If the DeLorean landed on 21 October 2015, what would it find?
Fans of 1980s science-fiction franchise Back to the Future will be entertaining themselves with that question this week as the key date from their favourite films arrives. They would be better entertained by looking to reality, as opposed to fantasy.
Should Marty McFly and Doc Brown, by some miracle, transcend the realms of fiction into our world they would find a story on par with any of their adventures, the success story that was the Scottish National Party Conference.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon assembled her party in Aberdeen in the wake of phenomenal first year in charge. Under her watch, the SNP membership has swollen to 114,000, swept the board at the UK General Election and looks on course to secure a historic third time in Holyrood. In contrast to her peers, David Cameron who is preparing to leave the field, Jeremy Corbyn who is wobbling and Tim Farron who is finding his feet, the SNP Leader is in undisputed command of her party.
“Whether in government at Holyrood or in opposition at Westminster they see our party, united, standing up for Scotland and always making our country's voice heard”, the First Minister told a packed hall of the faithful.
Ms Sturgeon even managed to side-step the thorny question of a second referendum. Her message was clear; it would come when the people wanted it. If reports from SNP sources are to be believed, that will be when Ms Sturgeon believes she has the support of more than 60 per cent of Scots.
The sun was shining in Aberdeen over the conference centre nestled on the North Sea coastline. Not even sleaze allegations against one of the party’s former MPs, Michelle Thomson, or criticism from commentators over the SNP’s record of managing public services, could mar the mood of activists.
Lobbyists and Westminster hacks mingled easily with the party faithful, bringing a corporate flavour to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre that those more familiar with English party conferences would recognise. The new SNP MPs clearly revelled in their newfound status as their support was sought on key UK-wide questions such as aviation expansion.
Yet the SNP Conference managed to retain its atmosphere of familiarity and comradeship among supporters, as well as fringes dealing with particularly Scottish issues. The most striking difference between the SNP and the other conferences DeHavilland attended was just how laid back, positive and engaged party supporters are. They lack Labour’s in-fighting, the Conservatives’ corporatism or the Lib Dems’ gallows humour.
One senses that the best is yet to come for the SNP. If all goes to plan, next year they will be celebrating an unprecedented third term as the Scottish Government. However, Nicola Sturgeon may be nearing her peak. As one elderly party supporter sagely noted, a third term in office means that the party must take ownership of its mistakes as it deals with legacies of the recent past and handles new devolved powers.
When that time inevitably comes, Ms Sturgeon may wish she had access to Marty McFly’s famous time machine, so she could come back to a point when the future was bright for her and the SNP.
DeHavilland has covered hundreds of fringe events and main speeches at the four main party conferences. Order a copy of their comprehensive conference briefing online here.