Angus Robertson wins depute leadership election by large margin
ANGUS ROBERTSON has told the SNP’s 2016 conference that the country is “very close to independence” as he accepted the depute leadership of the party by a large margin.
Robertson significantly outstripped his rivals for the post, with 53 per cent of the vote. Tommy Sheppard MP, his main contender on the left of the party, won 25.53 per cent, MEP Alyn Smith won 18.6 per cent, and councillor Chris McEleny won 3.38 per cent.
Speaking to the SNP conference in the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow, Robertson said that his campaign that was “about leadership, about grassroots and about independence” and that the party should begin campaigning again for Scottish independence.
He said: “We are very, very close to independence. We must start campaigning right now.”
“We are very, very close to independence. We must start campaigning right now.” Angus Robertson, SNP Depute leader
The MP for Moray also said that it was important that both urban and rural Scotland were represented by the party.
“We are the Scottish national party the clue is in the name, we represent the whole of the country,” he said.
“We should never forget that,” he added.
He said he would reach out to the other candidates and work to integrate some of the ideas they put forward in the campaign, including the greater internal and campaigning organisation advocated by Sheppard, the focus on council elections represented by Mceleny, and the importance of the EU argued for by Smith.
Welcoming Robertson’s victory, party leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “You will be an outstanding depute leader, I like forward to working with you.”
CommonSpace will have extensive coverage over the three days of the conference, from 13-15 October.
Picture: CommonSpace
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