Gillian MacKay to appear at SNP conference
>SENIOR figures from across Scotland's independence movement will take centre stage at this year's SNP conference, with a cross-party panel event taking place.
The panel will feature Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay, businessman and Believe in Scotland (BIS) founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, and former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, marking a rare occasion where a representative from another political party has been invited to speak at a major independence-focused event at an SNP conference.
Traditionally, the SNP have not shared the conference stage with the Greens when discussing Scotland's constitutional future, although representatives from Wales' pro-independence party Plaid Cymru have previously appeared at party gatherings.
Despite disagreements between the parties on a number of issues and the collapse of the SNP-Green Bute House Agreement in 2024, both continue to back Scottish independence.
BIS and the SNP signed a memorandum of understanding in 2025 which outlined how they would work together to strengthen the independence movement.
BIS, the leading campaign organisation consisting of 143 local and national Yes groups, regularly runs billboard and social media marketing campaigns alongside days of action across Scotland with targeted leaflets.
Announcing the event, SNP depute leader Keith Brown told The National: “The SNP is the party of independence, but like all major political movements, our cause is beyond any single person or party."
Just as the cause of self-determination has been extended across three nations of the UK, ideas come from every corner of our country and it is right we bring together a variety of voices to chart our journey forward.
"Gillian, Gordon and Tommy bring a wealth of ideas and experiences to our movement and getting on the stage in front of SNP delegates is what we are all about – let’s get some ideas on the table, let's rebuild the political cooperation that characterised 2014 and let's get cracking."
He added: "We may all have different visions, even be from different political parties, but we are unified in our belief in Scottish independence. That is what has always been the cornerstone of the independence movement."
The wind is blowing in our favour and now is the time press our case and ensure our future back home in the EU as an independent country.”
The event comes as party leadership face discontent from members over their strategy for independence going forward, and how they have managed debate leading up the conference.
An SNP pressure group set up to push the party to “reprioritise its core mission” of Scottish independence will hold its first event during the party’s conference.
The group, named Independence, will formally launch later this month with a fringe event titled “Building a sustained majority for independence” on the opening evening of SNP conference.
Billed as an evening of “ideas, strategy and conversation”, that event will focus on how the party can advance the case for independence and “build urgency” around the issue.