THE SNP'S conference committee has voted down a bid for debate on how to advance independence at the forthcoming event.
More than 50 branches, as well as the party's largest affiliate body – had called on the party to consider an updated strategy on how to secure independence, outlined in an amendment drafted by former policy development convener Toni Giugliano.
The strategy included building consensus on a route to independence, increasing support via a national campaign, using the next General Election as a defining vote on Scotland's "right to choose" and creating an "independence delivery unit" to find solutions to the big questions about the transition away from the Union.
The Conferences Committee (CC) decided on Sunday which amendments and motions would be carried forward to the party conference next month.
After discussion lasting over an hour, the CC was split on the amendment, voting six for and six against, with national secretary Alex Kerr casting the deciding vote. It was ultimately rejected.
Instead, it is understood the party will move forward with two "vanilla" motions on independence. One of these calls for the appointment of an Independence Commission to "update and renew the prospectus for Scottish independence along the lines of the Scotland's Future booklet produced before the independence referendum".
Another motion from the Young Scots for Independence (YSI) calls on the party to develop resources answering the public's big questions on independence. It does not specify what these resources should be.
It is understood that Kerr and SNP depute leader Keith Brown "crushed" the amendment attempting to make substantive progress on independence strategy, with anger among senior figures over media coverage "pressuring" them to take action.
An insider told The National: "They've totally lost the plot. Keith and Alex Kerr crushed the motion because they didn't like being pressured by branches and affiliates. They have single handedly caused division within the party by not even publishing the amendment.
"If Alex and Keith are so convinced by their argument they should have the guts to argue against the amendment on the conference floor. Instead they chose to silence 50 branches and affiliates. Their inability to read the room is astounding."
One person in a separate National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Saturday reported that senior members felt a public campaign wouldn't change their position.
The National also understands that the First Minister was furious with leaks to the media over the lack of progress on strategy during the heated NEC meeting.
One source speculated that the adoption of a new strategy could be interpreted as an admission of failure on the party's recent proposal, which set an SNP majority as the mandate for indyref2 to be held. The party did not secure a majority at the May election, but the Parliament does now have its largest ever majority of pro-independence MSPs.
SNP conference delegates will be sent motions and amendments on Monday, and asked to rank them. The Conferences Committee will meet again on Wednesday for a final decision, with the full agenda set to be published on Thursday.
“It’s not too late," one SNP insider said. "They can unite the party ahead of conference and publish the amendment.”
A spokesperson for the SNP said independence will be key to the upcoming event.
“Independence will be central to our conference in Aberdeen with the draft agenda for SNP conference decided democratically by the conferences committee and the final agenda voted on by delegates," they said.
“Last week we had the historic Cardiff Agreement, we have a vote on Tuesday on Scotland’s Right to Decide and with a record number of pro-independence MSPs, we are in a very strong position to secure our constitutional future as an independent country in the EU.
"The SNP is the party of independence and the First Minister has been clear that he intends to hold a referendum within the next five years."
