Resolution will lead to crunch conference debate

Published on 08/08/2012 01:40

THE SNP conference in Perth between 18-21 October will debate a resolution calling for the party to scrap its opposition to Nato membership from senior nationalist MPs Angus Robertson and Angus MacNeil.

However, before the crunch debate on membership of the defence pact begins, delegates to the conference will have to decide which amendment to the resolution is taken in the event that more than one amendment is put down.

If more than one amendment is submitted there will be a vote among delegates on which one will go up against the main resolution from Mr Robertson.

Mr Robertson and Mr MacNeil will then be asked by the conference chair to move and second the all important resolution on reversing the SNP’s fourdecades-long opposition to Nato membership.

The supporters of the rebel amendment, that seeks to maintain the opposition to Nato, will then be asked to second their motions.

What follows is likely to be a debate of up to two hours, with SNP heavyweights likely to intervene on either side.

The two sides will then be asked to sum up at the end of the debate, before the amendment and motion are put to the vote – that is likely to give delegates the clear option of striking out the section of Mr Robertson’s resolution affirming that an independent Scotland would remain in Nato.

Those voting will be delegates from local SNP parties and other affiliated organisations. The conference chair will initially ask for a show of hands with delegates asked to held up their conference voting card.

However, if there is a challenge from the conference floor that the result of the vote looks very close, then a card vote can be requested. That would see the conference hall doors closed, while appointed tellers collect voting cards from delegates before the results are announced.