Scottish National Party conference 2019 underway in Aberdeen as support for independence grows

The Scottish National Party (SNP; Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba) conference 2019 is underway in Aberdeen (Obar Dheathain). Taking place between the 13th - 19th October it comes at a time when a new opinion poll finds support for Scottish independence has risen to 50%. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party has made it clear she wants to hold a new Scottish referendum on independence in the second half of 2020. However, the current UK government has repeatedly refused to countenance allowing a new independence vote.

A new United Kingdom General Election appears inevitable in coming weeks. Should an election not produce a clear winner, and with SNP MPs currently the third-largest group in the British Parliament. Scotland's First Minister has said that SNP support for a new incoming government would be contingent on the new prime minister agreeing to an independence referendum. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme today Nicola Sturgeon said:  "We would favour a progressive-type alliance, but I would say this to Jeremy Corbyn or any Westminster leader who's looking to the SNP for support - if you don't accept Scotland's right to choose our own future, at the time of our own choosing, don't even bother picking up the phone to me."