SNP aim to roar at Hampden

The backdrop gave reporters a chance to use sporting clichés

By BBC Scotland political correspondent Elizabeth Quigley

The venue was Hampden - Scotland's national stadium. The aim was to kick off campaigning for an election that hasn't yet been called.

In many ways the SNP had chosen the location for their spring national council very well.

The giant saltires picked out in the blue and white seats of the stadium were an impressive backdrop - and it was a welcome excuse for journalists to use as many footballing clichés as possible in our coverage.

But inside, the actual conference room was less awe-inspiring. It was just that - a conference room - not an imposing auditorium or theatre.

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was, of course, overshadowing the event.

The SNP have an eye on the election

Some delegates from rural farming areas had decided it wasn't wise to travel, there were no political points to be scored over the action taken by the Scottish Executive to stop the disease and even the timing of the general election is in doubt.

But the whole purpose of the national council was to send out a rallying cry for the impending poll whenever it is called - and Friday morning's ad trailer was intended to set the scene.

A giant cotton bud labelled "SNP" was shown sticking into Tony Blair's ear to illustrate the Nationalists' argument that SNP MPs are needed at Westminster to ensure that Scotland's voice is heard.

Although the morning's debate continued this theme, it was overshadowed by the comments from the party's president Winnie Ewing about "Saint" Donald Dewar.

Previous gaffes like when Kenny MacAskill described the England football team as the "Great Satan" and Alex Neil comparing George Robertson to Lord Haw Haw provoked laughter and applause from conferences in past years.

John Swinney has been rallying the troops

But this time no one was impressed - and there was an almost audible gasp of disgust from the delegates.

Back on stage and on message, the former leader Alex Salmond turned the heat up on Labour - questioning the calibre of the politicians they sent to Westminster.

When the leader John Swinney took to the podium, he made it clear the Tories were unelectable - and the real fight in Scotland was between Labour and the SNP.

Borrowing from the Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell's recent remarks that the Lib Dems were Hague's little helpers, he railed against Labour saying they were in fact Hague¿s big helpers in Scotland.

Stung by the charge of the SNP standing for Still No Policies, Mr Swinney said they had strong new policies - on crime, education, health and jobs.

The SNP has Labour in its sights

These policies formed the basis for many of the debates - but prompted one commentator to say the danger in outlining them now was that another party might steal them!

He pointed to drugs courts which had been one of the SNP's election pledges in 1999 - and has now been adopted by the executive.

But the general election could all be postponed until later this year because of foot-and-mouth disease leaving the SNP with some extra time to convince the electorate that, as their slogan puts it, the SNP stands for Scotland - and that an SNP MP stands for something.