Polling Day

What else could one cover today but the fact that it was polling day in the election for the Scottish Parliament. This is the fourth SP election. Labour was the ruling administration for the first two terms, being replaced by the Scottish National Party at the last election. This was the start of a different kind of politics in Scotland, with Alex Salmond's party taking control without an absolute majority and being the largest party by only one seat.

Today's election feels enormously significant. The polls have been predicting a second victory for the SNP, though most likely again without an absolute majority.

Driving to work this morning, I stopped at a crossing outside the Polling Station in Peebles High Street. It was great to see so many people voting first thing, but I always like to vote early evening - the most popular time when the polls are at their busiest. It is the time when one feels most that one is part of a great event - calle democracy.