Swinney focuses on 2003 elections

John Swinney has delivered his New Year message

The Scottish National Party will concentrate on building its support for the next Holyrood elections during the coming year, leader John Swinney has pledged.

In his New Year message, Mr Swinney said that spiralling job losses meant too many Scots would start the year fearing for their own future.

And he promised to establish how his party would improve the lives of people in Scotland by creating quality public services and a vibrant economy.

We are Scotland's second party and we are determined to become the political leadership of our country

John Swinney

Mr Swinney said: "2002 will be a critical year in building our support for the 2003 elections.

"It will be a year to raise the ambitions of Scots to take control of our own lives and to make our country the best that it can be.

"Everyone in the Scottish National Party will be focused on that task."

He said that the party was "in great heart and in great condition" as it went into the New Year.

"We are Scotland's second party and we are determined to become the political leadership of our country," he said.

Economic slowdown

"2002 will be a year in which we establish the foundations of victory at the 2003 Scottish Parliament elections."

He predicted that the election would be decided on which party could deliver first-class public services and the best future for Scotland.

He claimed that the SNP was ahead on both counts, with Labour "failing" on public services.

The SNP will harry this Labour executive to demonstrate how they are failing to deliver on public services

John Swinney

"Far too many people in Scotland will start this year fearful for their own prospects as our economy faces a slowdown and job losses spiral," he said.

"That is the real record of New Labour in Scotland.

"Throughout 2002, the SNP will harry this Labour executive to demonstrate how they are failing to deliver on public services and to set out how the SNP will improve the lives of people in Scotland by creating quality public services and a vibrant economy."

He said that the party would also make the case to complete the powers of the Scottish Parliament through independence.

Mr Swinney also reflected on the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States, which he said had "left a deep reminder of how fragile our democratic societies can be in the face of international terror".