So, Alex Salmond has been sworn in as First Minister. In its own way it's a watershed, both for nationalism and, more importantly, for Scotland.

As Unity has pointed out, the joy of inveterate Tories like me that Labour have been turfed out of office must be tempered by the realisation that socialism has merely been replaced by Nationalist socialism. There's every chance that the Nats will be every bit as bad - if not worse.

There's seldom been a hare-brained scheme or wasteful Labour extravagance of the last eight years that Salmond or his pet attack-dog, "Gnasher" Sturgeon, has not criticised for not going far enough. They like to talk about Scotland flourishing as a small self-governing nation, like Norway or Ireland. We'll see how they plan to go about making that a reality: I hope it's slightly more sophisticated than simply taxing the shit out of us.

Nonetheless, let's not understate the seismic shift that took place a fortnight ago. Though it's something which Labour are understandably shy about mentioning, the elections also saw the sweeping away of Labour control of councils the length and breadth of the nation. 8 of the 10 councils which they had held outright were lost, and several have now been, or are being, taken over by coalitions from which they are excluded. In fact, thanks to the new system of PR in local elections, Labour's grip has been loosened everywhere; the SNP are now the largest party in local government, in new coalitions in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, East and West Lothian, and will possibly be forming administrations in places like Stirling, South Lanarkshire and Ayrshire as well. And they have just formed a coalition with the Lib Dems in Renfrewshire, much to the dismay of our dear friend and prank monkey, Terry Kelly.

This is possibly every bit as significant as the fragile minority with which the Tartanissimo* will now try to run the country. Even if this experiment fails, the other parties are now a permanent fixture in local government, and hopefully people will see the benefits of the end of one-party rule.

Time will tell what effect all of this has. The pictures, which you'll see on the news later on if you haven't already, speak for themselves. Scotland is now in the hands of the SNP. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will turn this country around or merely continue to hold it back. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them. SNP government will soon be here.

And I, for one, welcome our new Nationalist overlords. I'd like to remind them that, as a trusted right-wing blogger, I can be helpful in rounding up Labour party activists to toil in their underground haggis caves.

Now, where's that kilt?...


*© Martin Kelly.