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SNP at Plaid Conference

Gareth Finn from the SNP offers his views on Plaid's Conference from the Scottish perpsective....A picture of Gareth at the Conference will follow shortly....


Having been invited down to the Plaid Cymru conference in Swansea, one was brimming with excitement but racked with nerves.  Going to Wales was more than just a junket away with fellow nationalists, it was an opportunity for me to visit the homeland of my grandfather, who having been born and bred in Barry Island moved to Scotland where he met my Gran.

Having left a gloomy, rainy Glasgow it was with some relief and joy that I landed in a sunny Cardiff, my trip had started off well.  Having met Bethan from Cymru X, we along with Jim Mather MSP of the SNP travelled up to Swansea arriving at the Conference Hall where it was relatively quiet as it had still to begin, but I still managed to meet a number of members who impressed me with their passion for Wales and Plaid Cymru.

The Plaid Conference was very similar to the SNP conference though smaller in size.  Debates, fringe meetings, key note speakers are the hall-mark of all political party conferences. What stood out most for me was the social side of the Plaid Conference.  Being a very active member of SNP, I know a great deal about the social side of politics, from our now legendary Kareoke to our Conference Ceidlh, but these did not prepare me for what Plaid offered.  A night of poetry and pints was something that appealed to me greatly but what appealed most was the conference review.  A night of comedy at the expense of Plaid politicians was a shock to the system but one that ensured I had a great time in Swansea.

Meeting people who are politically active is a fantastic way to expand your horizons but meeting people who share the same vision for their country as you do gives a feeling of comradery and togetherness.  Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party have been sister parties for many years now, together fighting for the independence of our respective nations from a British State that has no interest in our people other than to exploit.

I hope to be able to attend the Plaid Cymru Conference again next but as representative from an independent Scotland.  I hope the people of Wales and of Scotland get off their knees in May and vote for a new way for their countries, the independent way!

Yours for Scotland (and Wales)

Gareth

Federation of Student Nationalists.