ONE of this year’s biggest Yes events has been postponed due to the surge in coronavirus infections.
Due to be held on the last Sunday of February, the Progress to Yes conference, has been put back until May 29 – but organisers say the extra time will mean an even bigger event.
The event launched in the National had already sold out, forcing organisers to upscale by booking a much bigger venue.
The one day conference, which will see a mixture of panel discussions, workshops and presentations, was to be held across three conference suites at the Altens Hotel, Aberdeen.
The organisers, Aberdeen Independence Movement (AIM), have now decided to book a fourth conference suite, meaning they will now be able to include even more of the diverse Yes movement. The event will see AIM and partner organisations Believe In Scotland and Women For Independence, joined by English Scots For Yes, the Radical Independence Campaign, the National Yes Network, Bella Caledonia, Broadcasting Scotland, with talks ongoing with several other organisations.
A spokesperson said: “When we soft-launched the event, we had several groups contact us and we are trying to include as many groups who have constructively contacted us as we can. A one day conference could never include every group in the wider movement but the event will represent the wide breadth of the mainstream movement.”
The team behind Progress To Yes are hoping to have the line-up confirmed for the event by the end of February. They have many more speakers to announce but have revealed that local SNP MP Stephen Flynn will open the conference.
The spokesperson added: “It is a wee bit disappointing that we have had to postpone, but the new date also fits in with some inspiring projects we are working on with the National. This summer needs to see a huge step up in independence campaigning. The Progress To Yes conference is the perfect launch for a summer of independence campaigning as the independence movement gets back to the hard campaigning that will win.”
You can order tickets for the conference at https://buytickets.at/aberdeenindependencemovement.
A small number of concession and youth-student tickets remain so those interested are advised to book one while they can.
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