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| First minister marks five years | First minister marks five years |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Jack McConnell is marking the fifth anniversary of becoming first minister. | Jack McConnell is marking the fifth anniversary of becoming first minister. |
| He has been giving a series of media interviews defending his record in government since taking over from Henry McLeish in November 2001. | He has been giving a series of media interviews defending his record in government since taking over from Henry McLeish in November 2001. |
| However, the SNP said Mr McConnell had offered "weak leadership, prevarication and broken promises". | However, the SNP said Mr McConnell had offered "weak leadership, prevarication and broken promises". |
| The Conservatives said it was an "unhappy anniversary" marking half a decade of "centralised, nanny state government and missed opportunities". | The Conservatives said it was an "unhappy anniversary" marking half a decade of "centralised, nanny state government and missed opportunities". |
| In a newspaper interview at the weekend Mr McConnell said there had been times when he doubted whether he was doing what he believed in. | In a newspaper interview at the weekend Mr McConnell said there had been times when he doubted whether he was doing what he believed in. |
| "There have been times when I have thought 'is what I am doing what I believe in? What am I achieving? Is it worth it, given the amount of pressure that's on the family and the way things have had to change?' | "There have been times when I have thought 'is what I am doing what I believe in? What am I achieving? Is it worth it, given the amount of pressure that's on the family and the way things have had to change?' |
| "There have certainly been moments over the last five years when I have thought like that." | "There have certainly been moments over the last five years when I have thought like that." |
| Lack of achievement | |
| SNP Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon attacked him over issues ranging from the Trident missile replacement to new nuclear power stations, council tax levels, hospital closures and youth offending. | SNP Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon attacked him over issues ranging from the Trident missile replacement to new nuclear power stations, council tax levels, hospital closures and youth offending. |
| "He's too often a rabbit caught in the headlights on the big issues of the day, rather than the real leader Scotland needs," she said. | "He's too often a rabbit caught in the headlights on the big issues of the day, rather than the real leader Scotland needs," she said. |
| "This week Mr McConnell has finally caught up with public opinion in Scotland, and started to question his own effectiveness and lack of achievement. | "This week Mr McConnell has finally caught up with public opinion in Scotland, and started to question his own effectiveness and lack of achievement. |
| Every reasonable person knows that Scotland is a much better place now than it was five years ago A source close to Jack McConnell | Every reasonable person knows that Scotland is a much better place now than it was five years ago A source close to Jack McConnell |
| "If he has a lack of confidence in his own ability, it's not credible to think that others will still think him the best person for the job." | "If he has a lack of confidence in his own ability, it's not credible to think that others will still think him the best person for the job." |
| The Tories attacked Mr McConnell over law and order, rising numbers of children in care, hospital waiting times and council tax rises. | The Tories attacked Mr McConnell over law and order, rising numbers of children in care, hospital waiting times and council tax rises. |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "There is a continued strong desire for devolution to deliver and a growing frustration that the Labour-Lib Dem Executive, led by Jack McConnell, is squandering the chance." | Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "There is a continued strong desire for devolution to deliver and a growing frustration that the Labour-Lib Dem Executive, led by Jack McConnell, is squandering the chance." |
| A source close to Mr McConnell insisted: "Every reasonable person knows that Scotland is a much better place now than it was five years ago, and infinitely better than when the Tories were running Scotland down. | A source close to Mr McConnell insisted: "Every reasonable person knows that Scotland is a much better place now than it was five years ago, and infinitely better than when the Tories were running Scotland down. |
| "The progress that families are experiencing now is down to leadership from Jack McConnell in government and Labour in the Scottish Parliament. | "The progress that families are experiencing now is down to leadership from Jack McConnell in government and Labour in the Scottish Parliament. |
| "The question now is whether Scotland wants to spend the next five years going backwards with the Tories or even further backwards with the Nationalists." | "The question now is whether Scotland wants to spend the next five years going backwards with the Tories or even further backwards with the Nationalists." |