I spent a couple of hours yesterday travelling across the South of Scotland with the First Minister Alex Salmond on his Saltire 1 helicopter. We went from the well trodden turf of Kilmarnock football club to the manicured lawns of the Peebles Hydro Hotel. What struck me campaigning for Willie Coffey in Kilmarnock and Christine Grahame in Midlothian South, Tweedale and Lauderdale was the diversity of support the SNP is now attracting. In the Kilmarnock Burns shopping mall a man came to shake Alex's hand for freezing council tax and making prescriptions free. "I'm on the minimum wage and I have health problems, it's made a big difference," he said. In Peebles polite school children in smart uniforms shake his hand. In East Lothian an SNP supporting groundsman at the race track is concerned about the ban on working dogs tail docking. In Portobello, we visit a greengrocers run by Pakistani Scots who, like many in the Asian community, are staunch party supporters. Inshallah! says the owner when Alex says let's work all out for a win until the polls close.
It took nearly an hour to reach Peebles, and you get a sense of how Scotland is changing by surveying the landscape from the air. I spot what must be one of the last coal bings in Lanarkshire, then the sooty, open wound of a large open cast mine. But this is the fossil fuel energy of past. There are also windfarms, their white blades crisp - and spinning furiously - against the cloudless sky. The First Minister, an energy economist by profession, can tell me how much electricity each one produces - though in the future the real prize is harnessing offshore wind and marine power, which will create jobs for thousands of people in welding, steel fabrication and engineering. I am proud that the SNP is now seen as the party that is serious about renewable energy. We have put it on the agenda in this campaign and gone some way to communicating the opportunity it offers our country.
The FM heads north with his right hand man Geoff Aberdein- they are visiting 14 constituencies in the one day. I stay in Edinburgh to canvass for the justice minister Kenny MacAskill, beside fellow Scotsman columnist George Kerevan and blogger Calum Cashley. They have all been working flat out to re-elect Kenny.
The SNP support is solid and socially diverse - a quiet spoken man with an English accent, a young professional family, a feisty female pensioner, all say they will give us both votes. In many ways, they reflect a mood across the country, with people from all walks of life placing their faith in the SNP as the party which speaks for all of Scotland - the party of positive co-operation, not negative division. This is reflected in the First Minister's eve of poll message below:
"Today, many people will be thinking of voting SNP for the very first
time, and I am asking them to do what is best for Scotland. A re-elected
SNP government will not let them down. If people place their trust in us,
we will repay that trust and always take our lead from the people of
Scotland.
"The SNP’s positive campaign has attracted support from right across
Scottish society. Leading job creators such as Jim McColl and Tom Farmer
have joined with labour movement figures like Tommy Brennan, Dennis
Canavan and Bashir Maan to back my re-election as First Minister. We have
support from artists such as Brian Cox and Mark Millar, through to Audrey
Baxter and Lady Claire Macdonald in the food and drink sector.
"This diverse range of people all believe that Scotland’s interest is best
served by a re-elected SNP government. They are Team Scotland and today
millions of voters – the people who really matter – will have the
opportunity to join them.
"A re-elected SNP government will keep Council Tax frozen for five years,
ensure our National Health Service is protected, and keep Scotland safe by
maintaining the 1,000 extra police we have put on the streets. To achieve
those things, people must vote SNP on both ballot papers.
"We are proud of the positive campaign we have run. Unlike others, we
will never talk Scotland down. We have a vision for our country. If
re-elected, we will re-engineer Scotland through the development of green
energy. We will push for the economic powers to help Scotland’s
businesses and therefore create more jobs. We will develop the talents of
our people by keeping education free.
"The SNP stand for ambition and opportunity, as well as social justice
and fairness. We reflect all of Scotland, and if re-elected today we
will govern for all of Scotland."
Now the dust is starting to settle I would just like to add my heart felt congratulations to you Joan.
I know you'll do us proud.
Posted by: Steve Brannigan | May 14, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Many, many congratulations. I am still pinching myself on the election results. Do your thing Joan and do Scotland proud, so, so pleased!
Posted by: Alisdair | May 14, 2011 at 03:38 PM
Your first day in parliament! Congratulations.
Posted by: J. R. Tomlin | May 11, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Congrats Joan.
Go lassie go!
Posted by: Stevie | May 09, 2011 at 05:50 PM
A sparkling performance this morning on the Radio 4 'Today' programme at 08.54 when Joan challenged the ultra Unionist ramblings of 'Prof' Tim Luckhurst promoting the case for the full entitlement of the UK to participate in the Independence referendum. Another doughty fighter with the credentials to promote our cause and challenge the legions of ill informed UK presenters like John Humphrys. Well done Joan.
Posted by: ianbeag | May 09, 2011 at 10:00 AM
You will make a fantastic MSP Joan!
I think it could suit the SNP very well to continue a consensus building approach.
I like how Salmond and co was trying to frame the future as post-negativity as soon as they looked to be running free – it makes the easy anti-independence messages very difficult to deploy. It matches very nicely with a (majority backed) consensus building approach.
Posted by: team positive | May 09, 2011 at 01:19 AM
Sorry, I somehow omitted to congratulate you earlier. Sincere congratulations and my very best wishes to you and all the other SNP MSPs.
Carpe diem.
Posted by: Frankly | May 08, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Congratulations Joan.
Thig ar latha.... And now it has
Posted by: Nae a belger | May 08, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Great result on a momentous day and many congratulations on your election. Your personal contribution to the debate and the ascendancy of the SNP has been significant and worthy. Enjoy your new role.
Posted by: ianbeag | May 08, 2011 at 04:35 PM
A Tale of Two Tsunamis: http://bit.ly/lzVpHX
Posted by: Frankly | May 08, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Well done, Joan: Gambarrimasu! Fighto!
Posted by: David MacGille-Mhuire | May 08, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Congratulations! Best of luck - you have and will do Scotland proud :)
Posted by: eva comrie | May 08, 2011 at 12:58 AM
hay Joan,
We not good enough for you anymore?
;)
Posted by: donald | May 08, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Won Lassie Won - well done. Looks like your career has taken off with the helicopter :)
I'm sure you will be a great contributor in the parliament and for Scotland. I Wonder how your blog will evolve and I hope you continue to do so regularly.
Posted by: EphemeralDeception | May 07, 2011 at 07:50 PM
I was the first on the net to suggest that we hold the referendum pn the longest day of 2014,
the 700th anniversary of Bruce's victory at Bannockburn but I'll be just as happy if it's the 701st anniversary if that's better.
Alba gu bràth
Posted by: Stevie | May 07, 2011 at 07:39 PM
And the future is now. Congratulations on a wonderful victory!
Posted by: JRTomlinAuthor | May 07, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Well done Joan!
Posted by: John Simons | May 07, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Well done Go Lassie Go! Sorry, that should be Joan McAlpine MSP!!!
Really chuffed you got elected, hope you still find time to do a bit of blogging though.
Posted by: Iain | May 07, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Congratulations Joan, so glad you will be part of the new Scottish government.
Your blog has been a source of excellent information and intelligent insight. You will be a great asset for the SNP.
Please keep up the blog if you possibly can. I will be looking forward to your views from the inside of Holyrood.
INDEPENDENCE!
Posted by: Colin Izat | May 07, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Congrats MSP Lassie - I look forward to your future contributions to our society and its future
Posted by: dramfineday | May 06, 2011 at 09:55 PM
Congratulations to you Joan. You will be a loss to the impoverished Scottish media, but the national interest will be well served by an articulate and sensitive advocate for better things in the Parliament. Go, lassie, go!
Posted by: Am Firinn | May 06, 2011 at 08:51 PM
Well done Joan and good luck for the next 5 years.
What an election to join Holyrood!
Posted by: GrassyKnollington | May 06, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Many congrats Joan. You deserve it girl!
Posted by: Chic McGregor | May 06, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Well done Joan McAlpine MSP!
Posted by: Holebender | May 06, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Well done Joan. You'll do Scotland South, indeed the whole country, proud. Great to have you on board.
Posted by: Heraldnomore | May 06, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Congratulations on your election, Joan.
Posted by: Hugh | May 06, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Come on, Joan. Appreciate you must be exhausted, but post a special update view post trenches.
Make me and many others happy for this is of itself historic, and may be unleashing a chain of events even more so.
Salutations and affection to ALL at home from Tokyo
David
Posted by: David MacGille-Mhuire | May 06, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Congratulations Joan!
Posted by: Moujick | May 06, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Well done Joan and all the team; Go Lassie Go!
Posted by: Andrew Anderson | May 06, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Well done Joan. Great result in the South of Scotland list. I'm sure you'll make a fine MSP.
Posted by: Davie Park | May 06, 2011 at 01:51 PM
congtatulations!Joan you'll be a great asset to the SNP government
Posted by: samizdat | May 06, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
Posted by: David MacGille-Mhuire | May 06, 2011 at 07:46 AM
A Brompton S6L and I voted SNP twice this morning (it'a bike of course).
Posted by: wee folding bike | May 05, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Great blog as usual Joan, and best of luck today!
Posted by: Gavin Woods | May 05, 2011 at 09:57 AM
The short stint I did this morning at the Polling Booth would reinforce that view. An amazing diversity of people expressed support. Let's hope it continues throughout the day.
Posted by: John Ireland | May 05, 2011 at 09:48 AM
Greetings to everyone from Japan, a land that Scots helped build post-Meiji Restoration.
My thoughts and support are with everyone at home - Scots of every different stripe - who wish to re-shape our destiny and take us forward as an independent equal in the global community of nations: May 6th's elections being a vital part of this process.
I shall be on tenterhooks here until the final results are declared along with many others drawn from many other nations based here and monitoring the run-up and outcome for this seems to be a significant part of a global sea-change of re-definition of the meaning and practice of democracy away from the institutionalised inequities of the current, (not so entrenched any longer ?) elites: A bottom-up demand for justice and fairness by the marginalised and dispossessed and exploited.
My fingers crossed folk will grasp the thistle.
Ganbatte kudasai agus saor Alba!
Posted by: David MacGille-Mhuire | May 05, 2011 at 05:54 AM