A time for also looking forward as well as back

As the festivities draw to a close and the New Year is finally upon us it is time for both reflection and anticipation. A time to look back over what has been a magnificent 2007 but also to look forward to what promises to be an even better 2008.

This time last year in my New Year’s message to the people of Banff & Buchan I envisaged 2007 being a historic year for Scotland in which the people would be presented with a momentous opportunity for change. We would be faced with two choices, I reflected - to move forward and progress with the SNP or remain stagnant under an ineffective Lib-Lab Executive. Now looking back over the year with the benefit of hindsight, I am truly delighted to be able to say that the people of Scotland chose progress.

The year began with momentum both locally and nationally. On the national level the SNP were firing ahead in full steam, scrupulously holding the Labour-Lib Dem Executive to account at every turn and fervently gearing up for the May elections. Locally we faced various feats and in February celebrated success on the maternity campaign when after much campaigning it was announced that birthing units would be retained at Fraserburgh, Banff and Aboyne – a major victory for Mums in the area and for all of those who fought hard to save local maternity services.

And then we come to that catalytic event in May which transformed the outlook for Scotland significantly. The Scottish election was a historic moment for our country in which the people gave their resounding support to the SNP and a clear vote of confidence for Scotland. The election was fought over many policy areas – economy, education and justice, to mention a few - and while policies varied from party to party the most significant difference between the SNP’s campaign and those of other parties was its positivity. Far from resorting to the scaremongering and negative attacks of Labour, the SNP ran a consistently positive campaign, expressing confidence in Scotland and its enormous potential as a nation. The people chose positivity and confidence in Scotland over negativity and stagnation.

For my part, I was carried to a soaring victory with over 58% of the votes cast, thanks to the people of Banff & Buchan, 16,031 of whom gave me their backing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my constituents once again for their overwhelming support and for giving me the privilege of representing their interests for another four years.

Forming the first SNP Government and being appointed Minister was an incredible experience and a true honour. It was a crucial moment in Scottish history and one from which there is no turning back. And looking back, our first few months in Government read as a series of successes both nationally for Scotland and locally for Banff & Buchan. In its short time in power, the SNP Government has seen major progress in Banff & Buchan. Amongst other actions it has opened the way for a historic Council tax freeze, cut business rates for small businesses and indeed momentously secured the future of Peterhead Prison.

So all in all 2007 has certainly been a year to remember and has given the people of Banff & Buchan and indeed of Scotland every reason to look confidently forward to 2008. We can enter this year with the safe assurance that we now have a Government that will stand up for Scotland’s best interests and take Scotland forward into a successful and prosperous new year. I wish all of my constituents the very best for 2008.