Humza Yousaf says he aims to revitalise reeling SNP at party conference

Leader says he wants to draw a line under debate over independence policy and ‘get heads back up’

Humza Yousaf will attempt to “draw a line” under the SNP’s independence policy at this weekend’s party conference after a failure to address concerns over the cost of living crisis was blamed for its defeat in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection.

The conference opens on Sunday with a crucial debate on Yousaf’s proposals to seek a mandate at the next general election to open independence negotiations with Westminster, which has already attracted widespread criticism from senior party figures.