 | 'It is my passionate belief that the time is right for Scotland to take her place in the world as an independent nation.' Nicola Sturgeon MSP, 7 th July 2004. |  |
| 'It is my passionate belief that the time is right for Scotland to take her place in the world as an independent nation.' Nicola Sturgeon MSP, 7 th July 2004. | |
THE SNP leadership battle kicked into life yesterday when Nicola Sturgeon, a leading contender,
outlined her hopes for the future of the party.
While there was support for her former party leader, John Swinney, Ms Sturgeon presented herself
as the new voice of nationalism, prepared to spark a debate about Scotland's future and move public
opinion on to a point where independence will become an option.
The launch at a Glasgow hotel demonstrated the slickness of recent party events befitting a campaign
manager, with Ms Sturgeon's photograph and "Nicola" signature strong themes in a campaign that
promised "vision, passion and ideas".
Her main policy planks will be a more devolved NHS and an education system that allows the
development of exceptional talent within the state system. She also refused to define herself by
conventional left or right terms, insisting that a confident Scotland where wealth creation was
encouraged could then be made a more equal society.
"The last five years have shown that it is not enough for the SNP to concentrate on winning
government in Scotland and hoping that support for independence will follow," she said.
"We are associated in the public mind with change and moving Scotland forward and so we will do
best Ð as we have always done Ð when there is a desire for change. It is up to us to persuade people
of the need for change and we will not do it simply by saying we support independence or by sniping
from the sidelines about everything that is wrong with Scotland."
She cited the nationalist surges of the 1970s and 1990s, pointing out that national self- confidence
and a mood for change were key to building SNP support.
She said: "It is my passionate belief that the time is right for Scotland to take her place in the world as
an independent nation, but the responsibility will be mine, if elected, to lead the SNP and convince
the people of Scotland that independence is right for them and right for our nation."
She described the performance of the Scottish Parliament as a "disappointment which had become
like a paralysis, putting the constitutional debate into a coma", and said it was time for the SNP to
shake Scotland out of its slumber and reawaken the debate.
She said: "Unless there is a desire for change in Scotland Ð even if for some that desire stops short of
independence Ð the SNP will not prosper. Simply proclaiming a commitment to independence is not
enough.
"We must stimulate debate, communicate clearly what it means to be independent in the twenty-first
century, and demon-strate an ability to work with others to take Scotland forward."
Ms Sturgeon has endorsement from Kenny MacAskill as her running mate, a website,
nicola4leader.com, and a large and vigorous campaign team.
What remains to be seen is whether she has the staying power. The big question now is whether the
campaign of Roseanna Cunningham will be able to come out and blow her away. The current deputy
leader has been prepared to bide her time, pointing out that the vote is almost two months away, but
at some point she will have to tackle the vigour of team Sturgeon head-on.
A rival accused Ms Sturgeon of being too quick off the mark in publishing her manifesto.
Mike Russell said: "We are a little surprised that Nicola has chosen to launch her manifesto so early in
the campaign. We believe now is the time for listening to people and taking soundings."
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