Changed

This is a perfectly ordinary street scene, taken in Helensburgh last night.  It could be almost anywhere in Scotland where sea views are common and commuting towns nestle on the coast close to cities.

It is very like the town in which I was brought up - Troon which lies further down the Clyde coast.

This evening Cathleen and I were at  an election celebration held in a supporter's house nearby and it was wonderfully convivial and full of optimism.   Brendan, as the new MP, was in great form having spent the morning at the photo call in South Queensferry and the afternoon busying himself with plans for his trip to London on Monday. 

But I post this  rather than a picture of the party because of a thought I had during the evening.  Not just this douce wee burgh is now represented by the SNP at Westminster.  So is Troon, a town which I always used to say would only turn to the SNP when the revolution came and so are all the places like them and unlike them the length and breadth of Scotland.  .  In fact less than 4000 votes would have seen the  SNP win every seat.   

Something has changed when Troon and Helensburgh vote SNP.    There is great hope for a better future  across the nation even though the exact route map to get there may still be unclear.   

But  every part of the country wants to be on the journey.