The big handover has been made. Nicola Sturgeon has taken the reins as leader of the SNP and next week will be formally installed as First Minister of Scotland. What then lies ahead for the country’s next leader?
It all seems so positive, with her party bulging with new members and the opposition seemingly disintegrating in front of her eyes.
So, it’s all good then?
Sorry, but it’s not quite as clear cut as that. First of all there is the looming shadow Alex Salmond will cast.
Sturgeon is a very capable politician and will certainly form her own unique path and, as a result, legacy in the top job but there’s no doubt she is stepping into big shoes.
Over two spells in charge, he dragged the SNP from noisy rabble-rousers (and, frankly, no-hopers) to a proper party of government who after a term and a half in charge are still seeing their popularity rise.
That is a ridiculous turnaround and it will take some doing to even keep their fortunes at roughly the same high level they have sat at in recent years.
Of course, the outgoing boss’s legacy might be a lighter weight on the shoulders if, as seems likely, he decides to make a return to Westminster.
At least that way he’ll be lambasting a Prime Minister, not causing fellow back benchers at Holyrood to think: “What would Alex have done?”
Then there are the domestic issues. There are some big, big choices facing Sturgeon in the coming months across a wide range of departments.
Justice has been a mess in recent times and a decision will need to be made whether or not to wash away the mess that is the planned scrapping of corroboration.
Education-wise, there are serious budget shortfalls which are now becoming apparent. Teacher numbers are approaching crisis levels and the Curriculum for Excellence had a turbulent introduction.
Funding worries are also apparent in the NHS, Sturgeon’s old brief. One look at the last Audit Scotland report is enough to lay bare the big problems coming down the road with an institution valued above all else by the vast majority of Scotland’s people. You only need to look at how often it is used as a political football not least during the referendum to see that.
Last, but not least, something must be done about council tax. The freeze cannot last forever. Sooner or later the problem needs to be tackled, not just pushed on the back burner with a populist policy.
Be it a revaluation or something along the lines of a local income tax, criticism will inevitably follow.
Nicola Sturgeon is perfectly capable of proving herself beyond doubt the best Scottish politician of her generation but it will come by making the big, difficult choices.
* SPEAKING OF Nicola Sturgeon, her rock star-style tour of Scotland has seen her pack out venues usually reserved for leading lights in the music scene.
So, what big time Charlie demands has the First Minister in waiting been making? Has she asked for bowls of blue M&Ms as part of her rider?
“I haven’t,” she insists. “I maybe should!” However, she did steal a slice of a worker’s pizza after arriving very hungry ahead of her event in Dumfries. It’s slippery slope
* FROM STEALING your tea to skipping a meal altogether, as Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone gave the best excuse for failing to make a Federation of Small Business dinner last weekend.
It turns out the North East Scotland representative was stuck at home with no way of getting down the road for the event.
Why? Well, somebody had apparently taken the wrong car keys out with them and left him stranded.
* IT SEEMS Food Secretary Richard Lochhead’s bid to protect Dundee Cake under EU laws provided some inspiration to would-be bakers in the city.
At the very least, it meant a former chef in The Courier’s office decided to take on the challenge of concocting a version of the famous tasty treat.
The question of whether or not it was a success could be quite easily answered by the sound of munching and rapid disappearance of the baking produce.
* GIVEN THE SNP conference is under way, it seems appropriate to admit to taking a food-based insult from Holyrood’s Presiding Officer.
Having bumped into Tricia Marwick while with a mutual pal, the Glenrothes and Fife MSP warned I should not be led astray. Of course not, I replied. I’m rock-like when it comes to such resolve.
“Son, you’re more of a marshmallow,” came the retort. Ach well, best grab a pint then.
kiandrews@thecourier.co.uk