A VOTE on resolutions excluded from the SNP conference including a Plan B route to indyref2 and the development of a Scottish pound will take place at an “alternative” event being held today.
The online meeting has been organised by the Scottish Currency Group to discuss issues which did not make it to the agenda of this weekend’s SNP conference.
A panel discussion will be held on setting up a central bank for Scotland and other economic issues, featuring tax reform campaigner Professor Richard Murphy, Kairin van Sweeden, convener of Modern Money Scotland, and Dr Craig Dalzell from Common Weal.
It will be followed by a vote on a resolution put forward by the Dalkeith SNP branch on legislating for the creation of a Scottish Reserve Bank headquartered in Edinburgh, to introduce a Scottish currency as soon as practicable after independence.
Angus MacNeil MP and Councillor Chris McEleny, the architects of Plan B, will also speak about their proposal for an alternative route to independence. Their suggestion of setting up a working group to consider all democratic and legitimate routes to independence and make recommendations on party strategy was rejected for debate at the SNP conference.
Instead a resolution on independence will be discussed today which backs the setting up of a National Assembly to discuss a way forward should the UK Government continue to refuse a Sector 30 order.
However attendees at the alternative Scottish Currency Group event will be able to have their say and vote on the Plan B proposal.
Other resolutions excluded from the agenda which will be discussed and voted on include the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland and the licensing of grouse moors.
Dr Tim Rideout, convener of the Scottish Currency Group, who was behind the resolution on the Scottish Reserve Bank, will take part in the event which around 200 people had signed up to by yesterday lunchtime.
He said: “It seems to me the six resolutions the SNP do have at conference are basically waffle and don’t really commit anyone to anything.
“We have never had a conference where there weren’t resolutions and amendments from branches, it is completely unprecedented and unconstitutional really.”
He added: “My particular interest is in the currency and economy, that is why I have put together the panel discussion on the central bank.
“It will be open to questions and people can talk about wider issues like whether we should take a share of the national debt, whether the Scottish Government is going to run a deficit and what is going to happen with pensions and issues like that.”
The format of this year’s conference has provoked controversy as instead of motions from branches or individuals, six lengthy composite resolutions have been drawn up.
While the party has suggested this has been done to help the organisation of the event, which is being held online due to Covid, concerns have been raised that it will stifle debate.
Writing in the Sunday National last week, MP Tommy Sheppard said having themed positions based on a composite of motions should only be in place for as long as the pandemic prevented meeting in person.
He said there was a need to ensure fair and open debate was not “strangled out” of the SNP.
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