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Salmond to address party faithful Salmond addresses party faithful
(about 1 hour later)
First Minister Alex Salmond is to address the SNP faithful for the first time since the party's historic Holyrood election victory last month. First Minister Alex Salmond has addressed the SNP faithful for the first time since the party's historic Holyrood election victory last month.
Mr Salmond will give a keynote speech to activists at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Saturday. Mr Salmond gave a keynote speech to activists at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The party leader is expected to reflect on an eventful first few weeks in charge of the Scottish Executive. The party leader reflected on an eventful first few weeks in charge of the Scottish Executive.
He has not directly addressed the SNP's National Council since a pre-election conference in March. He had not directly addressed the SNP's National Council since a pre-election conference in March.
Since then the Nationalists have beaten Labour by 47 seats to 46 to become the largest party at the Scottish Parliament.Since then the Nationalists have beaten Labour by 47 seats to 46 to become the largest party at the Scottish Parliament.
After failing to form a coalition, the SNP has formed a minority government and several ministers have already announced plans to implement some of the party's manifesto pledges. Mr Salmond said the last few "remarkable" weeks had provided some "wonderful experiences".
"Today marks something truly special for me and for this party," he said.
'Earn respect'
"Today, it gives me immense pleasure to stand before SNP National Council both as your leader and as the first minister of Scotland.
"That marks a watershed for our party. Today we can say something we have always wanted to say: 'the Scottish National Party is a now party of government'."
The first minister said the new administration had "hit the ground running" since its success in both the Scottish Parliament and council elections.
He listed the "progress" that the SNP-led executive had already made, including "saving" two accident and emergency units and abolishing the graduate endowment.
Mr Salmond added: "This government is moving at full speed and we are carrying forward the momentum of our election success.
"We earned the trust of the people in the campaign and we must continue to earn their respect in government."