Politics review: April to June

David McLetchie campaigns on road tolls

In the second of a four-part series, BBC News Online Scotland's Brian Ponsonby looks back at some of the major political events in 2003.

It was hardly Shakespearean, but April began badly for the Scottish Conservatives when two former MSPs "betrayed" them.

That was David McLetchie's reaction to news that Lyndsay McIntosh and Keith Harding had quit to join the new centre-right Scottish People's Alliance.

The Tory leader was scathing in his criticism, labelling the new body "a piddling little party".

He said: "Everybody knows what their motivation is. It's nothing to do with politics or convictions.

"It's a plainly opportunistic decision they have made reflecting the fact that they were not ranked (in the party lists).

"Would they be in the Scottish People's Alliance today if they were ranked number one in their respective regions?"

'Yob culture'

His venom, however, could not mask the fact that the timing of the defection took the sheen off the Tories' manifesto launch days later.

That package pledged "smaller government and real devolution".

Mr McLetchie said the first four years of the Scottish Parliament had seen more public cash spent, but poorer results in health, education and the economy.

Labour targeted anti-social behaviour

He called for fewer ministers, MSPs and bureaucrats and more power to be devolved to allow the police, hospitals, teachers and communities to make their own decisions.

With campaigning now fully underway, Labour's manifesto arrived with its sights set on tackling 'yob culture'.

It outlined plans for possibly jailing the parents of young offenders.

The party also pledged action on disruptive pupils by taking them out of classrooms and providing sin-bins - "pupil support bases" - in each school.

The usual promises to stimulate the economy and improve the quality of life were there but it was those proposals targeting anti-social behaviour that caused the fiercest debate.

Youth crime also featured in the manifesto of Labour's coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats.

'Tartan Tax'

But their election catchphrase "spend to save" revealed an ambition to increase funding to key priorities now with the aim of making huge savings in future.

Party leader Jim Wallace said the bulk of the extra cash would come from the executive's emergency reserves.

But he was criticised for failing to rule out the "Tartan Tax" option if Westminster did not provide enough cash.

John Swinney called for "national optimism"

The Scottish National Party launched its election manifesto with an appeal for "a new age of national optimism".

It contained commitments to reduce business rates, increase nurses' pay and cut primary class sizes.

John Swinney also stressed that any move to independence would only come with the public's permission.

This was interpreted by some as a watering down of the party's core belief and it would cause major problems for him in the months ahead.

There was more trouble when the party ran a controversial election broadcast which depicted a pensioner dying while waiting for treatment on the NHS.

Political rivals described it as "sick" and in poor taste while one campaigner for the elderly said it was "shocking".

Election night

Mr Swinney defended the ad, saying he would not "sugar coat the truth about the NHS in Scotland".

But with the election less than one month away it was clear that the gloves were coming off.

As the countdown continued the squabbles intensified over who would provide the most number of police, nurses, teachers, etc.

Two opinion polls published 48 hours before the election put Labour on course for a convincing win in the constituency vote.

Scotland went to the polls on 1 May

Both predicted gains for the smaller parties under the second vote but they also forecast that turnout could be as low as 52%.

Finally, on 1 May, the talking was over and the pollsters were put to the test - and they were not wrong.

Labour was the single largest party with 46 seats from the constituency vote and four from the regional lists.

This was only six down on the previous tally - not a bad result considering the damage that could have been done by Henry McLeish's resignation and spiralling costs of the Holyrood project.

Like last time, the victory did not deliver a clear majority and Labour was forced to start contemplating another four years of coalition government.

The victory was also not without cost - as some high profile Labour members found out.

Gray gone

The shock result of the night was in Strathkelvin and Bearsden where an independent, retired GP Jean Turner, defeated sitting MSP Brian Fitzpatrick.

Iain Gray, the then enterprise minister, lost out to Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie in the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency.

The Scottish National Party's George Reid took Ochil which had been held by Labour's former deputy justice minister Richard Simpson - who resigned after using the words "fascist" and "bastards" to refer to striking firefighters.

In Dundee East, the Nationalists' Shona Robison defeated Labour left-winger John McAllion with a majority of just 70.

Iain Gray was ousted by David McLetchie

And the SNP also claimed Aberdeen North from Labour, with Brian Adam securing a majority of 457 over Elaine Thomson.

The Liberal Democrats also gained at Labour's expense when Mike Pringle ousted former finance minister Angus MacKay from his seat in Edinburgh South.

Election night was not a spectacular success for the Scottish Tories but neither was it a disaster.

They held firm with 18 seats - three in the constituency vote and fifteen in the regional.

This total put them one ahead of the Liberal Democrats who also held firm with 17 seats - 13 in the constituency and four in the regional.

But for the remaining 'big party' the election was a huge disappointment.

'Pensioner power'

Overall the SNP lost eight seats, taking just nine in the constituency vote and a further 18 in the regional.

Two days later the party's MSPs rallied round the leader at a meeting in Edinburgh, insisting that his job was safe.

The party's deputy leader Roseanna Cunningham described any questions about Mr Swinney's future as "ridiculous" - she was wrong.

Two months later his political future was on the line after a little-known party activist mounted a challenge.

Pensioner power helped elect John Swinburne

The real story of election night, however, was the rise of the smaller parties and independents.

Former SNP MSP Margo MacDonald was returned on the Lothians list as an independent and Dennis Canavan held Falkirk West.

Dr Turner took Strathkelvin and Bearsden on a health ticket to stop the closure of Stobhill Hospital in the north of Glasgow.

Pensioner power on the Central Scotland list also returned an MSP for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party in John Swinburne.

The Scottish Green Party had a magnificent night, gaining seven MSPs for the new session - six more than 1999.

Their greatest success came in the Lothians list, where Robin Harper was returned along with colleague Mark Ballard after the party secured almost 32,000 list votes.

Green dream

Single seats were also secured on the lists for South of Scotland, Glasgow, Mid Scotland and Fife, North East Scotland and the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Harper described the result as "an enormous step forward" for Green politics.

"This enlarged group means that we will be able to forge ahead with the urgent task of greening Scotland," he said.

"We have crossed the crucial threshold of five MSPs which gives us a place at the top table in parliament."

The Scottish Greens returned seven MSPs

The other big success story belonged to the Scottish Socialist Party, which returned with six MSPs.

From the moment of new MSP Colin Fox's 'victory dance' it became clear that the SSP would offer something different.

Party leader Tommy Sheridan promised to "mount a major campaign over the next four years that will engulf Scotland".

"We are going to put socialism back on the agenda not just in Scotland but across Europe," he said.

One of his new colleagues Rosie Kane said the SSP would "bring colour, imagination, all sorts of diversity and attitude" to the chamber.

Just one week later it seemed that she was making good on her prediction.

Hand protest

The MSP's decision to wear jeans and a multi-coloured blouse to the swearing in session raised eyebrows both inside and outside the chamber.

But she went further while taking the oath, writing a message in felt tip on the palm of her hand: "My oath is to the people."

Mr Fox chose to make his protest through song - "A Man's A Man for A' That" - but Sir David Steel, in one of his last acts as presiding officer, sent him to the back of the queue for time-wasting.

When Holyrood finally got down to business the formalities of office needed sorting.

Rosie Kane makes a colourful debut

The SNP's George Reid was elected as the chamber's new presiding officer, with Labour's Trish Godman and the Conservative Murray Tosh as his deputies.

Jack McConnell was re-elected as first minister after seeing off Mr Swinney, Mr McLetchie, Mr Harper, Mr Sheridan, Mr Canavan and Ms MacDonald.

His party also tied up a new partnership agreement with the Liberal Democrats, but as expected the price was proportional representation for local government.

This did not go down too well with many grass-roots party activists and trouble may yet lie ahead for the first minister.

Mr McConnell also re-shuffled the cabinet, with Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace taking over at enterprise and lifelong learning from Iain Gray.

Former education minister Cathy Jamieson took over the Lib Dem leader's old justice portfolio.

Double re-shuffle

And she was replaced by Labour colleague Peter Peacock, who was deputy finance minister in the previous administration.

Labour's Frank McAveety and Lib Dem MSP Nicol Stephen took over tourism, culture and sport and transport, respectively.

They now sit in cabinet on deputy ministers' salaries.

Mike Watson, who was minister for tourism in the previous administration, was sacked.

Mike Watson was sacked from the cabinet

Elsewhere, the social justice portfolio held by Margaret Curran was renamed communities.

The SNP also shuffled its frontbench pack - giving deputy leader Roseanna Cunningham responsibility for environment and rural issues.

Her previous job on justice matters was taken by health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon, who was in turn replaced by Shona Robison.

The education brief went to Fiona Hyslop and Jim Mather took over on the enterprise and economy brief.

Fergus Ewing was appointed spokesman on finance and public services and the chief whip's role went to Bruce Crawford.

At the end of May, Mr McConnell outlined details of the Scottish Executive's legislative programme for the next year.

Holyrood Inquiry

There were proposals for 14 bills which he claimed would "change Scotland for the better".

"We will introduce four new bills before the summer recess on education, health and justice - the people's priorities," he said.

"We will publish proposals for dealing with anti-social behaviour and the reform of the High Court because it is time to act.

"And in our first year, we will concentrate our legislation on health, education, crime and the environment - exactly as we said we would."

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie was appointed to head the Holyrood Inquiry

Opposition parties claimed the programme lacked ambition and branded it a missed opportunity.

The first minister may have been able to ignore these criticisms but he could not shake off those about the Holyrood project any longer.

The on-going scandal over the rising costs of the new parliament building would not die.

In June, Mr McConnell announced an independent inquiry headed by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.

It would be three months before evidence was heard but the wait would be worth it for those who enjoy political controversy.

Also in June, Mr Swinney tried to rally his troops at the annual celebration of the Bannockburn victory in 1314.

Dungavel trouble

Russia's President Putin toured Edinburgh Castle before addressing leading public, business and cultural figures at the Signet Library.

And Transport Minister Nicol Stephen ordered a public inquiry into the controversial extension of the M74 motorway through Glasgow.

As the second quarter of 2003 drew to a close, growing disquiet over the Dungavel Detention Centre for asylum seekers began to gather pace.

In April one Catholic Bishops said it was "a disgrace" that children were being held in prison-like conditions at the centre.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Scotland

By June the Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown was also condemning the treatment of youngsters at the facility.

He intervened after learning of the plight of a 14-year-old girl.

Beriwan Ay, a Kurd from northern Iraq, had been detained in Dungavel with her mother, her 11-year-old brother Dilovan and sisters Nevrooz, 12, and Medya, seven, since last summer.

The family was fighting deportation and their case would spark some bitter political exchanges later in the year.

But for now, election business was over and MSPs were returning to the bread and butter issues of politics. In the third quarter of the year, the Holyrood Inquiry and Dungavel would top their menu.