 | 'Yesterday a YouGov survey of 1607 Scottish adults, comissioned by the SNP,found 46 % supporting independence, with 39 % opposed.The survey also suggested the SNP werehalf-way towards their goal of gaining an extra 20 constituency seats at Holyrood next year.' Bridget Morris in the Herald, 9 th April 2006. |  |
The first 100 days of an incoming SNP government would begin the transformation of Scotland, Alex Salmond, the would-be first minister told the party faithful yesterday.
Setting out 'seven targets for 2007', MrSalmond said his party's new national economic strategy was 'light years aheadof anything produced by the London-based parties in Scotland'. His plans were based on polling which put the SNP half way towards its target of gaining 20 constituency seats at the election a year from now.
'We are already neck and neck with Labour and, believe me, their support is not going to go up any time soon. We need to win 20 new seats to win the election. In my estimation we are already half way to that objective.Twenty seats sounds a lot.In fact it represents aswitch of 26,000 across Scotland.
He told deligates in Dundee that the SNP had goals for 2007 which voters would be able to pass judgement on. 'People may look at that early programme and question whether it can be achieved,' he said.
'More likely they will look at us and say - at last, political leadership for Scotland.No more playing second fiddle to the interests of elsewhere, no more orders handed down from London and quietly accepted,no more making do or making excuses.
'It is about leadership, ambition and ideas. It means putting Scotland first so that together we can build a better life for today and for the future - after nine years of Labour they certainly can't get worse.'
He claimed that during its first 100 days in ofice an SNP administration would abolish council tax, give NHS patients real guarantees, cut taxes for small businesses, replace private finance with a new system, and establish a 'council of economic advisors' to help run the economy, and arrange a referendum on independence.
The SNP leaderwas picking up on a YouGov poll carried out for the SNP which showed the nationalists on 29 %, just a point behind Labour and 10 points ahead of the Liberal Democrats, with the Conservatives a further six points back. This would mean a swing from Labour of 5 %, from the Tories of 4% and from the LibDems of 0.% %.
While the next by-election in Moray this month sees the Conservatives challenging the SNP, the big task next year sees MrSalmond attempt to win the LibDem seat of Gordon.
Nicola Sturgeon, his deputy leader, told delegates that they could see a new kind of personal, as well as political, independence. She said 'Our view is that everyone has responsibility for society. The Tory view is beggar your neighbour and there is no such thing as society. It could not be further away from Tory ideas.'
Return to home page