Remitting Back

A "remit back" is long standing procedural device used at SNP Conferences and National Councils which allows delegates not to reject a motion but to send it back to another part of the party for further consideration.

It had fallen almost into disuse and became largely associated with constitutional nit picking in the party but it has suddenly burst back into positive life with a vote to "remit back" the Scottish Government motion on Land Reform because Conference - and the wider country I believe - wants stronger legislation.

I spoke on the resolution not only to praise Aileen MacLeod , the Land Reform Minister ( who is doing a good job in tough circumstances) but also to suggest areas where the current bill does need improvement - particularly in increasing powers of communities , strengthening the rights of tenants and introducing far greater transparency and accountability.

The message that conference wants more is therefore , in my view, a good one which I know the SNP members of the Parliament's Rural Affairs Committee will heed and act on.

Just before this vote Conference only narrowly rejected a similar "remit back "on fracking.

It is good to see real party democracy in action fuelled by a new membership using old tools !