Key Points
- SNP delegates at the party’s annual conference in Aberdeen voted by a large majority for a resolution demanding a UK-wide ban on X.
- The motion asks the Scottish Government and the SNP to delete their accounts on the platform, pointing to online harassment, far-right material, and misinformation.
- Motion supporters said the Elon Musk-owned site spreads hate speech and disrupts public debate.
- Opponents of the motion warned that leaving X now would restrict the party’s reach with voters while alternative social networks remain small.
- The vote puts pressure on Scottish Government leaders and the UK Government over social media regulation and online safety laws.
Aberdeen (Oxford Daily) October 17, 2026 – SNP members at the party’s annual conference in Aberdeen have overwhelmingly backed a resolution supporting a UK-wide ban on the social media platform X, while calling for the Scottish Government and the party to formally delete their presence from the network.
As reported by political correspondents for the PA News Agency, delegates attending the final day of the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen voted by a clear majority in favour of the motion targeting the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The resolution asserts that X no longer operates as a safe or constructive environment for civic dialogue due to the proliferation of unchecked hate speech, harmful rhetoric, and political manipulation under the ownership of Elon Musk.
Addressing delegates during the debate, proponents argued that public bodies and political movements should not legitimise platforms that fail to enforce strict content moderation standards. Speakers emphasised that remaining active on the site undermines official commitments to tackling online abuse and misogyny in public life.
What Arguments Were Raised Against Leaving the Social Media Platform?
Despite the strong overall support for the resolution, the debate highlighted divisions within the party regarding digital communication strategies. As reported by PA News Agency political reporters, delegate Mr Birkett urged caution over an immediate withdrawal from the network, highlighting the current reach of established platforms compared to emerging alternatives.
“Maybe one day Bluesky and others will have the reach that X does and we can rethink this. But until it does, we should keep the party, the Government, the Parliament and other public bodies on the platform.”
— Mr Birkett, SNP Conference Delegate
Opponents of an immediate departure stressed that political parties risk isolating themselves from major public discussions and key voter demographics if they abandon major digital channels before alternative platforms, such as Bluesky or Threads, achieve comparable scale.
How Has the Party Leadership and External Bodies Responded?
The adoption of the motion places formal political pressure on First Minister John Swinney and the Scottish Government frontbench as the party closes its national gathering.
While conference resolutions reflect internal party policy preferences, operational decisions regarding official government communications and legislative proposals require broader executive review and parliamentary consultation.
The vote follows similar steps taken by other political entities across the United Kingdom. The Scottish Greens recently voted through their party council to cease posting on X, attributing the decision to rising levels of misinformation and hostile content on the channel.
“Following a vote by our party council, the Scottish Greens will no longer be posting on Twitter/X.”
— Official Spokesperson, Scottish Greens
Representatives for X were contacted for official comment following the vote at the Aberdeen conference, though no immediate response was issued by the platform’s media team.
Background of the Particular Development
The resolution passed in Aberdeen represents the culmination of growing friction between UK political institutions and the management of X following its acquisition by Elon Musk in late 2022.
Over the past two years, regulatory bodies such as Ofcom and UK parliamentary committees have increasingly scrutinized the platform over issues concerning online safety, automated moderation algorithms, and user safety standards.
Tensions heightened following public disputes between UK political leaders and Elon Musk over digital governance, free speech boundaries, and the responsibility of technology companies during instances of social unrest.
The UK Government previously passed the Online Safety Act to establish stricter statutory duties for tech firms, with ministers reiterating that non-compliant platforms could face operational restrictions or financial penalties. The SNP vote reflects an escalating appetite among grassroots political activists in Scotland to pursue stricter legislative measures and corporate boycotts against multinational social networks.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Political Communications and Digital Regulation
This resolution is likely to accelerate the fragmentation of political communications across Scotland and the wider United Kingdom.
For the SNP and the broader Scottish political audience, an official withdrawal from X will necessitate a rapid realignment of public relations strategies, forcing party representatives, elected officials, and government departments to pivot toward alternative platforms like Bluesky, LinkedIn, and Threads.
In the short term, this transition may diminish the direct, real-time reach of government announcements to international media outlets and non-aligned voters who remain on X.
From a regulatory perspective, the vote increases political pressure on both Holyrood and Westminster to consider tougher statutory interventions under UK communications law.
While the authority to enact a binding nation-wide platform ban rests with the UK Parliament in Westminster through telecom and broadcasting legislation, the SNP’s explicit support for a ban signals that online platform governance will remain a central debate topic in upcoming legislative sessions, potentially encouraging other political organizations to adopt similar boycotts.
