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LAST Saturday I was honoured to open the SNP’s biggest ever Campaign Conference in Glasgow’s SECC.

With more than 3000 delegates attending, many of whom are new members, there was a palpable sense of anticipation and passion not unlike the atmosphere pre-Referendum. To put it simply, it was buzzing.

However, this wasn’t just a rally – the addresses by the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the Depute Leader all took time to focus on the commitments and achievements of the Scottish Government and the SNP’s election pledges.

In her first speech to conference since becoming First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon made it clear that the SNP’s first priority will always be the pursuit of fairness and equality.

In the last seven years due to coalition cuts we’ve tragically discovered the phenomena of in-work poverty, where people who are working are still facing severe financial challenges – through no fault of their own. That is why further commitments to the principles of fair work were so welcome from the First Minister. This included a commitment that we would back a minimum wage increase of £2 – higher than any other mainstream party – to £8.70 by 2020, as well as signing up 350 more businesses to paying the living wage in the next year. Rates of in-work poverty and working families visiting food banks show that people are simply not being paid enough.

The SNP are sick to the back teeth of London-based politicians demonising the least well off in society, and then punishing them even more with austerity cuts, even though they have nothing to do with the current recession.

Rather than sanctioning benefit claimants as a first recourse, why not crack down on those who caused the global financial crash, such as tax-dodging millionaires? The First Minister made it clear that the SNP would push for legislation which would make it easier to prosecute tax dodgers.

Why not – instead of forcing people back into work before they are fit – abolish the undemocratic House of Lords, whose members are paid £300 a day just for turning up?

There are, of course, many amongst the wealthiest in society who are happy to pay taxes in return for a fairer, more prosperous society. That is why the SNP’s group at Westminster has backed reinstating the 50p rate of tax. As Stewart Hosie said – “those with the very broadest shoulders should bear a slightly larger share of the burden”.

The First Minister also reaffirmed her commitment to doing all in her power to improve the lives and opportunities for women across the country. In a column on International Women’s Day earlier this year I mentioned meeting with Glasgow East Women’s Aid, and being overwhelmed by how upbeat the volunteers and workers remained, despite how emotionally and physically draining a job it must be. In the past year alone they have made contact with 6000 women and girls who feel physically or psychologically threatened in their homes.

One woman feeling this way is unacceptable; 6000 in just one part of the city is a tragedy, a problem we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to resolve. That is why I am so pleased that the Scottish Government will be investing £20 million in tackling violence against women and introducing legislation which will strengthen the legal case against domestic abuse.

We can take pride in having a progressive female First Minister. Scotland is also one of just three governments in the developed world to have a gender equal cabinet. However, this should be reflected in our parliament and, currently, it isn’t. This is why SNP delegates approved an internal resolution to encourage gender equality in the candidate selection process.

A few days into the short campaign, the SNP’s policy agenda is the only one with fairness and equality at its heart. I believe that is why the polls are showing unprecedented levels of support for the SNP. However, I also think these are policies which will resonate with people across the rest of the UK, who will support a progressive agenda.