Well – I’m back! And delighted to be here again. Thank you to all of those who sent me good luck wishes both before and after the event. A good election for the Scottish National Party with our winning 47 seats – a margin of one seat over the Labour Party, so looking forward to Alex Salmond being sworn in as First Minister and new politics for Scotland. The Lib-Dems have refused to go into coalition with us, so we’ll be running a minority Government – “interesting times” to use the current cliché.

I was disappointed not to win first-past-the-post in East Kilbride, but did manage to slash the Labour majority from over 5.5 thousand to less than 2 thousand, so not bad for the Labour fortress that is Lanarkshire. I’m back on the Central Scotland Regional List again, along with four other colleagues – and we won the seats in Falkirk West and Kilmarnock. We also elected 8 SNP councillors in East Kilbride! As I said, a good day. I thoroughly enjoyed the month of April, electioneering in East Kilbride constituency. It was great to be out-and-about meeting people in the streets and at their doors. Many highlights – Alex Salmond visiting us (taking the opportunity to have a haircut, and a scale-and-polish at the local dentist), European journalists shadowing our campaign, family and friends turning up to help out – temporary beds all over the house (amazing how many folk can sleep in an average house if you use a bit of imagination), really positive vibes from the electorate.

Pictures from the 2007 Election

First Group Meeting on Saturday and back to work as normal on Monday – well, hardly normal I guess. Temporary offices, all our stuff still in packing cases whilst we wait to see where we’ll be located once Alex has sorted out his Cabinet and Ministerial posts. The office is tidier than ever before! I’m dreading opening these packing cases, and starting the post-election clear up in the house. The Kirking of the Parliament at St. Giles on Tuesday night, and taking the oath/affirming in the Chamber on Wednesday morning. Then it became more like normal – two great constituency events Wednesday and Friday evenings. Chairing the AGM for my old friends at Theatre Nemo on Friday evening – this Group (dealing with mental health issues by use of the Arts) just goes from strength to strength, their worth being noted by the Health Service and the Prison Service, funding secured, and awards forthcoming. Wednesday’s event was a Schools’ Competition run by the East Kilbride Rotary Club. The teams had to do a PowerPoint presentation showcasing East Kilbride. Great stuff and I was delighted to present the trophy to Hunter High.

Hunter High Winners

The first week is over and next week we elect a Presiding Officer, and I hope, our First Minister and then the Government. My weekly diaries should be interesting from now on.

Email back to normal: linda.fabiani.msp@scottish.parliament.uk