A decade in power: is the SNP a new hope?

Nicola Sturgeon wanted optimism to be the cornerstone of her keynote speech to the SNP conference yesterday. There are a number of reasons she did so, chief among them to walk the tightrope that is a second independence referendum.

Many of her party’s supporters want another vote as soon as possible, a view backed by some of her elected politicians.

The possibility has also been floated by some of her MPs that a referendum is not even necessary to declare Scotland independent.

The First Minister told the assembled masses in Glasgow to be patient while extolling the virtues of leaving the UK.

Of course, one constitutional separation Ms Sturgeon has no positive feeling for is Brexit.

That section of her speech failed to match the “hope” slogan of the Glasgow gathering.

Most of the address, however, was dedicated to painting a positive picture of the SNP’s time in government, with more achievements pointed out than new policies announced.

It was a well delivered speech, such set pieces are a particular strength of Ms Sturgeon, but it was devoid of hefty policy or indeed meat for the masses who take part in pro-independence marches across the country.

In a world of relentless negativity around politics, one cannot help but admire a message of hope but the First Minister must make sure her record matches her rhetoric.