Who and Why?

'Whatever your political views, you cannot help being just a little inspired by the fact that there are still people like Alex Salmond, Roseanna Cunningham and Mike Russell, prepared to work hard for their ideals against all the odds.' Iain MacWhirter in the Sunday Herald, 15 th August 2004.

Scottish National Party Leadership Contests

Leadership Contest 2004

The Results

The results were as follows:

National Convener (Party Leader)

• Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perth 953 votes (14.58 %)
  
• Michael Russell 631 votes (9.65 %)
  
• Alex Salmond, MP for Banff & Buchan. 4,952 votes (75.76 %)
  

• Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber 1605 votes (24.56 %)
  
• Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland 1,410 votes (21.57 %)
  
• Nicola Sturgeon, MSP for Glasgow. 3,521 votes (53.87 %)
  

Candidates

National Convenor (leader)
Roseanna Cunningham MSP SNP Deputy Leader since 2000 SNP MP for Perth & Kinross 1995 (by-election) - 1997 SNP MP for Perth 1997 - 2001 SNP MSP for Perth 1999 - Blogspot Site with manifesto
Michael Russell SNP Chief Executive 1994 - 1999 SNP MSP for South of Scotland 1999 - 2003 Campaign website
Alex Salmond MP SNP Leader 1990 - 2000 SNP MP for Banff & Buchan 1987 - SNP MSP for Banff & Buchan 1999 - 2001 Campaign website
Senior Vice Convenor (deputy leader)
Fergus Ewing MSP SNP MSP for Inverness, Nairn & Lochaber 1999 - Campaign website
Christine Grahame MSP SNP MSP for South of Scotland 1999 - Campaign website
Nicola Sturgeon MSP SNP MSP for Glasgow 1999 - Campaign website

Timetable

• 22 nd June 2004: Nominations open
  
• 16 th July 2004: Nominations close
  
• 13 th August 2004: All members will recieve ballot papers
  
• 31 August 2004: Date limit for return of ballot papers
  
• 3 rd September 2004: Result announced.

Comment and interviews

1. Why we all need a revitalised SNP 15 th August 2004
   
   
2. Roseanna Cunningham 16 th August 2004
   
   
3. Roseanna Cunningham 1 st September 2004
   
   
4. Mike Russell 16 th August 2004
   
   
5. Michael Russell 2 nd September 2004
   
   
6. Alex Salmond 16 th August 2004
   
   
7. Alex Salmond 3 rd September 2004
   
   
8. Nicola Sturgeon, Fergus Ewing and Christine Grahame 3 rd September 2004
   
   

News

1. Swinney's future under the spotlight 15 th June 2004
   
   
2. Sillars calls for Swinney's exit 20 th June 2004
   
   
3. John Swinney's letter of resignation 22 nd June 2004
   
   
4. End of the 'likeable leader' 22 nd June 2004
   
   
5. Divided he fell 22 nd June 2004
   
   
6. Who will be Swinney's successor? 22 nd June 2004
   
   
7. Closest ally is favourite to take party hot seat 22 nd June 2004
   
   
8. SNP deputy bids for leadership 22 nd June 2004
   
   
9. Constituents talk fondly of a 'decent man' 23 rd June 2004
   
   
10. Swinney successor has to see the light 23 rd June 2004
    
    
11. Sturgeon set to make bid for SNP hot seat 23 rd June 2004
    
    
12. Hoping that Michael Russell will enter the fray 24 th June 2004
    
    
13. Ewing and Sturgeon to go for SNP hot seat 24 th June 2004
    
    
14. Sturgeon contests SNP leadership 24 th June 2004
    
    
15. Ewing puts dynasty dreams on hold 25 th June 2004
    
    
16. Young pretender offers a fresh start for the SNP 25 th June 2004
    
    
17. MacAskill seeks deputy's position 25 th June 2004
    
    
18. MacAskill to fight Ewing for SNP deputy leadership 25 th June 2004
    
    
19. Swinney attacks media over exit 26 th June 2004
    
    
20. The SNP needs an open and honest debate about where it wants to go 27 th June 2004
    
    
21. The candidates might be friendly ... but nobody else is 27 th June 2004
    
    
22. Independent women lead from the front 27 th June 2004
    
    
23. Independence 'five years away' 27 th June 2004
    
    
24. Russell throws his hat into SNP circus 28 th June 2004
    
    
25. Russell joins SNP leader battle 28 th June 2004
    
    
26. Outsider with a passion for power 28 th June 2004
    
    
27. Russell makes his case for leadership 29 th June 2004
    
    
28. Fundamentalist Neil poised to make bid for SNP leadership 29 th June 2004
    
    
29. Swinney asks his final questions 1 st July 2004
    
    
30. Neil stalls on expected SNP leadership challenge 2 nd July 2004
    
    
31. Neil stays out of leadership race 4 th July 2004
    
    
32. Neil drops out of SNP leadership race 5 th July 2004
    
    
33. Will ye no come back again, Alex Salmond? 5 th July 2004
    
    
34. Contenders for SNP top posts endorse each other 6 th July 2004
    
    
35. Surgeon and MacAskill join forces in SNP race 6 th July 2004
    
    
36. Sturgeon first off the blocks in leadership race 8 th July 2004
    
    
37. Russell wants to scrap anti-NATO policy 9 th July 2004
    
    
38. Why only an outgoing and confident SNP can win the day 11 th July 2004
    
    
39. Smaller classes the big idea, says Russell 14 th July 2004
    
    
40. Salmond to stand for leadership 15 th July 2004
    
    
41. The surprising life of Salmond 15 th July 2004
    
    
42. 'I am launching my candidacy to be first minister' 16 th July 2004
    
    
43. A spectacular U-turn 16 th July 2004
    
    
44. SNP in need of ideas - not just charisma 16 th July 2004
    
    
45. Surprised rival looks forward to the debating battle 16 th July 2004
    
    
46. Staking his claim to a second course 16 th July 2004
    
    
47. Can the Nationalists' king lead his party from Westminster? 16 th July 2004
    
    
48. Delight and perplexity in the heartland of 'Eck the Fish' 16 th July 2004
    
    
49. Nominations close in SNP race 16 th July 2004
    
    
50. SNP rivals reject Salmond 'proxy' 21 st July 2004
    
    
51. www.salmond-sturgeon.com goes live 21 st July 2004
    
    
52. Salmond's 'you decide' proposal 25 th July 2004
    
    
53. Salmond's bullet train to SNP central 30 th July 2004
    
    
54. Authority 'more important than charisma' for SNP's new leader 2 nd August 2004
    
    
55. Salmond unveils leader manifesto 2 nd August 2004
    
    
56. Salmond says he has 'date with destiny' 4 th August 2004
    
    
57. SNP's chief whip backs Salmond leadership bid 6 th August 2004
    
    
58. SNP leadership hopefuls do battle 9 th August 2004
    
    
59. SNP leadership race swings to the left 9 th August 2004
    
    
60. Reid latest to back Salmond's SNP leadership quest 9 th August 2004
    
    
61. Neil backs Salmond in unity move 11 th August 2004
    
    
62. Salmond wins support of an unlikely ally 11 th August 2004
    
    
63. Battle for power no joke for SNP 12 th August 2004
    
    
64. Race for SNP top job hotting up 13 th August 2004
    
    
65. The SNP is still worth the fight 15 th August 2004
    
    
66. Salmond quizzed over seat 'deal' 15 th August 2004
    
    
67. Hustings row over Salmond choice of seat 15 th August 2004
    
    
68. Douglas Fraser talks to Alex Salmond about his bid to regain the SNP leadership 15 th August 2004
    
    
69. Sean Connery is as nationalist as ever, says SNP 16 th August 2004
    
    
70. SNP three outline leadership bids 16 th August 2004
    
    
71. Salmond should hurry back to Holyrood 18 th August 2004
    
    
72. 40 per cent of SNP members have ticked box 20 th August 2004
    
    
73. Voting closes in SNP leader poll 31 st August 2004
    
    
74. VSalmond tipped as voting closes 31 st August 2004
    
    
75. Salmond on brink of victory in SNP leadership battle 1 st September 2004
    
    
76. Late voting surge gives 80% final turnout in SNP contest 1 st September 2004
    
    
77. High turnout in voting for SNP leader 1 st September 2004
    
    
78. Declaration of Leadership Election Results 3 rd September 2004
    
    
79. Alex Salmond acceptance speech 3 rd September 2004
    
    
80. Nicola Sturgeon acceptance speech 3 rd September 2004
    
    
81. Salmond named as new SNP leader 3 rd September 2004
    
    
82. 'We were stuffed by Salmond' 3 rd September 2004
    
    
83. Salmond elected SNP leader 3 rd September 2004
    
    
84. Salmond is SNP leader again with Sturgeon as No 2 3 rd September 2004
    
    
85. Salmond to lead SNP again 3 rd September 2004
    
    
86. Party pledge by Salmond 3 rd September 2004
    
    
87. Salmond promises to lead SNP to 10,000 members 3 rd September 2004
    
    
88. Triumphant Salmond back at SNP helm 4 th September 2004
    
    
89. Salmond holds Cabinet talks 4 th September 2004
    
    
90. Former SNP boss takes leadership by storm 4 th September 2004
    
    
91. Salmond wins battle to lead the SNP again 4 th September 2004
    
    
92. Salmond is back by popular demand 4 th September 2004
    
    
93. Connery upstages SNP 'dream team' 5 th September 2004
    
    
94. Scots independence 'inevitable' 5 th September 2004
    
    
95. A new opposition for a new parliament 5 th September 2004
    
    
96. Let's celebrate new parliament walls with new quality of words 6 th September 2004
    
    

Links

• Scottish National Party

• Roseanna Cunningham (Blogspot)

• Roseanna Cunningham (includes manifesto)

• Fergus Ewing

• Christine Grahame

• Michael Russell

• Alex Salmond

• Nicola Sturgeon

Leadership Contest 2000

The results were as follows:

National Convener (Party Leader)

• John Swinney, MP & MSP for North Tayside (Previously Senior Vice Convener - Deputy Leader) 547 votes (67.6 %)
  
• Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland (Previously Executive Vice Convener, Policy) 262 votes (32.4 %)
  

1 st Ballot

• Roseanna Cunningham, MP & MSP for Perth 391 votes (48.2 %)
  
• Kenny MacAskill, MSP for the Lothians 312 votes (38.5 %)
  
• Peter Kearney (Previously National Political Education and Training officer. 108 votes (13.3 %)
  2nd Ballot (after Peter Kearney's votes redistributed)
  
• Roseanna Cunningham, MP & MSP for Perth 457 votes (58.6 %)
  
• Kenny MacAskill, MSP for the Lothians 323 votes (41.4 %)
  
  

Cast your vote for the SNP leader

• Cast your vote for the new SNP leader and deputy

Alex Salmond's resignation

• Alex Salmond's letter of resignation 17 th July 2000

Links

• Scottish National Party Website

• Scottish National Party Conference coverage from the BBC

Candidates for National Convenor

• Alex Neil for National Convener

• John Swinney

Candidates for Senior Vice Convenor

• Roseanna Cunningham

• Peter Kearney

Candidates for Vice Convener for Youth Affairs

• Richard Thomson This site is believed to have made Scottish Political History last year as the first ever website dedicated to an internal party election.

Leadership Contest 1990

• Start of a New Era? Radical Scotland, Aug/Sept 1990

• Seeking a Leader for the '90s Radical Scotland, Aug/Sept 1990