THE SNP have dodged calls by Alba for an independence convention to take place this summer.
Alba's sole MSP Ash Regan has called for a convention to be held a year out from the Holyrood elections, insisting that “energy” needs to be rebuilt if independence is to be a “realistic proposition” to voters.
SNP depute leader Keith Brown told the party's conference last year that they would back an independence convention including “all democratically elected representatives” from Yes-supporting parties.
Delivering a speech, Brown said: “In 2026, the people of Scotland must know that supporting the SNP, or those standing on our shared platform, means endorsing the right of our party to advocate for independence.
“It means backing a ‘convention’ of all democratically elected representatives – in the Scottish Parliament, at Westminster, in our councils – who support Scotland’s right to choose."
“This convention will unite with every willing element of civic Scotland, committed to the principle of self-determination."
But the SNP refused to say whether it would take part in the convention proposed by Alba.
"We are focussed on delivering for people across the country and making the case for taking decisions in Scotland for Scotland with independence."
The Scottish Greens did not respond to a request for comment.
Regan said that if a convention were to be held, inviting MPs and representatives of civic Scotland, then “the attention of the people would be put back on the benefits of Scotland becoming an independent country.”
She said she is calling on First Minister John Swinney to support a convention "without delay".
She said: “The right of Scotland’s people to determine their constitutional future is theirs and theirs alone. We are close to only one year out from the Scottish elections but, for too many independence is drifting into becoming an abstract concept.
"An independence convention would bring energy back to the movement and allow for the constitutional imperative of independence to be reconnected to the economic necessity of delivering it as an immediate priority.
“It is time for the Scottish Government and Holyrood seize the political initiative on independence. An independence convention should be called this summer.
“The Scottish Government must signal that they are serious about taking Scotland forward to independence and bringing together representatives of civic society and Scotland’s parliamentarians is the way to show intent."
“We can break the constitutional logjam by convening a Scottish independence convention to determine the way forward, decide the strategy and unite behind it."
