'I Am Certain, Absolutely Certain That We Will Be in Pole Position' Snp: Election Hopes Snp: Election Hopes After a Triumphant Party Conference in Perth, Alex Salmond's Ambition to Be First Minister Is Stronger Than Ever. Iain Macwhirter Finds the Snp Leader Confident, but Realistic

Sunday Herald › October 17, 2006

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Summary

BIG talk from smart Alex is the last thing you'd think the SNP required at this stage in the political cycle. Over-confidence has been the bane of nationalism in the past. The politics of adrenaline, in which which the movement becomes intoxicated with triumphalism, only to suffer the inevitable post election hangover. In his interview opposite, he insists that the SNP is in "avalanche territory" for the Holyrood elections.

But this time the big talk is qualified by a sober realism we haven't often seen before from the SNP leader. Alex Salmond's leadership address to the Perth conference was generally regarded as one of his best ever. He attacked first minister Jack McConnell, for lacking ambition in describing Scotland as "the best small country in the world". Our infinite Scotland SMALL? said the SNP leader, quoting Hugh McDairmid. But he avoided going over the top and promising national liberation.

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Extract

'I Am Certain, Absolutely Certain That We Will Be in Pole Position' Snp: Election Hopes Snp: Election Hopes After a Triumphant Party Conference in Perth, Alex Salmond's Ambition to Be First Minister Is Stronger Than Ever. Iain Macwhirter Finds the Snp Leader Confident, but Realistic

In fact, in this interview for the Sunday Herald, Salmond appears to say that the SNP would lack the "moral authority" to form a governing coalition if it doesn't win a majority of seats at the next election. Most opinion polls suggest that the SNP will make gains, but will return fewer seats at Holyrood in May than Labour.

Commentators had speculated that the SNP would try to form an administration of minority parties with the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Greens. Labour will make much of Salmond's suggestion th...

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