SNP leaders to overhaul party policy

SNP'S new leadership team will wipe the policy slate clean when they address the party's annual conference next week.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon will go back to basics in a dramatic policy overhaul which points the finger of failure at John Swinney.

Everything the party has aimed for will be re-examined with the exception of independence which will remain at the heart of their plan.

An insider said: "The two of them have decided that in order to take the party forward they need to really go back to the beginning.

"It's a bit of a slap in the face for John Swinney because everything he worked for is basically being dumped.

"Next week's party conference will be the start of a new era for the Nats."

In a bid to win new voters in the 2007 elections, Salmond and Sturgeon are hoping the shake-up will set them back on course. But it will be down to Sturgeon to oversee the face-lift.

Yesterday Sturgeon revealed she is "reviewing" the party's old policies and drawing up papers for the National Council in December.

At the top of her list will be Scotland's economic growth as well as a better pension deal for the elderly.

The unveiling of the new-look SNP comes as Alex Salmond vowed not to become a "one-man band" in his second term as leader.

"I wasn't famous for my inclusivity the first time but now there's a much bigger team to share the work with."

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