A UKRAINIAN MP will address the SNP ’s annual conference in a “significant moment” aimed at showing solidarity with the country after the illegal invasion by Russia.
Lesia Vasylenko will speak on the first day of the three-day event, which is taking place in Aberdeen next month, and it is hoped she will be able to attend in person.
Meanwhile, it has been pledged that the cost of living crisis will be at the “front and centre” of the SNP’s conference, which will also debate topics ranging from raising the school starting age and buffer zones for abortion clinics to building the independence movement and adopting a code of conduct for Yes campaigners.
The agenda for the conference, which was published last week, shows the speakers on the first day – Saturday, October 8 – will include the party’s depute leader Keith Brown, Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Vasylenko, a people’s deputy of Ukraine.
SNP MP Stewart McDonald said: “Hearing from Lesia Vasylenko will be a significant moment at our conference and an opportunity to show our solidarity with Ukraine.
“As Russia’s illegal invasion continues, it is important we hear the voices of Ukrainians to ensure they are kept at the heart of our response to this humanitarian crisis.”
The following day, delegates will hear from Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson, SNP president Michael Russell and Deputy First Minister John Swinney, with a “fraternal address” from Plaid Cymru.
On the final day, Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shona Robison, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf will be speaking, before the conference is closed with an address from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
There will also be debates on topics including consulting with communities about the proposed reopening of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link, improving community bus services, rail links to Fraserburgh and Peterhead, pensions and greater investment in renewable energy.
SNP policy development convener Toni Giugliano said there would also be a topical resolution on the cost of living crisis, which was particularly important in the wake of the mini-Budget published by the UK Government on Friday.
“The cost of living will be the single biggest issue facing the country, and we have just seen the Tories imposing more debt on the whole country by giving tax cuts to millionaires,” he said.
“The cost of living will be front and centre of this conference, and there will be a topical resolution which will focus on that.”
Giugliano described it as the “most grassroots conference agenda” in years, adding: “I am delighted that the voice of the grassroots has been heard both in the conference committee and in the delegates’ choice stage, where delegates voted for the resolutions they wanted to see at the conference.”
