SNP At First Conference Since Win

SNP At First Conference Since Win
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Scottish National Party leaders will set out the "next steps in Scotland's journey" at the party's annual conference.

The SNP said the four-day gathering in Inverness will be its largest-ever, with about 2,000 party members and visitors expected to attend.

The event is the Nationalists' first conference since they won an overall majority at Holyrood.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said they would take the opportunity to thank voters who backed them in May's election. Ms Sturgeon, also SNP depute leader, said the party now had "a historic mandate from the people of Scotland, and real momentum".

She added that there was increasing interest in the SNP from abroad, with diplomats from countries such as Denmark, Germany, Austria and Japan expected to join SNP elected politicians and activists at the conference.

Ms Sturgeon said: "With representatives from over 20 countries heading to Inverness, international interest is growing in Scotland's Government and Scotland's future."

She said in government the Nationalists had "shown that we can govern well, and in the interests of the whole nation".

She highlighted the Scottish Government's Plan MacB economic strategy which she said had "lower unemployment and higher employment rates than the position across the UK as a whole".

Ms Sturgeon continued: "With a majority SNP Government, Scotland is taking a positive and confident path as a nation. The political map was redrawn in May, and this conference is our opportunity to thank those who gave us their trust and to set out the next steps in Scotland's journey."

The conference comes days after a poll found that support for independence had risen strongly.