a growing and significant group" within the party. And some notable figures in the Liberal Democrat party, like Dame Judy Steel, were now in favour of independence. | • He said Yes Scotland was attracting support from people from most parties. The Green would play "a substantial role" in the campaign, he said. The new group, Labour for Independence, was "a growing and significant group" within the party. And some notable figures in the Liberal Democrat party, like Dame Judy Steel, were now in favour of independence. |
| • He said all parties in Scotland should set out their vision for the future of the country, whether or not they supported independence. | • He said all parties in Scotland should set out their vision for the future of the country, whether or not they supported independence. |
| • He said the no campaign had a "profoundly pessimistic" view of Scotland's future. | • He said the no campaign had a "profoundly pessimistic" view of Scotland's future. |
| The underlying rationale - the no narrative if you like - seems to be that the rest of the world, other countries in the world, and international institutions would adopt immediately an irrational and hostile view to an independent Scotland … I do not believe such a view has any rational or substantial basis at all. | The underlying rationale - the no narrative if you like - seems to be that the rest of the world, other countries in the world, and international institutions would adopt immediately an irrational and hostile view to an independent Scotland … I do not believe such a view has any rational or substantial basis at all. |
• He said the no campaign would have difficulty attracting the support of 16 and 17-year-olds because they were opposed to under-18s getting the vote. | • He said the no campaign would have difficulty attracting the support of 16 and 17-year-olds because they were opposed to under-18s getting the vote. |
You can imagine who the conversation would go: "Hello, we're the no campaign. Remember us, we are the people who tried to stop you having a say in the future of your country." | You can imagine who the conversation would go: "Hello, we're the no campaign. Remember us, we are the people who tried to stop you having a say in the future of your country." |
| • He said that Yes Scotland's advisory board would ensure that the campaign represented all elements of Scottish life. The board is chaired by Dennis Canavan, the former Labour MP. • He said it was too early in the campaign to worry about the opinion polls. | • He said that Yes Scotland's advisory board would ensure that the campaign represented all elements of Scottish life. The board is chaired by Dennis Canavan, the former Labour MP. • He said it was too early in the campaign to worry about the opinion polls. |
| • He said that if every person in Scotland in favour of independence persuaded just one new person to vote yes, Yes Scotland would win. | • He said that if every person in Scotland in favour of independence persuaded just one new person to vote yes, Yes Scotland would win. |
| 12.09pm: Jill Evans MEP, the president of Plaid Cymru, has just finished addressing the conference. She was giving "fraternal greetings" on behalf of the Welsh nationalists. An independent Scotland would have not truer friend than Wales, she said. | 12.09pm: Jill Evans MEP, the president of Plaid Cymru, has just finished addressing the conference. She was giving "fraternal greetings" on behalf of the Welsh nationalists. An independent Scotland would have not truer friend than Wales, she said. |
| She also pointed out that in Plaid the president, chair, chief executive and leader are all women. I don't think she was trying to have a go at the SNP, but yesterday there were complaints about how few women were speaking in the Nato debate. "The membership of the SNP is overwhelmingly male", James Mitchell, Lynn Bennie and Rob Johns concluded in their study of the SNP published earlier this year. | She also pointed out that in Plaid the president, chair, chief executive and leader are all women. I don't think she was trying to have a go at the SNP, but yesterday there were complaints about how few women were speaking in the Nato debate. "The membership of the SNP is overwhelmingly male", James Mitchell, Lynn Bennie and Rob Johns concluded in their study of the SNP published earlier this year. |
| 11.33am: Alyn Smith MEP has just opened a debate on the "alternative economic model for Scotland that development trusts provide". He said that if people were unhappy about Starbucks not paying much tax in the UK, they should buy coffee from a local shop instead. Business "rooted in the community" understood the importance of paying tax, he said. | 11.33am: Alyn Smith MEP has just opened a debate on the "alternative economic model for Scotland that development trusts provide". He said that if people were unhappy about Starbucks not paying much tax in the UK, they should buy coffee from a local shop instead. Business "rooted in the community" understood the importance of paying tax, he said. |
| 11.22am: The conference has just passed a motion on the NHS saying the SNP "rejects all attempts to privatise any services provided by the NHS and congratulates the Scottish government on its commitment to keeping the Scottish NHS in the public sector, in contrast to the NHS in England." | 11.22am: The conference has just passed a motion on the NHS saying the SNP "rejects all attempts to privatise any services provided by the NHS and congratulates the Scottish government on its commitment to keeping the Scottish NHS in the public sector, in contrast to the NHS in England." |
| 11.15am: Here's another blog about the SNP Nato vote yesterday that's worth reading. | 11.15am: Here's another blog about the SNP Nato vote yesterday that's worth reading. |
| • Alistair Cassidy on his Both Sides the Tweed blog says that the Nato debate should make people proud to belong to the SNP. | • Alistair Cassidy on his Both Sides the Tweed blog says that the Nato debate should make people proud to belong to the SNP. |
| Essentially today the SNP moved from being anti-NATO to being NATO-sceptic. Because of a recognition of the importance of continuity and of mutual co-operation between nations and, in particular the nations of northern Europe NATO has been given a chance, a chance to prove itself as an organisation that can work in the interests of Scotland and of all its members. | Essentially today the SNP moved from being anti-NATO to being NATO-sceptic. Because of a recognition of the importance of continuity and of mutual co-operation between nations and, in particular the nations of northern Europe NATO has been given a chance, a chance to prove itself as an organisation that can work in the interests of Scotland and of all its members. |
| Be under no illusion that today was a significant day in the life of this party. As Kenny MacAskill put it we have moved from being a party of protest to a party of Government and today's debate exemplified that. Whatever the result had been the real winner today was party democracy and I believe that can be a real example to other political parties, both in Scotland and elsewhere and a sign to the people of Scotland of the kind of government that they should expect post-Independence. | Be under no illusion that today was a significant day in the life of this party. As Kenny MacAskill put it we have moved from being a party of protest to a party of Government and today's debate exemplified that. Whatever the result had been the real winner today was party democracy and I believe that can be a real example to other political parties, both in Scotland and elsewhere and a sign to the people of Scotland of the kind of government that they should expect post-Independence. |
| 11.08am: The conference has passed a motion on welfare describing the UK government's plan to cut housing benefit for the under-25s as "a shameful attack on young people" and welcoming the Scottish government's guarantee that "people will continue to receive the full pension and benefit payments that they are entitled to" under independence. | 11.08am: The conference has passed a motion on welfare describing the UK government's plan to cut housing benefit for the under-25s as "a shameful attack on young people" and welcoming the Scottish government's guarantee that "people will continue to receive the full pension and benefit payments that they are entitled to" under independence. |
| 10.44am: Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish culture secretary, is addressing the conference now. The party have released some extracts from her speech. She is saying the SNP believe in subsidising the arts because "self-expression of the nation needs self-expression of its people". | 10.44am: Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish culture secretary, is addressing the conference now. The party have released some extracts from her speech. She is saying the SNP believe in subsidising the arts because "self-expression of the nation needs self-expression of its people". |
| Scotland's culture is our soul - in its traditions, in its innovation, ideas, debates, disputes, its many truths and its many questions. In its democratic intellect it does not just define us, it is constantly challenging and shaping and reshaping our perspective and ideas. | Scotland's culture is our soul - in its traditions, in its innovation, ideas, debates, disputes, its many truths and its many questions. In its democratic intellect it does not just define us, it is constantly challenging and shaping and reshaping our perspective and ideas. |
| Our artists need freedom, respect and support to do so unconditionally because it is in that atmosphere we will see our culture flourish still further. | Our artists need freedom, respect and support to do so unconditionally because it is in that atmosphere we will see our culture flourish still further. |
| Conference in Scotland, we are seeing world class art, writing and performance being produced. Time and time again I am told from abroad we really value culture for what it is. | Conference in Scotland, we are seeing world class art, writing and performance being produced. Time and time again I am told from abroad we really value culture for what it is. |
| I have worked hard to protect our cultural institutions and front line grants despite cuts that are too deep and too quick from Westminster. Where the Arts Council in England has seen cuts of 30% Scotland we have sought to protect culture. | I have worked hard to protect our cultural institutions and front line grants despite cuts that are too deep and too quick from Westminster. Where the Arts Council in England has seen cuts of 30% Scotland we have sought to protect culture. |
| We believe in public subsidy of art and artists because we believe that self-expression of the nation needs self-expression of its peoples. The experience of one of us can speak to all, and to an audience across the globe. | We believe in public subsidy of art and artists because we believe that self-expression of the nation needs self-expression of its peoples. The experience of one of us can speak to all, and to an audience across the globe. |
| 10.21am: Here's a round-up of some of the reaction to yesterday's Nato vote at the conference. | 10.21am: Here's a round-up of some of the reaction to yesterday's Nato vote at the conference. |
| • The Herald in its leader says that the Nato vote was a victory for the SNP leadership but that the nation must now judge how credible the SNP's defence policy is. | • The Herald in its leader says that the Nato vote was a victory for the SNP leadership but that the nation must now judge how credible the SNP's defence policy is. |
| Then there is the question of how feasible the party's new position on Nato actually is. Many delegates yesterday voiced their worries over this point. Nato membership would make it harder for an independent Scotland to rid itself of nuclear weapons, warned MSP Jamie Hepburn. | Then there is the question of how feasible the party's new position on Nato actually is. Many delegates yesterday voiced their worries over this point. Nato membership would make it harder for an independent Scotland to rid itself of nuclear weapons, warned MSP Jamie Hepburn. |
| German newspaper reports last month suggested that Nato had forced Germany to drop its aspiration to bring about the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from its soil. Would any negotiation on the point even be possible? The assumption that it would, some opponents believe, is simply "policy by assertion". The pro-Union Better Together campaign, which was surely disappointed by yesterday's vote, will seek to exploit such doubts. | German newspaper reports last month suggested that Nato had forced Germany to drop its aspiration to bring about the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from its soil. Would any negotiation on the point even be possible? The assumption that it would, some opponents believe, is simply "policy by assertion". The pro-Union Better Together campaign, which was surely disappointed by yesterday's vote, will seek to exploit such doubts. |
| • The Scotsman in its leader says the vote represented a major shift in policy. | • The Scotsman in its leader says the vote represented a major shift in policy. |
| Opponents, doubtless, will point to the narrowness of the majority and claim nationalists are divided, or to the caveats in the wording eventually approved to contend that the party's new stance is riddled with hypocrisy. But there is little doubt that yesterday's vote represented a major shift in policy. Moreover, it was achieved in an old-fashioned political way. | Opponents, doubtless, will point to the narrowness of the majority and claim nationalists are divided, or to the caveats in the wording eventually approved to contend that the party's new stance is riddled with hypocrisy. But there is little doubt that yesterday's vote represented a major shift in policy. Moreover, it was achieved in an old-fashioned political way. |
| • Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald says those opposed to the SNP changing its policy on Nato have indicated that they will accept the result of yesterday's vote. | • Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald says those opposed to the SNP changing its policy on Nato have indicated that they will accept the result of yesterday's vote. |
| [Christina McKelvie MSP] later said the vote would be respected and that no further action was expected from opponents to Nato membership. She added: "Democracy was the winner today. Now we can put this behind us and focus on winning Yes votes." | [Christina McKelvie MSP] later said the vote would be respected and that no further action was expected from opponents to Nato membership. She added: "Democracy was the winner today. Now we can put this behind us and focus on winning Yes votes." |
| • Alan Cochrane in the Daily Telegraph says the SNP's defence policy is now marked by "hopeless incongruity". | • Alan Cochrane in the Daily Telegraph says the SNP's defence policy is now marked by "hopeless incongruity". |
| They've said that as Scotland is currently, through the United Kingdom, a member of Nato it should, as an independent country, continue to be a member. However, in seeking to be so, its negotiators – step forward the aforesaid Alex Salmond – would tell the alliance's bigwigs that they'd only continue as a member "subject to an agreement that Scotland will not host nuclear weapons". | They've said that as Scotland is currently, through the United Kingdom, a member of Nato it should, as an independent country, continue to be a member. However, in seeking to be so, its negotiators – step forward the aforesaid Alex Salmond – would tell the alliance's bigwigs that they'd only continue as a member "subject to an agreement that Scotland will not host nuclear weapons". |
| It's called "conditionality" but it's actually a virtual negation of what Nato is all about; it is a nuclear alliance and its members accept as part of joining that they enjoy the shelter of what's always been called the "nuclear umbrella". | It's called "conditionality" but it's actually a virtual negation of what Nato is all about; it is a nuclear alliance and its members accept as part of joining that they enjoy the shelter of what's always been called the "nuclear umbrella". |
| • Andrew Nicoll in the Scottish Sun says yesterday's vote makes the SNP look "a lot more credible". | • Andrew Nicoll in the Scottish Sun says yesterday's vote makes the SNP look "a lot more credible". |
| After all, yesterday's conference was packed with diplomatic observers from embassies around the world, watching to see where Scotland is heading. | After all, yesterday's conference was packed with diplomatic observers from embassies around the world, watching to see where Scotland is heading. |
| They will be reporting back today having seen a mature party of government in action, a party prepared to lead Scotland to its place on the world stage. | They will be reporting back today having seen a mature party of government in action, a party prepared to lead Scotland to its place on the world stage. |
| • Terry Kelly, a Labour councillor, says on his blog that the Nato vote marks a defeat for SNP traditionalists. | • Terry Kelly, a Labour councillor, says on his blog that the Nato vote marks a defeat for SNP traditionalists. |
| The vote was very close, close enough in fact to stir talk of mutiny and schisms in most other parties but alas this is the SNP and the truth is that the true nationalists, the genuine independence fighters, have been dying the death of a thousand cuts for 10/15 years now. Today was their last hurrah, they will hang about for some time to come and we will hear the sporadic death rattle but nothing more. | The vote was very close, close enough in fact to stir talk of mutiny and schisms in most other parties but alas this is the SNP and the truth is that the true nationalists, the genuine independence fighters, have been dying the death of a thousand cuts for 10/15 years now. Today was their last hurrah, they will hang about for some time to come and we will hear the sporadic death rattle but nothing more. |
| Many old timers in the hall and sprinkled around the country will have had tears in their eyes as they stood looking at the triumphant platform and they could not miss surely that the platform was smirking at them. | Many old timers in the hall and sprinkled around the country will have had tears in their eyes as they stood looking at the triumphant platform and they could not miss surely that the platform was smirking at them. |
| 9.30am: It's the day of the leader's speech. I'm in the press room in the concert hall in Perth where Alex Salmond's, Scotland's first minister, will be addressing the SNP this afternoon. It should be the highlight of the four-day conference, but Salmond will be hard pressed to produce anything as dramatic as yesterday's debate on Nato membership, which culminated in a narrow but significant victory for Salmond and the SNP leadership, who have persuaded the party to drop its historic opposition to an independent Scotland belonging to Nato. | 9.30am: It's the day of the leader's speech. I'm in the press room in the concert hall in Perth where Alex Salmond's, Scotland's first minister, will be addressing the SNP this afternoon. It should be the highlight of the four-day conference, but Salmond will be hard pressed to produce anything as dramatic as yesterday's debate on Nato membership, which culminated in a narrow but significant victory for Salmond and the SNP leadership, who have persuaded the party to drop its historic opposition to an independent Scotland belonging to Nato. |
| I will round up more reaction to yesterday's vote shortly. | I will round up more reaction to yesterday's vote shortly. |
| This morning there are two developments worth noting. | This morning there are two developments worth noting. |
| • Salmond has said that independence would allow the Scots to create "a more prosperous and a more just society". Normally at party conferences extracts from the leader's speech are released in advance. The SNP have done this, but they've only given us two sentences. | • Salmond has said that independence would allow the Scots to create "a more prosperous and a more just society". Normally at party conferences extracts from the leader's speech are released in advance. The SNP have done this, but they've only given us two sentences. |
| Our cause is not and never has been just about a constitutional objective. It is about using the powers of an independent Scotland to create a more prosperous economy and a more just society. | Our cause is not and never has been just about a constitutional objective. It is about using the powers of an independent Scotland to create a more prosperous economy and a more just society. |
| • Better Together, the pro union campaign, has released a poll suggesting that only 16% of Scots "strongly" favour independence. Responding to the poll, the SNP said that it also showed that more than a quarter of Labour voters and nearly a third of Lib Dem voters support an independent Scotland and that support for a yes vote had risen by 3% in under two weeks. | • Better Together, the pro union campaign, has released a poll suggesting that only 16% of Scots "strongly" favour independence. Responding to the poll, the SNP said that it also showed that more than a quarter of Labour voters and nearly a third of Lib Dem voters support an independent Scotland and that support for a yes vote had risen by 3% in under two weeks. |
| Here's the agenda for the day. 10am: Conference opens. There are debates on welfare, including a call for people to receive "full pension and benefit payments" when Scotland becomes independent, on the NHS and on development trusts. | Here's the agenda for the day. 10am: Conference opens. There are debates on welfare, including a call for people to receive "full pension and benefit payments" when Scotland becomes independent, on the NHS and on development trusts. |
| 10.30am: Speech by Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish culture secretary. | 10.30am: Speech by Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish culture secretary. |
| 11.25am: The president's prize, presented by Ian Hudghton MEP | 11.25am: The president's prize, presented by Ian Hudghton MEP |
| 11.35am: Fraternal address from Plaid Cymru. | 11.35am: Fraternal address from Plaid Cymru. |
| 11.45am: Speech by Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland. | 11.45am: Speech by Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland. |
| 2pm: Further debates. Resolutions being discussed this afternoon include international development, inequality, pensions, workfare and housing. | 2pm: Further debates. Resolutions being discussed this afternoon include international development, inequality, pensions, workfare and housing. |
| 3pm: Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, speaks. | 3pm: Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, speaks. |
| I'll post a summary at lunchtime and another after Salmond has fininshed. | I'll post a summary at lunchtime and another after Salmond has fininshed. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |