SNP Leadership contest 2004

'The SNP is not like other political parties, most SNP politicians are not in politics to be politicians, we are in politics to change Scotland.' Roseanna Cunningham MSP, 16 th August 2004.

Cunningham sets her sights high

From BBC Scotland News, 16 th August 2004

On 3 September, the Scottish National Party will have a new leader. Three candidates are competing for the post, Roseanna Cunningham, Mike Russell and Alex Salmond. Here, Ms Cunningham sets out why she should lead the party in Scotland.

The SNP is not like other political parties, most SNP politicians are not in politics to be politicians, we are in politics to change Scotland.

It is not enough to have the ambition to be first minister of Scotland, our sights are set higher, we look to the opportunity to deliver Scotland to independence.

That is a great responsibility, the leader of the SNP cannot dictate, she has to inspire and encourage, she has to be ready to lead Scotland forward.

Politics has fallen into disrepute, election turnouts are falling and the electorate has become cynical about politicians.

Politics has become about management, the great political debates have slept these past few years and it's the job of the SNP leader to turn that around.

We need to deliver a more focused and less confused message about the benefits of independence, a clearer vision of how we can use the Scottish Parliament to improve Scotland.

It is unthinkable that Scotland's party, then, could choose our leader from outwith the Scottish Parliament, a move that would reinforce the argument that our parliament is not important.

Rebuild Scotland

We need to be strengthening the role of the Scottish Parliament, proving that we, as Scots, can run Scotland properly, we have to be showing that we can build Scotland up to being a normal member of the family of nations.

Our aim has to be garnering the rest of the political powers of the nation, bringing them back to Scotland.

We have to be saying that Scotland can take her seat in the United Nations, and that we are able and willing to take Scotland there.

That means reconnecting with the radical roots of the party, setting us back campaigning on the issues that are truly important to Scotland.

They include:

• independence, which comes top of my list because it is the only way to empower us to properly address all of the problems facing Scotland, but we have to be campaigning now to build the Scotland we want
  
• the SNP needs to get back on the campaign trail to oppose nuclear weapons and to oppose the dumping of rotting nuclear hulks at Coulport
• it needs to defeat poverty and low wages
  
• it needs to rebuild Scotland's education system
  
• it needs to ensure that Scotland's public services remain in public hands
  
• it needs to use Scotland's wealth to improve Scotland's health
  
• and it needs to restore pride in Scotland.