As Perth prepares to welcome the 80th Annual National Conference of the Scottish National Party, Mr Pete Wishart MP, Member of Parliament for Perth & North Perthshire, said:
"With SNP membership soaring, the part is now the third largest political party in the whole of the UK, far outstripping all the other parties' presence in Scotland.
"The party is in buoyant mood as we prepare to meet in Perth for our 80th Annual Conference and with even visitor passes being snapped up almost as soon as they were released, there is no doubt that the Concert Hall will be bursting at the seams.
"This is good news for local businesses and I am sure that the shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants of Perth will see a big benefit as delegates, observers and media drive in the city."