100 Days 100 Verdicts: Impressions of a History-Making Snp Government On Landmark Day

The Scotsman › August 24, 2007

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Summary

LOUISE MARTIN Commonwealth+ Games Council for Scotland chair "Alex Salmond has been excellent and done all he can to make sure our bid works. He's very keen, very approachable and very knowledgeable. He has met every delegate from other Commonwealth countries who has visited Glasgow."

CARDINAL O'BRIEN Head of Catholic Church in Scotland "I have found Alex Salmond congenial and approachable as a person and adept and informed as a politician. It is reassuring ministers wish to celebrate, rather than simply tolerate, Scotland's rich heritage of Catholic education."

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100 Days 100 Verdicts: Impressions of a History-Making Snp Government On Landmark Day

IAN RANKIN Author "I think Salmond has done a good job. By opening up various debates he seems to be in control, in command. By not making mischief, he's made the Labour Party do a bit of soul- searching. He has not taken easy hits at people and his ministers have also done a good job."

CLARISSA DICKSON WRIGHT Chef and campaigner for the countryside "I do not see any blights on the horizon. For the first time since I've been in Scotland - 13 years - a minister phoned me to discuss how we promote Scottish produce. That is positive. But anything's better than Jack McConnell."

LIZ CAMERON Executive director, Scottish Chambers "They have hit the ground running, honouring a number of pre-election commitments. Now we want them to focus on rolling out policies and plans to assist the business community drive forward the economy to a new level."

OSAMA SAEED Scottish spokesman, Muslim Association of Britain "Even the SNP's opponents recognise what a breath of fresh air they have been in what has been a very stale political environment. Those opponents have been taken aback, but Salmond is a consummate politician."

HENRY McLEISH Former first minister "The SNP has got off to an impressive start. People are warming to them because they seem to put Scotland's interests first, being distinctively Scottish. They appear to be making devolution work, without looking over their shoulders to Westminster."

JOHN SMEATON Senior baggage-handler...

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