Nicola Sturgeon swept into Glasgow’s Emirates Arena to roars of approval from the SNP faithful.
But the fist-pumping and delirious flag-waving that accompanied her arrival at last year’s general election were noticeably absent.
The first minister eschewed triumphalism and instead promised to get on with the job of governing.
“I will seek to win the trust of those who didn’t vote SNP,” she pledged, wearing an expression that hinted at relief rather than jubiliation.
“I have fought elections that I haven’t won, so winning this election is special for me.”
Advertisement
Labour, however, had been routed and the SNP leader could not resist pouring further salt into the rawest of wounds, by wearing a suit of darkest red.
“In my teenage years if someone had told me that the SNP would one day sweep the board in Glasgow I’d have never have believed them,” she said, with the hint of a smile.
Pauline McNeill, the former Labour MSP for Kelvin, passed by the group of SNP supporters waiting to cheer their leader. Sportingly, she ran into their midst to be greeted with hugs and roars of approval.
“Are you gonna come and join us?,” bellowed one wag.
“Surely things aren’t that bad darlin’,” quipped another. The Labour stalwart gave a thin smile, which suggested that things may well have been significantly worse than bad for her party.
Advertisement
James Dornan, the soon-to-be- re-elected MSP for Cathcart, cast the runes, and predicted Labour annihilation, very early in the night.
“It looks like being a good night for us in Glasgow and a very bad one for Labour,” he stated at about 11pm.
How could he be so sure?
“Just look around you.
“The Labour activists are flat, their shoulders are down, their expressions are giving the game away.”
Advertisement
His SNP parliamentary colleague Sandra White was equally gleeful at the prospect of watching the once-mighty Labour dreadnought not just rusting quietly, but gurgling to the bottom of the Clyde with all hands on deck.
“It looks like being a sore one for them,” she whispered.
One veteran Labour campaigner, with an over-sized scarlet rosette welded to his chest, battled to keep a stiff upper lip. But when the result from Rutherglen beamed up on a big screen, revealing an 11 per cent slump in his party’s fortunes, it proved too much and he left.
A senior Labour figure, who refused to flee, gave an apocalyptic interpretation of his party’s fortunes.
“Tonight is a disaster,” he winced.
Advertisement
“But the worst thing is that we haven’t even hit rock bottom yet.”
One Nationalist MP could barely contain himself as he watched the people’s party turn on itself.
“When the Tories are looking happier than Labour on election night you know something has gone very, very wrong.”
“People are hurting tonight,” admitted Anas Sarwar, Labour’s former deputy.
Elsewhere, Green activists, lugging iPads and bicycle helmets, were beaming. They roared their approval, in the most polite way possible, when Patrick Harvie, their dapper, diminutive leader entered the arena. He chuckled and grinned like a Kelvinside Dalai Lama as he waited to speak to reporters.
Advertisement
Harvie looked like a man with much to be mirthful about, but refused to build up expectations.
“I’m very hopeful, we are getting good indications,” he beamed.
Among the smaller parties expectations were even more modest.
“I can tell you that I don’t expect to win the seat,” confessed Thomas Coleman, the Lib Dem candidate for Provan. “However, I think we will pick up a few seats around Scotland.”
A Ukip activist was “very hopeful that Davie Coburn will get a seat in the Highlands”.
For the recently launched Women’s Equality party the prospect of gracing the backbenches at Holyrood is a distant dream. “So far we’ve got around 40 votes, which isn’t bad, considering,” said Calum Shepherd, one of the party’s male candidates. “We are looking to set down a marker for the future.”
For Nicola Sturgeon, the job of marking out Scotland’s future has just begun.