SNP conference has voted to back the reintroduction of a policy-making forum in the party which was scrapped three years ago.
Delegates backed a resolution to re-instate the National Council amid concerns members' influence had been reduced since the body was axed in 2018 and replaced by regional assemblies.
The internal motion, put forward by the party's Eastwood branch, was debated in a members' only session this afternoon.
"Conference notes and welcomes the publication of the final report of the Governance Review Group, which seeks to improve transparency, participation, and democratic accountability within the SNP," it said.
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"However, conference believes that further improvements are needed to give members as many opportunities as possible to formulate policy and question elected representatives."
It added: "Conference further believes that the abolition of National Council in 2018 has reduced opportunities for policy-making and scrutiny which have not been adequately replaced by regional assemblies.
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"Conference calls on the NEC to bring forward constitutional amendments to restore National Council as a forum for policy-making and scrutiny, as part of its package of amendments proposed in the Final Report of the Governance Review Group."
Writing on Twitter after the debate activist Toni Giugliano, who is standing for the role of policy development convener in the party's internal elections which are currently underway, welcomed the vote.
He tweeted: "SNP conference votes to restore National Council #SNP21 Well done @EastwoodSNP - this will strengthen our internal democracy."
Fellow activist Gavin Lundy tweeted: "My hot take is that National Council should come back but should be on an online twice-a-year basis alongside two Conferences held mostly in person."
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