'The threshold of a new era'

Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar writes:

"The people of Scotland have a good reason to celebrate this St Andrew's Day.

The Scotland Act is now law. It received Royal Assent on Thursday, 19 November.

It was a truly historic day for Scotland and another important step in the country's journey towards a new political future.

There is still much to be done. By St Andrew's Day next year we will have a Scottish Parliament.

Before then we will have the elections in May and the official opening of the parliament in July - the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years."

Click here to read the full text of Donald Dewar's article.

'A new Scotland is being born'

Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party, writes:

"Our country has changed greatly in recent years. The referendum victory in September 1997 showed that Scots were no longer prepared to live shackled to the past, but instead were ready to confidently embrace their future.

The destination of our national journey is independence - all that is to be decided is the speed of our progress.

A new Scotland is being born.

By being positive, forward looking and imaginative everyone of us can assist in the creation of a country of our own."

Click here to read the full text of Alex Salmond's article.

Tories ready to make history

David McLetchie, leader of the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates Group, writes:

"Our organisation is ready. We have the candidates in place to make an impact in the historic first elections for Holyrood.

The torch has passed to a new generation who are ready to grasp it and run with it to the goal of fresh success for our party in Scotland.

We have new activists in place to support bright new candidates, and new faces champing at the bit to make an impact in a new Scotland.

We have a wealth of talent, and most importantly of all we have a will to win."

Click here to read the full text of David McLetchie's article.