Thread by @theSNP

📺 Watch @AngusRobertson's speech to the #SNP22 conference.

👉🏼 Follow the updates live on this thread, or on snp.org/live.

AR: "Good morning to SNP Conference delegates, observers and viewers, both domestic and internationally.

Its a pleasure and an honour to be able to speak to you this morning about the preparations towards independence, which are being made by the Scottish Government." #SNP22

AR: "Last year, the issue of a Scottish independence referendum was decided by the electorate in the Scottish Parliament elections.

A record majority of MSPs were returned to Holyrood, elected with a mandate that a referendum should be held." #SNP22

AR: "In the highest ever vote for any party since the beginning of devolution, SNP MSP’s were elected on a manifesto which said the following:

A vote for the SNP at this election is a vote in favour of the people of Scotland having the right to decide our own future." #SNP22

AR: "The people best able to decide how Scotland is governed are the people who live here.

Based on these principles we believe the people of Scotland should have the opportunity in a referendum when the Covid crisis is over to decide Scotland's future." #SNP22

AR: "That clear and unambiguous manifesto pledge was followed by SNP victories in 62 out of 73 Scottish constituencies, including the SNP gain of Edinburgh Central from the Tories, the seat previously held by Conservative leader Ruth Davidson." #SNP22

AR: "The Tories, Labour and Lib Dems who opposed a referendum were soundly beaten in the overwhelming majority of contests." #SNP22

AR: "As we have emerged from the Covid crisis, so have the preparations for the independence referendum been stepped up.

Together with Scottish Government colleagues we are making the necessary legislative, organisational and policy preparations for the referendum." #SNP22

AR: "An important part of that work is the prospectus papers that will help inform the national debate in the run-up to the referendum." #SNP22

AR: "'Building A New Scotland' is the name of the series, and already we have seen the publication of the first two papers:

“Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why not Scotland” is the first scene-setting document." #SNP22

AR: "What do the facts show? That our similarly-sized neighbouring and comparator nations are:

Wealthier, some much wealthier, than we are as part of the UK, they have maintained the wealth gap with the UK over time..." #SNP22

AR: "Income inequality is lower in our neighbouring countries, poverty rates are lower, fewer children and pensioners live in poverty, they have higher social mobility, they have a smaller gender pay gap, they have higher productivity than the UK..." #SNP22

AR: "They have higher spending on research and development and they have higher business investment.

If you have not yet read this study then you can access it on the Scottish Government’s website at gov.scot." #SNP22

AR: "The SNP has also produced excellent supporting campaign material, and a big thank you to all of you who have already been out on the doorsteps.

SNP President Mike Russell will be on shortly to talk about what we will be doing next on the party campaigning front." #SNP22

AR: "The second paper in the prospectus series is “Renewing Democracy through Independence”.

The paper shows how significant decisions made at Westminster recently on Brexit, energy, social security and immigration are having detrimental effects on Scotland." #SNP22

AR: "There are no constitutional safeguards for the Scottish Parliament or democratic mechanisms that can be exercised by the people of Scotland to prevent these or further damaging decisions." #SNP22

AR: "Indeed, the intention of the current UK Government to pass legislation in breach of international law even calls into question its willingness to respect the democratic, rules-based, international order." #SNP22

AR: "Pledges of more devolution – even if the intention to deliver was in any way credible – would not resolve the democratic deficit because ultimate power would be retained by Westminster." #SNP22

AR: "In the near future the Scottish Government will be publishing new papers on the economy, on Scotland and the European Union, and on a range of important issues which will inform the debate ahead of the referendum." #SNP22

AR: "In addition to the policy and legislative preparations for the referendum, the Scottish Government is also doing the groundwork for what follows after a “YES” vote." #SNP22

AR: "As you might imagine I am asked a lot by domestic and international decision-makers about Scotland rejoining the European Union and wider international community." #SNP22

AR: "I am delighted to be able to report an unprecedented level of empathy and understanding for Scotland’s predicament, having voted to remain in the EU, but taken out against our democratic wishes." #SNP22

AR: "We're doing everything that we can to hold a legal and agreed referendum on Thursday 19th October 2023, which is why we have taken legal steps to be able to do so. We know from 2014 there is no impediment to holding a democratic vote if the UK Gov respects democracy." #SNP22

AR: "Either way we will be using the democratic means at our disposal so the people of Scotland can have their say. It is hugely important that we share the facts with the electorate in the months ahead." #SNP22

AR: "The Scottish Government prospectus series is key to people understanding the opportunities of independence, how it will happen, and the positive difference it will make to us all in this country." #SNP22