One year on since the Scottish National Party formed its first government, it is time to reflect on progress to date.  There can be no doubt that their success has brought a marked improvement to the quality of the debate and Mr. Salmond continues to out-perform his opponents with consummate ease.  Our parliament conducts its business in a more professional manner, our civil service has improved and, in certain quarters at least, there is an air of optimism.  However it also has to be said that they did not have a hard act to follow.  Our government still lacks substance and, other than their referendum for independence, they have yet to spell out their long-term plans in any great detail.  How will they tackle the big issues of education, healthcare, public sector spending and welfare reform and will we in any event be controlled from Edinburgh or Brussels?

The most notable event at Holyrood has been the collapse of the other parties. Not only are they failing to hold the SNP to account or to pressure them on their manifesto promises, they are also running scared.  Alex Salmond has only to hint that he might return to the country for a proper mandate, which he would almost certainly get, and they beat a hasty retreat.

Though we do not support the break-up of the United Kingdom, the Scottish Progressives do believe that the best way forward is greater independence: not the regressive move of complete divorce, but the much more progressive step towards self-determination. We believe that Scotland’s success – our success – will not be decided by the location or the mantra of its leaders, but by whether or not these leaders are bold enough to allow people to get on and make a success of their own lives by freeing them from excessive regulation, high taxes and constant meddling.

The Scottish Progressives will promote realistic and affordable solutions to Scotland’s ills. We support low taxes, less state control, community-based policing and a host of other measures geared at delivering a more successful, free and progressive society.  A full set of proposals will be published shortly and a summary is available here.

The Progressives dominated Scottish local politics for almost 50 years. It is time for the Progressives to return.