Humza Yousaf leads first SNP conference in Aberdeen since becoming Scotland's First Minister

Humza Yousaf is heading to Aberdeen as he leads his first national SNP conference since becoming party leader in March.

The First Minister will join thousands of SNP members at the Event Complex on Sunday for the three-day event.

The 89th annual conference will see votes on the SNP’s independence strategy going into the UK general election – expected sometime next year – while a review into transparency and governance will also be published.

SNP members will vote on the party's strategy for independence. — SNP members will vote on the party’s strategy for independence. Getty Images

It comes after the SNP lost the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election and follows conferences by Labour and the Conservatives.

During the event, members will vote on a number of resolutions including marine protections, nationalising the energy industry, improving services for disabled people and those in care as well as the dualling of the A9 and A96.

What’s happening on Sunday?

Deputy Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will deliver a welcome speech at 10.30am before resolutions are put before party members.

The conference will vote on whether to press ahead with Humza Yousaf’s independence strategy.

Signed by the First Minister and Flynn, it says the Scottish Government would immediately begin independence negotiations with the UK Government in the event that the SNP wins the most seats at the next general election.

According to the motion, the party would then publish a paper titled “Withdrawal from Westminster – a New Partnership Agreement” detailing the Scottish Government’s terms for independence negotiations.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will kick off the party's 89th annual conference. — SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will kick off the party’s 89th annual conference. Getty Images

That would go alongside a draft legal text on the transfer of powers from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament necessary to prepare for independence.

The Scottish Government would then ”conduct a nationwide consultation on a draft interim constitution, which would be the founding document of an independent Scotland” and prepare to rejoin the EU.

An amendment by veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart calls for the party to replace “most seats” with “the majority of the vote”.

The deputy first minister will give a speech at 4pm before the party publishes its governance and transparency review.

The SNP’s ruling body has ordered the review into the way the party is managed in April following the Police Scotland investigation into its finances.

What’s happening on Monday?

Monday will hear from the party’s deputy leader Keith Brown who will give a speech at 2pm.

Members will vote on a number of resolutions, including making marine protection zones more community-focused, creating a “rural new entrant’s fund” for youngsters to access housing and better monitoring of the country’s wastewater.

An internal party motion will see an amendment to the code of conduct for members on the sharing of disinformation and the use of AI for officials.

A motion on rural and island connectivity, which calls for the creation of a dedicated Scottish parliament committee and the potential of further devolution on transport for councils, will also be lodged.

What’s happening on Tuesday?

Tuesday will kick off with a resolution to improve support for disabled people and those in the care system.

It calls for a review into social care in Scotland with an aim to improve pay for staff and deliver better standards for the people who use the service.

Meanwhile, MSP Gillian Martin and councillor Louise McAllister have put forward a motion that states: “Children with a profound disability with the potential to impact their education in later years, but who have reached the age of five by the beginning of the school year, should all be considered for, and supported to remain, in early years for one additional funded year of access.

“Conference recommends further that all Scottish councils should allow for children with a profound disability, to have the choice of one additional funded year in pre-school education.”