Reasons to be cheerful

As the anniversary nears of Alex Salmond's election victory, Scotland on Sunday asked some of the country's most prominent figures for their verdicts on his Government so far

IAN RANKIN

AUTHOR

I'm a lot more sanguine that I was before the election. There seems to be thought in the party, as well as ideas and individuals with personality. There hasn't been that much you can point to and they have been keeping the ship steady. Almost everybody I know who weren't SNP supporters says they are pleasantly surprised. That is partly due to the London parties shooting themselves in the foot. But they have had a lucky ride so far and I'm sure it won't last.

SIR TOM FARMER

ENTREPRENEUR

I was with someone earlier today who wasn't a supporter who told me that they were surprised by the SNP administration and admitted that they had proved him wrong. That sums up what would apply to so many people. There is a general feeling that things are happening for the better. There is a buzz about the place. People feel that there is a change taking place. I can't put a finger on it but there is a freshness of approach. There is a feel-good factor. People feel that in Alex Salmond there is a strong man who leads the party, and whether they agree with him or not they feel that at least we have a leader who is fighting Scotland's corner.

SIR PETER BURT

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF ITV

Although they haven't actually made any major changes to date, one thing they have done for the first time in many years is create a feel-good factor, in the sense that we are more in control of our own destiny. That must be a good thing. The most engaging thing about the SNP minority Government is the appearance of a really professional approach and a consequent increase in the confidence which the electorate have in the role of the Scottish Parliament. Although most of their achievements have been relatively insignificant this is perhaps not surprising, given their minority position. It also takes time to settle in. It will be interesting to see what they achieve over the next three years.

MICHAEL FRY

HISTORIAN

I was one of those who converted to the SNP, and I switched not without some misgivings because I thought it might all be a bit too left-wing. But we have got moderate, pragmatic sensible government. There have been a few tactical mistakes, like over Trump, but nothing too bad. I think Scots do not sleep more uneasily because of Alex Salmond. On the contrary, they sleep more securely.

CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE

NOVELIST

One year is far too short a period to judge anything. That's especially with regard to the question of independence. It's way too soon to make any real judgment.

TOM DEVINE

HISTORIAN

In the updated version of my book, The Scottish Nation, which took the story down to 2007, a new chapter looked at the performance of the post-devolution Governments to May of last year. The conclusion was that although there were a number of achievements, such as the ban on smoking in public places and the attack on sectarianism, there was little to set the heather on fire or come anywhere close to satisfying the expectations of the generation which had struggled for a Scottish Parliament.

If a new chapter was to be added, it would have to be acknowledged that the SNP Government has been by far the most effective post-devolution executive to date. Yes, some of its initiatives have tended towards the populist rather than the substantive, and the disarray of the opposition has also given it a fair wind. But the overall quality of leadership and the collective talent at ministerial level are a marked improvement on the past. The SNP has certainly demonstrated it can run the country well and its political credibility has been much enhanced as a result.

I am doubtful, however, despite the ebb and flow of the polls, that the Government's performance fundamentally affects the independence issue. My sense is that most Scots would still favour a robust defence of the nation's interests, of the kind offered by the SNP, within the Union, together with additional powers for the present Scottish Parliament.

TAM DALYELL

FORMER LABOUR MP

I think Alex Salmond is drawing enormous goodwill from his opposition at an early stage to the Iraq war and the action in Afghanistan. My view is that there has got to be a referendum but that there should be a question on whether or not you wish the Scottish Parliament to continue. My view is that if the Parliament continues then it is a motorway to independence because everyone in any parliament wants more power – even the Tories want it now in Scotland.

JENNI CALDER

WRITER

In some ways things have shaped up better than I expected. However, there are areas of disappointment. They seem to want to celebrate Scottish culture and they want to blow the cultural trumpet but they are not prepared to back that up with resources.

SAM GALBRAITH

FORMER LABOUR HEALTH MINISTER

The SNP Government has been very poor. All they have done are the populist things. That is good for becoming popular but it isn't good for the country. They haven't taken any hard decisions at all. I think the local income tax will be their poll tax. Alex Salmond is damaging the country greatly with a series of whines and whinges, generating fake problems. The day of reckoning is about to come. We are no closer to independence.

JAMES MITCHELL

PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY

The SNP has governed as it campaigned a year ago. It has been upbeat and positive, avoiding the bombast of the past. Its message has been constructive. Relations with London have been unremarkable other than in confounding critics who predicted endless battles with London. There have been skirmishes, but no more so than in any normal system of inter-governmental relations, nor even than relations between the old Scottish Office and the rest of Whitehall. Only the delusional and partisans interpret differences between Holyrood and Westminster as a game plan to foster conflict. Predictions of another election within months have also been confounded.

Minority government has limited the SNP's ability to implement its manifesto but less so than might have been expected. Minority government has rapidly taken on a Scandinavian feel – requiring majority-building in Parliament – and the SNP has taken to it with ease. Polls on independence fluctuate wildly and are fairly meaningless, not least because the prospect of a referendum seems distant. Ironically, it has taken an SNP Government to show how devolution should work.

IAIN McMILLAN

DIRECTOR OF CBI SCOTLAND

The track record of the SNP Scottish Government in its first year has been mixed. On the positive side, the urgent review of Scotland's transport needs and confirmation of a raft of new strategic transport projects, including the M74 and second Forth crossing, was very welcome, as was the fresh energy applied to improving Scotland's planning regime and reducing the business rate burden on small firms. On the negative side, the proposal to replace the council tax with a local income tax will send out a signal that Scotland is a high tax country and burden employers with yet more tax-collecting red tape.

JAMES ROBERTSON

NOVELIST

There are some obvious differences. There are no tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges, prescription charges are not going up. But it's the changes in mood that are most noticeable, there is a lot more optimism in the air. I also think that Scotland is a lot more visible internationally, which is a good thing. Generally, the signs are good.

TOBY PATERSON

ARTIST

If anything has changed it's my opinion about them. Before the election I was arguing with my friends that they should not vote for the SNP and that it would be dangerous to vote for them. I don't like tub-thumping nationalism. I wouldn't necessarily vote for them, but I do think that things are a lot smoother than I expected.

WILLIE McILVANNEY

WRITER

The new administration represents a real chance for the Scottish Parliament and Scotland to forge a new and much more realistic identity. The first years of the Parliament were just a clumsy clone of Westminster. I think now that we have a chance to look at the problems we have and to get to grips with them.

MICHAEL MARRA

SONGWRITER

What I want is to be a democratic republic. People should be in power because they won votes, and because the SNP are keeping the monarchy we are no further forward in that respect than we were 200 years ago. However, on a day-to-day basis, they are doing fine. I'm disappointed, though, that they have no say over the really big issues, such as military and defence.

HUGH ANDREWS

PUBLISHER

Presentationally, and in terms of standing up for a distinct Scottish voice, they are streets ahead of the last administration. They have done a lot of very popular things, which is very good. But I think that the jury is still out on whether they can take the hard decision to deal with the problems we have.

JOHN BURNSIDE

POET AND NOVELIST

I'm not as impressed as I would have liked to have been, although they are doing better than that shower at Westminster.

JOE GRANT

GENERAL SECRETARY, SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION

It's fair to say that the first year of the SNP Government has had the police at or pretty close to the top of its agenda. If I were writing a report card it would say "great start, keep up the good work".

MARGO MacDONALD

MSP

That there should now be interest and approval amongst Scotland on Sunday readers, respondents to opinion surveys and the clients in my hairdressers' is testimony to Alex's political skills. Deftly doling out goodies like ending prescription charges and bridge tolls while Labour is all at sea, his ability to duck and dive for Scotland creates excitement.

RAYMOND O'HARE

DIRECTOR OF MICROSOFT SCOTLAND AND CHAIRMAN OF THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS SCOTLAND

Overall I am heartened as this Scottish Government nears its first year in office. I look forward to continue working with the SNP-led administration to enable further access, in this knowledge economy, to technologies that bring with them economic and social opportunities and great potential to transform people's lives.

ROB WOODWARD

CEO OF SMG

There's no doubt that Scotland is feeling more confident, more dynamic and more purposeful since the SNP Government came to power last May.

CHARLIE TAYLOR

HAIRDRESSING ENTREPRENEUR

I would find it difficult to sum up the SNP's year as I can't really think of anything they have done that stands out in my mind. Scotland did not feel good under a Labour Government and in my opinion feels no different under the SNP.

TOMMY GILMOUR

BOXING PROMOTER

I don't think it has made much difference to many people. All the parties seem to spend most their time having a go at one another and no one in the SNP, Labour or anyone else seems to be putting their backs into getting the country moving.

PAT NEVIN

FORMER FOOTBALLER

It's a settling in period. When you have never been in government before you need to learn how to govern, then you have to implement it. They've made mistakes but it's too early to judge. I approve of any move helping students and making sure they don't have to pay tuition fees. Also, the cuts in prescription fees – I'm delighted with that, but who wouldn't be?

Scotland doesn't feel different now. It's far too early. You can't change a country in such a short space of time.

JOHN HALDANE

PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY, ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY

The SNP has effectively countered the images of it as ideological, narrow and anti-English; and it has also shown itself to be capable of forming a functioning minority administration. The latter achievement has swept away the 'it can't work' objection, and the SNP is now engaged in a fascinating attempt to re-envision Scottish identity. With Labour in Scotland seeming to have lost its sense of purpose, and in Westminster its ability to manage the business of government, we have moved further than could have been imagined a year ago towards general acceptance of the idea of Scottish independence. It's 'the vision thing'; and for now, at least, the vision lies with the SNP. Unless unionists can fashion an image of Britain appealing to the Scots' imagination they have no future. Discuss.

JAMES MacMILLAN

COMPOSER

Like many Scottish Catholics, I am not a natural SNP supporter, but I have to concede that their level of political efficiency and intelligence blows the other lot out of the water. Compared to the present Government, Scottish Labour looks sleazy, moronic and corrupt. I'm still not sure whether the SNP are friend or foe to the arts. One encounters an old-fashioned class warrior in certain sections of the party that seem hostile to serious music, for example. Maybe they think there are still votes in Philistinism, a classic Scots Labour error. Time will tell.

PETER LYNCH

PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, STIRLING UNIVERSITY

The key thing to remember about the SNP Government is that it is a minority Government. It could have fallen on a number of occasions already but has survived and, indeed, doesn't look like a minority Government at all. It has successfully co-operated with its opponents in the Parliament to produce a Budget and legislative programme and looks quite stable as a result. Besides the general performance of a Government though, the real issue is whether the SNP has been able to move the constitutional debate forward, and the answer appears to be yes as all other parties are now discussing increased powers for Scotland.

SHEILA McLEAN

PROFESSOR OF LAW AND ETHICS IN MEDICINE, GLASGOW UNIVERSITY

When reflecting on the last year, what I remember is the (even if only temporary) U-turn on student debt, the sleight of hand over the number of extra police on the streets, a great deal of excitement about calling themselves a government not an executive, the re-branding of Tartan Week and an extremely expensive campaign to replace the welcome slogan in airports. Not really a political tour de force, but of course I will have been selective – like everyone – in what I actually remember. Overall, however, my impression is one of confidence and, whether or not that is merited, it is refreshing to see.

FIONA MORIARTY

DIRECTOR, SCOTTISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM

Broadly, the Scottish Government's positive, fresh approach should be welcomed, but the new administration hasn't yet come up against too many difficult or controversial issues.

JOHN BYRNE

ARTIST

There is something in the air since they got in. Something has changed. Things feel more positive. Although I can't put a finger on anything in particular... there is just a better feeling in Scotland.

JANET PAISLEY

WRITER

I feel a lot more optimistic about things. I think that people are now a lot more positive about Scotland. It's good that there are no more tolls on the road bridges and they have frozen the council tax. I just hope that people will believe much more in Scotland. We have so much to offer the world. Maybe we shall finally get rid of the Scottish cringe.

BELINDA DICKSON

FASHION DESIGNER

I feel that they are more competent and focused on delivery and execution rather than just talking about things. I like that they're trying to simplify red tape and having a go at the quangos, although I'm not so sure of the way they are going about it. I don't agree, though, with having clashes with Westminster... they should be more focused on dealing with things in Scotland. I disagree with their local income tax plans, which will drive people away and eventually drive business away.