Not a bad year all in all

It's been a good year all in all and we're heading into 2008 with the SNP in the lead in the polls. So far in the lead, actually, that if the election were held today, the SNP would win the following Westminster constituencies: Aberdeen North; Aberdeen South (and wouldn't that please Nicol Stephen); Argyll & Bute; Ayrshire North & Arran; Dumfrieshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale; Dundee West; Edinburgh East; North & Leith (but we knew that anyway); Edinburgh South; Edinburgh South West (how will he pay that Northern Rock mortgage then?); Glasgow North; Kilmarnock & Louden; Linlithgow and East Falkirk; Ochil and South Perthshire;Paisley & Renfrewshire North; and Stirling - as well as the six we already hold. That would be a not bad election and, of course, there are local situations in other seats which would make them winnable too - Gordon springs to mind.

Anytime Brown wants to call it then...Prospicio respicio - let's have a wee look back at how the election was won. There's the obvious contribution of Salmond, no point in me talking about that when other people will keep doing it (just as well - he's so introspective and self-deprecating he's never likely to be blowing his own trumpet).

Nationalists will remember the contribution made by Angus Robertson MP - and how knackered he was at the end of the campaign, and many of us will also remember our good friend and night-time companion Activate, but there are several heroes who deserve to have their part in the victory recognised.

The most important of those is, of course, me, but I don't like to boast, so I'll move swiftly on to the others who are deserving of praise and credit for their part in the SNP victory which is responsible for transforming Scotland.

Towering head and shoulders above all of us is John Swinney - the work he did in changing the party and turning it into a modern campaigning unit during his time as leader was the underpinning of the victory.

Jim Mather the human dynamo - zig-zagging back and forwards across the country spreading the word about how the potential of the Scottish people can be released to create the economic conditions that will transform Scotland with the right Government action.

Linda Fabiani whose international links have helped to change the focus of the SNP so we show more of our international side and also for her excellent proposal to create a Scottish Olympic team.

Kenny MacAskill who challenged nationalists to examine just exactly what Scottish nationalism is in the modern world.

Peter Murrell, (the party Chief Executive) and his staff at headquarters who kept the swan's feet paddling under the surface.

Campaigners the length and breadth of the country who have been there through the bad times as well as the good times and kept the party going - far too many names to mention both current and past activists.

But there's one guy who deserves a special mention and he's the one who spent hours in the bowels of the national archives looking for the truth about Scotland's oil and uncovered the evidence that we have been lied to about Scotland's wealth for 30 years. Without the uncovering of the McCrone report and the subsequent realisation on the part of the Scottish people that the SNP had been right all along our task in May would have been far, far harder than it was. Step forward and take a bow Mr Davie Hutchison.

May 2008 bring all of you great joy, much success and a nice wee warm feeling - especially the SNP Scottish Government.