SNP 'on sound platform' after first 100 days

Salmond marks 100 days as first minister

Friday, 24, Aug 2007 12:00

The Scottish National Party claims it has made good progress towards enacting its manifesto pledges in its first 100 days in power.

To mark the end of its first 100 days, the SNP has published a self-assessed report card, setting out its achievements to date.

The SNP said it had already taken action to reduce class sizes, remove the road tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges, protect A&E units, abolish graduate fees and establish a Council of Economic Advisers to target Scotland's economy.

Cabinet secretary John Swinney said: "In our programme for the first 100 days of government we set out many of the important steps we would take to set our nation on a more ambitious path.

"Now, as we reach the 100th day we are proud to be able to report back to the people of Scotland."

Mr Swinney claimed the 100-day programme gave the party a "solid platform of success" for their next four years in government.

He continued: "We will continue to work as we have done in our first 100 days. Scotland has so much potential and by focussing on making our country even more successful the government knows our nation can achieve much more."

However, Labour claim the SNP has sidelined many pledges and introduced only one of its promised five bills.

The Liberal Democrats said the nationalist's report card was "one of the biggest spin operations since Torvill and Dean".

And the Conservatives accused the SNP of following a populist agenda. Tory chief whip David McLetchie told the BBC Alex Salmond had been "playing to the gallery".

The two Green MSPs in the Scottish parliament have been working with the SNP in a loose coalition. They issued a muted response to the government's first 100 days, describing it as a "mixed bag".

While the government has secured a "historic" vote against Trident renewal, the Greens were disappointed the SNP remained committed to abolishing road tolls as well as road and airport expansion.

Green MSP Robin Harper said the "one step forward two steps back approach of the Labour and Lib Dem executive appears to still be in evidence".

He added: "I hope that by now it is clear that whilst Greens will work with the new government in a constructive and positive way where we agree, where we disagree we will tackle the SNP as we would any other party."