Mr John Swinney's overwhelming victory in the race to become the new leader of the Scottish National Party commits the SNP to a modernising and moderate agenda. He beat Mr Alex Neil, on the fundamentalist wing of the party, by a ratio of two votes to one. Other key party posts were also won by moderates, marking the end of an era for those who were opposed to devolution.
The new leader immediately faced bad news. An opinion poll suggested Labour was 10 points ahead in the race for Westminster in Scotland, while Mr Swinney had personal trust rating of only 6 per cent. A former leader of the party, Mr Gordon Wilson, said it could take 15 years for Scotland to win independence. Last year, Mr Alex Salmond had pledged the country would be free by 2007.
In his acceptance speech Mr Swinney, who won by 547 votes to 248, said he believed independence was close. "We have made such progress that I believe I stand here as the first leader in the history of the SNP who has a hard-headed opportunity to lead our party into government and our country on to independence.
"This is the hour for a nation to be reborn, this is the hour when Scotland at last and forever can change for good. Let us make our vision real, let us bring independence alive for the people of Scotland. Let us make our parliament complete. Come with me and let's win our nation's freedom."
He called for the party to overcome any divisions caused by the leadership contest. "Throughout this campaign I have said that I will deliver inclusive leadership. And I will. And with it I will foster and encourage democratic debate in our party about policy, tactics and strategy. Let us all be clear. Once the democratic voice of this party has spoken, I expect this party to speak with one voice."
The outgoing leader, Mr Salmond, said: "The party has made a great choice in John as the new leader. He will emerge as an outstanding SNP leader, and will take Scotland to independence."
Mr Swinney's victory is also likely to see a more professional party emerge. In his campaign, he chose not to use the former chief executive of the party, Mr Michael Russell, Mr Salmond's closest ally and general election director. Sources close to Mr Swinney say they want a fresh start on party organisation and election planning.
Ms Roseanna Cunningham is the new deputy leader and another moderniser, Mr Jim Mather, won the post of treasurer. This means the minority wing of the SNP, which argued that devolution was a dead-end designed to kill off nationalism, has been categorically defeated.