By Scott Macnab, Political Reporter, Press Association Scotland
Scotland needs independence to best deal with the impact of the looming
cuts in public spending, the SNP's annual conference heard today.
But none of the nine speakers who addressed delegates in a debate on the
issue in Perth raised the Nationalist Government's recent decision to
shelve legislation on an independence referendum at Holyrood.
Graeme McCormick of the Helensburgh branch told delegates: "Our Scottish
Government has made an outstanding job of managing Scotland's devolution
settlement.
"With Westminster cuts, now is the time to manage our way to
independence."
He added: "Let's reject the dead hand of unionism - its no generation
and economic stagnation - and show the Scottish people that independence
is opportunity in advance."
Angus Robertson, the SNP's campaign manager for next year's election and
MP for Moray, said the party is now "firing the starting gun" for the
election campaign.
He said: "We are going into this election campaign in good heart,
because we know Scotland does need an SNP Government, does need Alex
Salmond for First Minister and we do need independence."
Renfrewshire Council leader Derek Mackay, who is standing for election
next year in the new Renfrewshire North and West seat, called for more
control of North Sea oil and gas revenues.
"Scotland will take our fair share of the cuts when we have our fair
share of Scottish resources in this country," he said.
"With the powers we have we've done so well, but we ask the people of
Scotland, give us the tools to do the job and we can deliver so, so much
more."
A resolution backing the SNP's achievements in office and stating that
the party's re-election next year is the best way to achieve
independence was unanimously backed by delegates.
end
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