 | 'The swing to the SNP of more than 22 per cent would be enough to wipe out all but one Labour MP in Scotland if it was repeated at a general election.' Kevin Schofield in the Daily Record, 26 th July 2008. |  |
| 'The swing to the SNP of more than 22 per cent would be enough to wipe out all but one Labour MP in Scotland if it was repeated at a general election.' Kevin Schofield in the Daily Record, 26 th July 2008. | |
TRIUMPHANT Alex Salmond yesterday claimed Scotland was the SNP's for the taking following their stunning victory in Glasgow East.
He warned Scots Labour MPs that none of them were safe after their former stronghold fell to the Nats.
The First Minister said his triumphant party were now "on the high ground" and setting their sights on future triumphs.
He said: "We will march to the sound of the priorities of the people of Scotland and if we keep doing that, we're going to take some stopping in the general election, the Scottish elections to come and the independence referendum in 2010."
Salmond spoke out as the SNP celebrations continued in the wake of their historic by-election triumph in the formerly rock-solid Labour seat.
Victorious Nat candidate John Mason addressed ecstatic party activists at a rally in Easterhouse.
His six new Nationalist MP colleagues were also there to greet him.
Mason arrived at the Fort shopping centre flanked by Salmond and deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. The trio were greeted with roars of approval and given a standing ovation.
The swing to the SNP of more than 22 per cent would be enough to wipe out all but one Labour MP in Scotland if it was repeated at a general election.
Salmond said: "We have now demonstrated that there are no safe seats for the Labour Party anywhere in Scotland."
He had promised a "political earthquake" on day one of the campaign - and he delivered the groundshaking victory by leading from the front.
The victory was the Nats' most spectacular by-election coup since JimSillars took Govan 20 years ago.
And by winning in a Labour heartland, the SNP have put themselves on course to increase their 47 Holyrood seats and strengthen their hold on power in 2011.
The well-organised and wellfunded Nats worked harder than ever in a seat where they have no history of doing well.
Salmond made 11 high-profile visits to the constituency.
And the result justified his risky decision to turn the contest into a vote of confidence in his own government.
With just 48 hours before polling, he raised the stakes dramatically when he said the by-election was a "test of strength" between his government and Gordon Brown's.
The SNP capitalised on worries over the rising cost of living.
It was the issue which mattered most to voters - and one for which Gordon Brown was blamed.
Salmond said the people of Glasgow East had sent a message to Brown, adding: "That message is, 'Change your policy or change your job'."
Salmond also revealed he was quids in at the bookies thanks to the SNP's win.
He placed a "not insubstantial bet" on his party, who at one point during the campaign had drifted out to 9/4 against as Labour appeared to be on course for victory.
Salmond said: "All proceeds are going to the party - and to Moira (his wife)."
John Mason, who will now quit as a Glasgow councillor to take up his seat at Westminster, said: "The people of Glasgow East have spoken for the whole country.
"We've sent a message to Gordon Brown that it's time for action and time for him to listen."
He added: "Over 11 years of Labour Government, too little has improved, too many have been left behind.
"This is a sad indictment of what was once the people's party."
Meanwhile, bookies yesterday shortened the odds on Scotland becoming independent by 2012 following the SNP victory.
Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison said they had cut the odds from 25/1 to 20/1 following a flurry of big-money wagers.
Salmond said: "This was a by election which was test of strength between the Labour London government led by Gordon Brown and an SNP government in Scotland doing its best for the Scottish people.
"That was the test of strength and it was London Labour that was found wanting and the SNP in Scotland that emerged victorious."
He added: "We now command the agenda in Scottish politics and the test for the party and the test for the country is how we use that political influence because it must be used for the people of this constituency and across Scotland."
He dismissed calls from Tory leader David Cameron for a general election and said: "I've got bad news for David - I don't think there's going to be an imminent general election somehow.
"What we need for the people of the country is a change of policy. We can't allow the country to drift into recession.
"We need action - action against the rising prices which are hitting family budgets, action against the energy costs, action to inject more demands into the economy.
"That's the changes that are required and that's what the SNP will be using its political influence to secure."
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