Channel 4 - Election 2005

Tuesday, May 3

My campaign has gone like clockwork. We planned early and started regular canvassing last summer. Now, other than supporters' letters held back for last day's canvassing, everything is out. Perth has had its best canvass since the 1995 by-election. The towns and villages are covered with my posters and we have had increasingly large numbers of activists helping out. We're actually ahead of the game, allowing us to target the Labour wards just one last time. We've been able do a little more high visual profile, and we've been able to prepare a little surprise on eve of poll.

We can't compete with the Forces of Darkness on the payroll campaign but we have dominated every aspect of this electoral battle. If we go down, it won't be for lack of effort. My core team have been fantastic and I want to be on that podium as the winner on Thursday for them.

First thing today I opened a new coffee shop in Alyth. I didn't know I was supposed to be opening it but when everybody started looking at me, waiting for me to say a few words, it suddenly clicked. A little crowd had gathered in the square and it was hard to stop myself giving a political speech.

The rest of the day was spent in Blairgowrie knocking in supporters' letters. There's an awful lot of supporters' letters for Blairgowrie. It can possibly claim to be the most SNP town in Scotland, we're in with the bricks here and I now believe that our support will turn out on Thursday.

Everybody's coming and going in the campaign centre. There's ad-trailers kicking about the constituency and all the call centre lines are chocka. There's a great buzz and everybody's excited. The conventional wisdom is that we're safe in Perth and North Perthshire but I've never felt all that secure. I know we've run a good campaign, but the FODs, with their vast resources, have thrown everything at us. It's been a David verses Goliath struggle - but our sling-shot has been good and well targeted.

This is probably my last contribution for now. I'll maybe try and catch up after the election. You've been a great audience and I'll miss talking to you. We've been on some journey over the past few weeks and I hope you've managed to get a flavour of Wishart on the campaign trail. Meanwhile wish me well on Thursday. I think it's going to be alright, but this is politics after all.

Sunday, May 1

The last Saturday of the campaign was the last real chance to get in and about the electorate. My team picked me up far too early (anything before 9 is far too early) and I was transported to Pitlochry for my first port of call. The battle ‘caravan’ is of course continuing to attract attention and we are highly visible. I have been using Runrig's Loch Lomond as my theme music, which of course features yours truly. I am now getting a bit tired of it, as are my team who keep on extolling me to play something else, anything else. I have to concede that I didn't much like "the Loch" when I had to perform it night after night on Runrig tours. But needs must.

It's a bank holiday weekend and every second person in Pitlochry was a tourist, so it was hunt the local. I won a few votes though for colleagues in Glasgow, Falkirk and East Kilbride, so they had better be grateful!

Alex's was in Perth as part of his whistle-stop tour of key seats. There was a queue waiting to speak to him and he was practically besieged. He's played a blinder in the past two weeks and people just wanted to shake his hand and wish him well. Alex passed on news of Sunday's opinion polls, and it’s all going in our way. We're finishing strongly in this campaign and the news gives everyone a lift.

Finished the day with a little tour of the smaller communities of East Perthshire before signing off in Dunkeld. Not much sign of the Forces of Darkness. Come to think of it where are the FODs? They weren't at the opening of Pitlochry's Festival Theatre summer season last night, missing the opportunity to speak to half of the town. Last I saw of the candidate was at yesterday’s pensioners hustings, where he continued to demonstrate his rare ability to bore the audience into submission. Sometimes I prefer when I can see what the FODs are up to.

Can't believe the Sunday papers. Where's the usual roasting we receive on the last Sunday of the campaign by the fair and even-handed Scottish press? All the front pages are suggesting big Labour losses. This is of course is being hyped up by a Labour party desperately trying to play up the Tory threat. But they are down to 40 per cent in the opinion polls. I think they're going to lose their marginals. It will be poetic justice and will set up the 2007 election just perfectly.

It's raining again. Can you believe it? One team were out this morning but they had to abandon when they got soaked through. Call off all planned work for the afternoon and use the time to plan my last four days. Speak to fellow candidates and everybody's feeling good.

Friday, April 29

OK. OK. I know I've missed a number of Blogs and I know you're considering reporting me to BARF, (that is the Blogs and Associated Recollections Federation just in case you didn't know). By this time in a campaign we candidates are just a concoction of anxieties and worries. Should I spend more time in my rural area? No, I need to spend more time in the city? Maybe we should do the Labour wards again? Where are the Tories? What they up to? What is the Labour candidate talking about? We've been at this too long and need to be relieved of duty. But it's now thankfully only a few days away.

Spent some time in the rural area of the constituency the other day. That is, the real rural area where you have to spend several minutes getting between houses and farms. The chief danger driving here is hitting the pheasants, an occupational hazard at this time of year in Highland Perthshire. It seems the pheasant strategy to avoid being hit by several tons of metal and engine is to change direction and run straight at you. It's a strategy with little sign of obvious success, when looking at the extent of pheasant road kill. I love it out here though and the vote is enthusiastic and strong. Was given a gift of a precious stone for good luck by a constituent I had helped. Felt good.

Invergowrie, with Councillor Peter Mulherron. The East Carse comes into the new constituency of Perth and North Perthshire from Angus and it is new territory to me. It borders the city of Dundee, and most people who live here work in that city. Peter Mulherron is rather like a benevolent dictator. I went out and about with hoping that his vote is transferred to me. It was a beautiful evening and the sunset on the Tay was fantastic.

It's miserable in the morning though. Thank goodness I'm indoors. It's a shop mobilty event in Pitlochry and the great and the good of the town have gathered. My badge says Pete Wishart MP. Put a cross through the little letters and explain about my temporary lack of honourability. Get lots of pledges of support and enjoy doing an almost-MP type of thing. Rest of the day was spent at what we politicians were put on this earth to do at election time, bother the electorate by canvassing.

Tuesday, April 26

Missed a Blog again, running out of hours in a day.

Monday was good. The Save the Regiments Battlebus pulled into Perth this morning as part of their tour of marginal constituencies. I was due to meet them, along with Annabelle Ewing, Roseanna Cunningham MSP and several activists and regiments campaigners. We had also planned to have this as our major national news item, so we were accompanied by TV cameras and representatives of the national and local press.

The Forces of Darkness were also there but were completely taken by surprise by the size of our representation. The call immediately went round for FOD reinforcements as they were in danger of being totally outflanked. The FODs are also annoyed that I have been endorsed as the Save the Regiments Candidate for Perth and North Perthshire. The sight of their reinforcements scurrying from their cars to try and get into the last of the photo opps was a sight to behold.

This evening saw the first of the hustings in the city. The churches got together and an audience of over 100 poured into the City Hall. The Labour candidate was a bit upset with the bar chart on my election address which shows that the electoral battle in Perth and North Perthshire is between us and the FODs, with Labour a distant third. He feels this is not a true reflection of the likely result. Little does he know that our canvas returns shows Labour support haemorrhaging in the city, ably assisted by his own act of political suicide in enthusiastically backing the government's plans to axe the Black Watch. He then further endeared himself to the people of Perth with a bizarre defence of the war in Iraq.

Next morning I got a strange call from the Glasgow Evening Times asking why I support wind farms in Castlemilk as a means to get them out of Perthshire. My immediate response was ..eh..? However all was explained.

Tom Harris, Labour's candidate in Glasgow South and former MP for Cathcart, had press released a letter accusing me of taking that position at a local hustings meeting. This supposed scoop was supplied to him by the bungling Labour candidate in Perth and North Perthshire, whose recollection of what was said at the hustings was as reliable as his position on Iraq. Yes, the windfarm development in the Castlemilk area was mentioned - but not by me. It was by the Liberal candidate. My Labour opponent has obviously not properly swotted up on his briefing on how to indulge in amateur spin and get away with it.

Rain, rain, rain. Rain plays havoc in election campaigns. We tried to get out, even made a couple of hours in Pitlochry, but canvassers come across as such a sad sight when soaking and dripping. My opening line on days like this is that we in the SNP are a committed bunch or maybe we should just be committed...

Friday, April 22

Missed a blog yesterday! Just didn't have time even to turn on the computer. Let's see, what did you miss? Canvassing in North Muirton. Meeting with the Returning Officer. Interview with Magnus Linklater. Canvassing in Blair Atholl with John and Ron.

Ah, that's worth reporting.

John Culliven is the former Provost of Perth and Kinross and he's a huge-hearted gregarious Highlander. He knows absolutely everybody on his patch, and everybody knows him. Ron Greer is a passionate environmentalist who knows every nook and cranny in Atholl. He also dresses up as a Roman Centurion in his spare time. Don't ask!

Both of them speak a lot. An awful lot. When I'm with them we become this curious treble act competing to get a word in. It's hilarious. We were pledged every vote in every house. I suspect, though, that a few pledges were made just to get rid of us!

The first port of call this morning was Perth Races with Alex. He was along to open the new stand and we posed for the cameras with a horse called Alfie. The course owner is the incorrigible Sam Morshead. On the way down I heard him on Good Morning Scotland extolling people to come to Perth like a race commentator. I couldn't stay for the formal opening because I had to get back to Dunkeld for a funeral.

Former North Tayside convenor and life long SNP supporter Ian MacDonald died after a short illness, with cancer. Dunkeld Cathedral was full and Ian was given a great send off. Ian showed me great kindness when I arrived in Dunkeld a couple of years ago. I'll miss the big fella.

Then off to Perth to address the Mosque following Friday prayers. I had met the Imam and other community leaders and they were keen to support me in the election. No politician has been asked to address Perth Mosque before so this was a big honour.

I talked about Blair's illegal war against a Muslim country. Our shared journey with the sub-continent in our respective quests for national liberation. And the good relationship between the SNP and Scotland's Muslim community, made easier by the work of Scots Asians for Independence and the fantastic efforts of Glasgow Councillor Bashir Ahmad, and our candidates Osama Bhutta and Jahanigir Hanif. After my speech the whole congregation was urged to back me and I was kindly presented with a set of books. Great visit and I enjoyed the company immensely.

Lastly to the 'Everyone' campaign hustings. The 'Everyone' campaign is run by the umbrella body for most of Scotland's environmental organisations. Birnam Institute was packed. Most people expected a ding dong between wind farm protestors and environmentalists, but it didn't happen. Afterwards I took Pam and Bob for a deserved wee drink in the Scotland's best music pub, Dunkeld's Taybank.

Wednesday, April 20

Candidate-itis:- A condition which can affect the General Election candidate throughout the course of a General Election campaign.

Symptoms:- A feeling of self-delusion coupled with belief in certain victory even in the most hopeless of constituencies; euphoria, tempered with mild paranoia.

Remedies:- Take sufferer to darkened room, deprive of General Election stimuli and present with realistic canvass information. Cure:- Gubbing at the hands of the electorate.

There are some 3000 candidates in the General Election and at some point practically all will succumb to this cursed affliction. The good news for non-candidates is that the condition is not contagious. The funny thing is I have never suffered from candidate-itis. In fact I suffer from the opposite. I presume every unanswered door is an against. Sometimes I even envy my deluded long-suffering colleagues.

Free from any General Election-related conditions, today's been a good day. I started at the Servite supported accommodation complex at Birnam. I was invited because my Conservative opponent turned up last week and couldn't answer their questions. The call went out - "get Pete, we'll get an answer from him". So I duly turned up, answered all their questions and had a great time. Renewed my acquaintance with Mrs Jean Watson, a sprightly 102-year-old whose 100th birthday party I attended with the Provost and the card from the Queen! Today Alasdair Morgan MSP was with me and, with a few local activists, we did Birnam. Was great being out in the sun and got most of Birnam canvassed.

The evening was spent at the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Dunkeld Cathedral. I had accepted the invitation some months ago, forgetting the little fact that there may be a General Election. Thought long and hard about whether to cancel and go out canvassing instead - really glad I didn't. The chair of the Friends is Lady Veronica Linklater, who had managed to get the former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, now Chief Inspector of Prisons, Andrew MacLennan to do the keynote speech. His speech was truly inspiring, reminding us about how those we incarcerate are often victims themselves. In the beautiful setting of Dunkeld Cathedral in the spring everybody was hooked on his every word. Great evening.

Monday, April 18

The Tory banners have started sprouting up in the fields of Perthshire like mutant plastic triffids urging people to vote for the Forces of Darkness. It’s always the same. The landowners and the rich farmers are in cahoots with the FODs, and their land becomes theirs. We can’t compete with this - but as Bob Ellis always says “sheep can’t vote”. Meanwhile in the towns and villages, where people actually stay, we beat them hands down.

Did get one result though. In what is probably the prime site between Perth and Blairgowrie one of the farmers has opened a little takeaway stall. Last week I stopped off for a bacon roll to find that the farmer is a big Runrig fan. I asked if he might take one of our few banners, which he duly did, but only after calling the FODs to tell them not to bother bringing their banner down. You see I clean up with the Runrig vote!

Handed in my nomination papers today so there's no way out now! Pam and I tried to get a wide range of councillors, community leaders and activists to nominate me. My principle nominees are the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Dougie Maclean and Rose Heron. Rose is a remarkable lady and passionate about the campaign to save the Black Watch. She collected 1500 signatures in Alyth for the petition to save the regiment. Alyth only has a population of 1800. She was delighted to be asked, and I was delighted she accepted.

Our first proper hustings was in Invergowrie tonight. Imagine my surprise when I met the Liberal candidate. It’s Cannon! Or rather Gordon Campbell. We were in the same year at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline. We caught up on old times before getting down to the business of knocking lumps out of each other. What can I say about the Tory candidate? Well, my Great Auntie Jeanie always said if you can’t say something nice say nothing at all. I'm afraid I usually ignored her advice! After 10 minutes of the Tory candidate answering a simple question about the Council Tax the audience were almost asleep. Following Great Auntie Jeanie’s advice - let’s just say, hustings aren’t his strong suit.

Sunday, April 17

My 13-year-old son Brodie has been with me all day. What a life it is for a politician's kid, especially when he’s a teenager. We’re fighting over the TV remote. I want to see News 24. He wants to see the Kerrang Channel. He wins! Brodie can actually deliver the speech I use when I’ve been invited to open events, and he does it so convincingly. He knows all the gags I might use, and he knows the sort of thing I would say about the event. A couple of weeks ago I opened a Fair Trade fortnight in Birnam and there was Brodie at the back mouthing my speech! He’s been great in getting me to calm down during this election period, as only a wise and innocently naive early post-pubescent can.

We try and get my car in order. What a state. There are newspapers, canvass sheets and discarded diet coke cans everywhere. Brodie disappears back to Kerrang, I also give up in despair.

Standing in a huge rural constituency, I spend a lot of time in my car. I like it though. It’s my space and I can use this time to get my thoughts in order and listen to some music.

Watched a video of my campaign from four years ago. The BBC filmed me for their campaign diary series and they sent me all the unused recordings. It’s hilarious! Can’t believe it’s me. Brodie’s just a kid and I look so young and fresh faced. It’s this job! Wasn’t life so simple then?

Saturday, April 16

I like my battle “caravan”, and I’ve spent the day in it targeting the electorate. It’s more than just a visual tool. It is a mobile office, source of shelter and nourishment, and I’m told that people can even stay in the thing - incredible! I think I might even join Margaret Beckett in the Commons caravanning club when I get back to Westminster. We were out in it in Perth, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry and Dunkeld. In Dunkeld one of the little old Tory ladies complained to Pam, saying (and you’ve got to imagine that Tory little old lady plummy accent) “we don’t like that sort of thing in quite villages like Dunkeld, and you know, it’s totally counterproductive”. Meanwhile the streets of Dunkeld were bopping to Runrig’s Loch Lomond with me extolling them to Make Scotland Matter. The Forces of Darkness - you’ve got to hand it to them.

Earlier I was at the Robert (Rab) Douglas Institute in the first event of the Scone bi-centenary. It looked like half the village had turned up and I got a great response for taking an interest. It was a coffee morning so inevitably I came away laden with home baking, raffle tickets and bottles of elderberry wine! Hit the streets of Perth and noted there were fewer political campaigners than last week. We were of course out in force but I didn’t see my Tory opponent.

We had also arranged for little delegations to greet the caravan when it arrived in the towns and villages and this worked a treat. I’m determined to make my campaign as colourful as possible. You should see the plans for my final Saturday. It’s gonna be big, and this Blog will be the first to read about it. Bet you can’t wait.

Friday, April 15

Manifesto launch. This is definitely one of the key moments of a campaign. It is when you get to set out your stall and look the public in the eye. Putting the manifesto together is a long long slog, which was undertaken and supervised this time by Nicola Sturgeon MSP, our deputy leader. Our launch takes place in a converted church in Byres Road in Glasgow. The venue is great. Most of the candidates, and all of the media, are there and there’s a real buzz. First we watch last night's PEB (Party Election Broadcast) featuring Sean Connery. I’m just relieved it came together so well - just getting the music was tough going. It does look good, though. PEBs have got to pull a little at the heart strings, without becoming over sentimental. This one does that perfectly. Alex was great presenting the manifesto. Batted off the silly questions from the Daily Record and the Daily Mail like a patient headmaster dealing with a tiresome pupil.

Then had to rattle up the road for the first hustings of the campaign. Only it wasn’t quite a hustings. The Tayside Federation of Small Business instead wanted an informal get together over lunch with candidates from across Tayside. The result was that there were as many wannabee politicians as there were small business people. I put the SNP’s business case, supported by fellow Tayside candidates Mike Weir and Stuart Hosie. All the political parties tried to put hustings instincts aside and behave over lunch. It was tough going though, and with the Forces of Darkness wittering on incoherently about their silly tax plans, I almost choked over the prawn cocktail. There will be another hustings on Monday though, which will be a lot tougher!

This Blog has now become a news item! Seven Days wanted to interview me about this little old Blog and I duly obliged, I read out an earlier item about rosettes and said how much fun all this is to do - and I mean that most sincerely!

Thursday, April 14

I’ve been spending so long outside on the stump that I’ve started to acquire a sort of weather beaten suntan. Though not quite of Kilroy-Silk or Tommy Sheridan proportions yet, it is now noticeable enough for constituents to ask if I’ve just got back from my holidays? I can only think - chance would be a fine thing! As candidates we cover miles each day in what can be exhausting work. When you chap on the door, you have no idea what response you might get. You may be treated like a prodigal son or have that door slammed firmly in your face. You have to be alert to any possibility. Expecting a gruelling campaign, I got myself fit over the Christmas period by running and taking to the hills of Highland Perthshire. I have to say that this has served me well, and physically I’ve definitely been up for this election.

My travels for just now though are exclusively Perthshire based. Today finds me in lovely Kirkmichael in Strathardle, a great place for a holiday by the way. First port of call was to a farm just outside the village. CAP reform means that farm diversification is a key means of survival for many farmers, and West Bleaton Farm is an excellent example of how that can be achieved. Chat over agricultural issues with the farmers then head off to visit a couple of rural businesses before doing a little canvassing.

Evening is back in Letham in Perth City. There’s a new 17 -ear-old member who wants to come out canvassing with me. Already he’s been bitten by the political bug, poor soul. He’s firing out the names and taking the notes, and enjoying the craic on the doorstep. As a candidate, you are invading the personal space of the public by chapping their doors and taking their time. You have to be equipped with a set of skills to get a result. Humour, mixed with a bit of self-deprecation is the best way to get people relaxed. Like most candidates I love doing this. Looking at it through the eyes of my new young colleague makes me realise afresh what it’s all about.

Wednesday, April 13

The Labour Party launched their manifesto - and again very little of it matters to Scotland. This has been a curious election campaign in Scotland.

It's as if the London-based parties are intentionally trying to sideline or ignore Scotland's interests. It's been left to us to try and make sure Scotland's agenda is addressed. And it's not as if we haven't got our issues. Scotland's economic growth trails well behind the rest of the UK. Our population is the fastest falling in Europe, and 1 in 5 of our pensioners remain in poverty. Today we also learned that Scotland's unemployment rate is up - and if that's not bad enough we also have the highest unemployment rate in the UK.

I'm on Newsnight Scotland dissecting the Labour Party manifesto with a panel of ex, but still wannabee, MPs. All of the London parties are desperately trying to be true to their national campaign, while at the same time taking a passing interest in Scotland. It's always contradictory, but the Lib Dems are the most comical. I have no idea how they can present themselves as "the real alternative" in Scotland. This is a "real alternative" that is in government in Scotland with a Labour Executive - who they claim to be the "real alternative" to. I suppose they are trying to be a "real alternative" to themselves. Liberal opportunism knows no bounds.

Earlier, while campaigning in St Madoes, somebody greeted me on the door by telling me that she cut my Conservative opponent's hair. She was an SNP voter so I jokingly asked her if she maybe would have a little accident with the clippers! Covered a lot of ground today in some of the more prosperous areas of my new constituency. The Forces of Darkness must be hoping to win here. But I picked up a lot of support for the SNP.

Bit knackered today. It's been a 16-hour day and, following Newsnight, I didn't get back to Dunkeld till well after midnight. Oh well, tomorrow marks only 3 weeks to go!

Tuesday, April 13

Well I guess its time to put on the old rosette. I've been putting off this inevitable moment for too long.

The thing is I feel like some sort of prize bull in an agricultural show when adorned with it. But its part of the game, so I suppose I'll go along with it. But first I have to deal with the gatekeeper of the rosettes - the formidable Mrs Barbara Cook. She jealously guards and administers the rosette stock in the SNP office. Woe betide the activist - or candidate - who should lose or damage their rosette!

Please don't tell Mrs Cook but, to avoid the usual lecture, I secretly plundered a rosette from one of our school mock election packs. Inevitably I had lost it by the evening's canvassing. Oh well, now I'll have to confess my sins to Mrs Cook!

The day was spent firstly in Ballinluig, followed by Aberfeldy. I actually think the turnout will be high on May the 5th. I've never seen anything quite like the scale of the media coverage. The election is now being promoted as a being "close" thing - even though it will take an electoral miracle for the Conservatives.

A high turnout will suit me. I know I have more supporters than the Conservatives in Perth and North Perthshire. My task is to get them out to vote on the day. The Tories have huge financial resources to throw into this campaign. But this has also motivated our support. I get the feeling that SNP voters will turn out to vote, and in large numbers.

The battle of Muirton still rages. The Tories had insulted and denigrated the people of this hard-pressed community in Perth in their useless DVD. We made sure that the Muirton people knew how they had been misrepresented, with a press release from the local SNP councillor. The battle has continued to rage in the letters page of the local newspaper.

Tonight, in Muirton, I can't believe the depth of hostility towards the Forces of Darkness. "If they dare come to my door .." was probably the most common response I got. My advice to any Conservative canvasser - if you're coming to Muirton bring the flak jacket.

Monday, April 11

Today I was stripped of those two initials after my name and ceased to be an "Honourable Gentleman". Perhaps that's a description that sits a little incongruously on my shoulders anyway! Today the Westminster constituency of North Tayside also passed into the history books. It has been abolished. I am now a member of an exclusive club of former MPs for North Tayside. There's me, there's John Swinney and there's ... em ... Bill Walker. What a gang.

There have been tens of thousands of letters signed by the Member for North Tayside over the past 20 years, and I decide to end on a high note. I drafted and signed a letter to one of my serial correspondees. A lovely lady from Kinnloch Rannoch, who is passionate about justice for Palestine. For this the last ever letter from a Member of Parliament for North Tayside I simply wrote thanking her for her letters to this office over the course of the past few years. I expressed my hope that I would be getting back to her, when my Honourability has been restored

But mostly today has been all about that massive stretch of water that gave North Tayside its name. The Tay is the largest river system in the UK. It is the drainage system for practically all of the Central and Southern Highlands and its tributaries stretch from the Cairngorms to Rannoch Moor. The flow of water that comes down the Tay is awesome. At times it can be violently destructive.

That's why I was at a packed meeting in Dalguise Village Hall. During the floods in January, the flood defence at Dalguise was breached. This caused the flooding of property, road closures and thousands of pounds worth of damage. I addressed the meeting and told them that John Swinney and I are determined that this small community gets the protection it deserves.

Earlier I visited Kinclaven Bridge in the Tay. They are going to close this bridge temporarily for repairs, which will cause widespread disruption. I used this issue to raise the prospect of a third crossing over the Tay North of Perth. The rest of the day was canvassing, canvassing, canvassing.

Sunday, April 10

With the local campaign going at full tilt, the only time I can spend at national HQ in Edinburgh is on a Sunday. The national campaign is proceeding as planned. We're sticking to the grid that was agreed in the weeks leading up to the election. There are still issues to attend to, like some of the technical sides of the campaign, and things like the manifesto launch, scheduled for Friday the 15th. The campaign meeting also provides a chance to meet up with staff and colleagues to discuss the finer points of the campaign.

First port of call, though, was at Kinross Sunday market, where I was appearing on Radio 5 Live. They had come to visit Ochil and South Perthshire as part of a series of visits to marginal constituencies. Our candidate in Ochil and South Perthshire is Annabelle Ewing, formerly the MP for Perth. Annabelle provided the House with one of its most colourful moments last session when she called the defence secretary a "backstabbing coward" over his plans for the Scottish regiments. Notionally, Ochil and South Perthshire is a very marginal Labour hold. But, thanks to Annabelle's outstanding performance as the MP for Perth, I think we will definitely win this one.

Then to HQ, where Nicola Sturgeon MSP and I hosted a press conference about Scottish MPs’ records. We have created 'report cards' on all Scottish MPs, rating them according to performance and contribution. Surprise, surprise the SNP come out as the hardest working group - all of us are in the top 10. The bottom positions are all inhabited by Labour. Had a bit of fun at our Labour colleagues' expense, reminding them that all they have to do is ask to open a window and they could get in Hansard! The press briefing was particularly well attended and the Scottish press corps demonstrated their delight and pleasure in being out on a Sunday afternoon!

My last task of the day was appearing on Talk FM with James Whale. James was, of course, trying to wind me up about the Scots being subsidy junkies and being unable to stand on our own two feet. I like these types of interviews as it gives me a chance to get stuck in to this type of nonsense. James kept me on for half an hour and I answered calls mainly from English voters - who couldn't have agreed more with what I was saying.

Saturday, April 9

First Saturday of the campaign - and you could hardly walk down Perth city Centre without tripping over political campaigners. The Forces of Darkness - otherwise known as the Tories - were out in force. It is amusing to observe the FODs out campaigning. They seem to have difficulty engaging with people in a natural way and come across as decidedly odd. Even Labour were out canvassing. I met their candidate for the first time. He wasn't very well supported - there were no local councillors with him. Meanwhile I was accompanied by 2 MSPs, 8 local councillors and countless activists. We controlled the High Street.

Stopped off briefly at a local Tartan Day event before heading off in my battle bus – well, battle caravan anyway. Blairgowrie Councillor Bob Ellis, creative chap that he is, has redesigned our constituency caravan and it looks great. Strapped on the loud speakers, and with Runrig blaring, headed to the housing estates.

Finished the day leafleting Labour-held wards. Labour simply can’t win in the new Perth and North Perthshire constituency. They don’t even stand councillors in North Perthshire. Our leaflet said it all - in this election a Labour vote is, at best, a wasted vote. At worse it could let the Tories in.

The Labour candidate has also helped my cause immensely by supporting Geoff Hoon’s plans to amalgamate the Black Watch out of existence. Nothing could be more politically suicidal in the heart of Black Watch country. We are ensuring that his message is communicated to the electors, with the help of a leaflet highlighting what he said.

Friday, April 8

Packed public meeting in last night, about ambulance cover in Highland Perthshire. The Scottish Ambulance Service had withdrawn the ambulance at Aberfeldy, to a huge outcry. Because of SNP pressure the SAS has been forced to reinstate the second ambulance - though there is to be a committee to look at where it’s to go! Got fantastic encouragement from those present at the meeting and all sorts of pledges of support. Went away feeling pretty chipper.

Woke up this morning to hear that Scottish business rates are set to soar by 30 per cent. This will hit small businesses particularly badly. Scots firms do not even get a level playing field compared to England – Scots pay 46.1p on the pound compared to 43.2p south of the border. We also have to compete in a European and world market. Ireland and many new EU members have business taxes far below the UK level. It's just another example of Labour putting Scotland at a competitive disadvantage. Although, according to Alistair Darling, Labour is offering Scotland economic 'stability'. 'Managed decline' is more like it! My party has pledged to cut business rates to below the English level, to give Scottish companies an advantage. We have also proposed cutting corporation tax to 20 per cent. This is a policy that has worked very well for Ireland, Finland and Sweden. It could work in Scotland too.

But the biggest laugh of the day, so far, is the Lib Dems' proposals to replace council tax with a local income tax. Nothing wrong with the policy - the SNP also supports a local income tax. But I wonder how many voters south of the border are aware that the Liberals have been part of the coalition government here in Scotland for SIX YEARS and have done absolutely nothing about replacing council tax with a local income tax. In that time average council tax bills have risen by 55% at a cost of £380. If they were serious about scrapping council tax they would have done it by now. What chancers the Liberals are.

Anyway, still loads to get through today so I had better get on with it. Public campaigning has been suspended tomorrow because of the funeral of Pope John Paul 11. So we have to get as much done as we can today.

Thursday, April 7

I'm terrible with time. Usually I'm late, and to the great frustration of colleagues and staff can never remember where I'm going next. But yesterday - for the second day running - I was early. I turned up to an appointment at a health food shop in Perth apologising to the manager for being late when he told me I was in fact 20 minutes early.

I was there because it looks like the EU Advocate General is overturning the ridiculous directive about restricting the sale of vitamins and health supplements. Annabelle Ewing and I received a massive mail bag on the subject and the lobby was huge. I went to speak to them about where we go next and to congratulate the health supplement lobby on a fight well fought.

After a walkabout in Perth city centre I headed off to Scone parish church for the monthly pensioners' lunch. The Perthshire Advertiser took a photo of me serving up soup like something out of Oliver Twist. Everybody insisted that I stuff my face with home made baking. I duly obliged, as I always forget to eat during the day just now. Think I'll do more of these lunches!

Then off to St John's Kirk for a memorial service for the seven Black Watch soldiers killed in Iraq. The church was packed. During the moment's silence I recalled the day the news of the fatalities came in. It was me who had to address the media. It was the most difficult interview I’ve ever had to do as an MP.

Everybody then went to the service to open the permanent memorial at the regimental HQ at Balhousie Castle. We met up with all the regiment campaigners. We've all become quite close in the campaign to save the Scottish Regiments. And we're a strange mixture of retired Colonels, Brigadiers, forces families and politicians. Even on such a reflective day – we vowed to fight on.

The evening was spent canvassing in Gannochy, Perth.

Wednesday, April 6

My last contribution in the chamber for this session was made in the business statement announcing the dissolution of parliament. I referred to motion number 32 on the order paper and said how disappointed I was that it wouldn't be considered before parliament was dissolved. Motion 32 is the motion to impeach the Prime Minister.

OK - there was as much chance of it being considered as there was of me being made Lord Chancellor! But I expressed my hope that the next parliament will take the opportunity to hold the prime minister to account for the illegal war on Iraq.

Everybody was saying: "hope to see you back after the election". Some people even meant it. In situations like this, there's a strange mixture of gallows humour and genuine concern for fellow members.

It won't last though. Once we're out on the stump we'll be knocking lumps out each other in the time-honoured way. Got an early evening flight and arrived back to my home in Dunkeld at about 9pm last night. Then I sat at the computer far too late - given that the campaign launch was in the morning - collating photos for the last bits of election literature.

I have to say the campaign launch at Discovery Point in Dundee this morning went superbly. There was an excellent turnout of candidates, supporters and of course the media. Alex Salmond was in fine form, lambasting the London parties for ignoring Scotland and drawing on the symbolism of today's anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath. Plenty of powerful sound bites - which made the evening news.

It is already obvious that the London-based parties are campaigning on an overwhelmingly English agenda. It was, after all, in Dundee, just a few weeks ago, that Tony Blair made a speech all about the English NHS! Our "make Scotland matter" message stands in stark contrast. A simple and direct call for Scots to force London to take notice of Scotland by voting SNP.

Tuesday, April 5

Well, the phoney war is over. The general reaction in the SNP is... "at last!". We're geared up for the election and raring to go. Spirits in the Party are the highest they have been in years.

Still in London today, to clear my desk, before heading back to Perth and North Perthshire. Tomorrow morning our party leader Alex Salmond will launch our campaign at the Discovery Centre in Dundee. He will then go a few miles up the road for the re-enactment of the Declaration of Arbroath, which was drawn up in Arbroath Abbey on 6 April 1320.

Scotland's Declaration of Independence has been a clarion call to freedom-loving peoples down the centuries and all across the world. In the coming campaign, we hope to inspire our fellow Scots to live up to it in the Scotland of today.

There is still an immense amount of work to be done though. I was in our campaign centre in Perth and North Perthshire yesterday. There was a huge pile of things to get sorted. The election address, final supporters' letter, first time voters, postal votes...

My core team were busy beavering away. It's funny how deadlines sneak up and bite you. But I have total faith in my election agent Pam Wilson. I suppose every candidate thinks their election agent is the best. But for me no one comes close to Pam. She has an ability to just get that little bit extra from people and make them all feel part of the team.

We're going to need that in the days and weeks ahead.