On the fringes: Holyrood’s events help set the agenda at this year’s SNP conference
THE STAFFING CRISIS IN THE NHS, the future of Scotland’s railway, and the importance of sustainable investment were among the topics under discussion at Holyrood’s fringe events during this year’s SNP conference.
As delegates gathered at The Event Complex Aberdeen (Teca) earlier this month, health secretary Humza Yousaf joined representatives from the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy on the opening day of the conference to discuss workforce issues in the NHS.
Later that evening, Holyrood’s Mandy Rhodes hosted the inaugural Editor’s Club, an in-conversation event with SNP minister – and “Mr Paisley” – George Adam.
Transport minister Jenny Gilruth was on the panel for a discussion about the decarbonisation and digitalisation of Scotland’s railway, hosted by Siemens, while net zero secretary Michael Matheson was joined by panellists from the City of London and the Global Ethical Finance Initiative to discuss the future of sustainable investment. Business minister Ivan Mckee and SNP MP Alison Thewliss helped round off the weekend with a discussion on the future of investment, hosted by the Investment Association.
Holyrood managing editor Mandy Rhodes said: “The huge popularity of our fringe events underlines Holyrood’s place at the centre of the Scottish political conversation. We’d like to thank all our excellent panellists and all those who attended.”