He says ‘the future of the Scottish parliament will be radically different from the recent past. The economic, the political and the social context of our country is changed. We are weeks away from a paradigm shift in British politics and we cannot confront the realities of what is ahead without honesty.’

Labour’s Scottish leader recognises that voters want and need a first minister who will do more than simply use the parliament as a platform for protest against cuts. They need a first minister with a vision for the future, one which will protect the vulnerable and grow the country out of these difficult times.

Economy and jobs are at the forefront of voters’ minds, and they’re at the forefront of Iain Gray’s pitch to the Scottish electorate. The Labour party in Scotland will build from the first principle that the greatest protection from poverty is work. That the path out of this economic storm is through enterprise and employment.

Some of the most significant injustices were dealt with in the first phase of devolution with landmark pieces of legislation such as the Feudal Reform Act and the Adults with Incapacites Act, and blazing a trail with the smoking ban and the abolition of Section 2A (Scotland’s section 28).

The second phase of devolution saw a focus on public services – the funding and the structure of the public sector. Iain Gray says ‘much of the business of government will always be about what is taxed and what is spent. But that discussion alone is not the sum total of government, of politics or of our ambitions for our country.’

He is clear to say that creating jobs and opportunities out of the recession is not about recreating the jobs lost in the past, but by being at the forefront of new industries like renewable energy and life sciences – where Scotland has already, against the odds, built significiant expertise:

– A new focus on internationalising Scotish businesses, rather than waiting for overseas investment to come to our shores.
– More focus on public private partnerships in training like in Carnegie College in Fife where Siemens have teamed up to sponsor cutting edge renewable technician apprenticeships.

Gray is adamant that ‘if the first eleven years of devolution was largely about improving and expanding public services in a time of plenty, the next few years have to be about expanding and transitioning our economy in a time of scarcity.’

But he is clear to say ‘that does not for a moment mean any less of a commitment to social justice. Because if there is a single route out of poverty, a single step towards greater quality, a single remedy for ill health, disaffection or alienation, then it is work.’

It is this delicate combination of practical policy and first principles which will see Scottish Labour regain the trust and the votes of Scotland’s people.