The SNP’s biggest ever conference will open in Aberdeen today.
As many as 5,000 people are expected to attend the event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre over the next three days, pumping almost £5million into the city’s economy.
Today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will open the conference with a speech calling for the party to prepare itself for the Scottish elections next year.
She is expected to say: “Next May, we are determined to win a historic third term as Scotland’s government.
“Today, I am putting this party firmly on election footing.
“Over these next few days, we will begin to set out our claim to lead Scotland confidently into the next decade.”
The prospect of a second independence referendum is expected to dominate behind-the-scenes discussions, but Ms Sturgeon hopes to use the event to discuss a wide-range of issues.
“There will, understandably, be significant interest in what our manifesto will say about independence,” she is expected to tell the crowd.
“But… what matters just as much to me and to people across the country will be what it says about jobs and the economy, the safety of our communities, our hospitals and health centres, our schools, colleges and universities and our plans to use new powers to tackle poverty and inequality.”
A total of 3,500 delegates will join the conference, while around 1,000 observers and exhibitors have also registered to attend.
Graeme Cumming, interim managing director of AECC, said: “We look forward to welcoming the SNP annual national conference to AECC, it’s great to see them back at the venue.
“The diversity of conferences coming to the region and the wider appeal of Aberdeen and AECC is shown with numerous association conferences confirmed for coming years, and in turn this has helped to increase the AECC ICCA (International
Congress and Convention Association) ranking within the UK and worldwide.”
Susan Ruddick, corporate development anager for the SNP, added: “The SNP has grown considerably in the past year and
it is great that the AECC is able to accommodate a larger, more vibrant conference.
“We’re delighted to be back and look forward to a successful conference, bringing more than £4.6million to the local economy.”