Derek Mackay MSP claims voting for independence will end bad governance Scotland needs to vote for independence to bring about "an end to bad government from Westminster," a senior SNP minister has said. Derek Mackay, the SNP's business convener and Local Government Minister at Holyrood, issued the call as party activists gathered in Perth for their annual conference. Throughout the four-day event, Nationalist politicians will argue that decisions should be taken north of the border to get the best for Scotland. With less than 11 months until voters decide whether Scotland should remain part of the UK, the conference will be used to argue the case for independence. With international interest in the referendum growing, a record 50 diplomatic representatives from around the world will attend the party's conference. Mr Mackay said Nationalists are in "great heart." He added: "After over six years in government, our support is still at similar levels as the 2011 Scottish Parliament election landslide, and we look forward to winning the positive case for Yes and independence in the months ahead." The welfare cut known as the bedroom tax is a "graphic illustration of the Yes case that the best government decisions for Scotland are those made in Scotland," he said. Mr Mackay said: "The incompetence and cruelty of the bedroom tax, and the soaring number of people dependent on food banks in resource-rich Scotland, show why we cannot afford to leave powers over welfare, the economy and pensions in Westminster's hands, and why we need to take these decisions in our own parliament. A Yes vote is for good government with independence and an end to bad government from Westminster. The SNP are continuing to deliver on the people's policies such as the council tax freeze, no tuition fees, free personal care and a health service free at the point of need for all. Our positive case as a party is built on this positive record of achievement which we look forward to developing at our conference and beyond.