A senior SNP councillor has slated party officials for shutting down debate on the new independence blueprint at this autumn’s conference.
Chris McEleny, who was one of the candidates to be Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy, said he finds it “absolutely astonishing” that organisers did not back any motions on the Growth Commission study or Scotland’s currency options.
The party meets for conference in Glasgow in October, more than four months after the 354-page masterplan for an independent Scotland was published.
Mr McEleny, who leads the SNP group on Inverclyde Council, tweeted: “I must say I find it absolutely astonishing that with 32 motions making a ‘long list’ for the SNP conference, not a single one on the Growth Commission or currency made the cut.
“How can we not be debating the biggest contribution to the independence case since 2014?”
Mr McEleny said he knew of at least two motions submitted for debate on those topics.
Must say I find it absolutely astonishing that with 32 motions making a “long list” for @theSNP conference, not a single one on the growth commission or currency made the cut.
How can we not be debating the biggest contribution to the independence case since 2014?
— ???????CHRISTOPHER McEleny??????? (@SNPChris) August 14, 2018
The SNP said the findings of three national assemblies on the Growth Commission, which are being held in Ayr, Aviemore and Edinburgh over the next few weeks, will feed into discussions at subsequent party gatherings.
A party spokesman said: “The conclusions will form the basis of policy resolutions to be presented to national council in December or our spring conference in 2019.”
