Editorial: Salmond should focus on policies not profile

THE SNP go to Aviemore this weekend for their spring conference. They do so in a worse position than they have been in since winning power almost three years ago.

Rocked by a series of scandals – some significant, but most of little real consequence – and accusations of failing to deliver on key election pledges, the Scottish Government's fortunes have waned considerably.

The SNP will fight the forthcoming Westminster election under the banner "Scotland Needs Champions", arguing that better representation in the Commons will give Scotland a stronger voice.

But even Alex Salmond must know that his long-standing target of obtaining 20 seats is now unrealistic. With both the party and its leader riding lower in the polls than for some time anything approaching double figures will be a good result for the SNP.

Mr Salmond should be looking far beyond this May's election. When Britain goes to the polls he will have just a year before the election that really matters for him, at Holyrood.

The apparent sure-footedness and popularity of the early honeymoon days are well and truly over and a series of embarrassing gaffes have damaged the party's credibility.

It will be a vital 12 months during which the SNP will have to distance itself from the "Piegate" cash-for-access row and Nicola Sturgeon's unfortunate intervention in a high-profile fraud case.

To date, the general election campaign has been overshadowed by Mr Salmond's preoccupation with his own profile, especially his vainglorious bid to elbow his way on to the election TV debates.

He would be better served concentrating on policy and assuring the public that his government will deliver on its promises.

For a start, the government should be giving a firm commitment – as it has done in Glasgow – that it will fully fund a new Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh, including a brain surgery unit.

If in the current climate it cannot provide more money for new schools and badly needed low-cost homes then it should be ensuring that others have access to private funds to do so. It needs to deliver solutions locally to stimulate economic growth as we come out of the recession.

In his speech today Mr Salmond will say that the SNP are Scotland's best champions because the party speaks up for the nation. But the party will be judged on its success rate and especially its record in government – in May 2011, not 2010.