Can a government be radical and inspirational when it is a minority administration that can be brought down at any time by the combined forces of the opposition parties? Alex Salmond, the First Minister, believes it can and tried yesterday to convince the public that the SNP government he leads at Holyrood can effect substantive change and, in the process, restore confidence in the political process. Radical, passionate governments make their mark by pursuing original, reforming and distinctive policies. Mr Salmond is constrained in this regard by the potential in the Scottish Parliament's voting arithmetic to bring the SNP to heel and, possibly, put it out of government. The requirement constantly to look over his shoulder to identify a potential ally or gamble on a neutral reaction to a policy explains why the high-flown rhetoric about the radical and the inspirational was promptly brought down to earth by Mr Salmond himself. His government would reform and inspire by focusing on the possible. As soundbites go, it is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Can a government be radical and inspirational when it is a minority administration that can be brought down at any time by the combined forces of the opposition parties? Alex Salmond, the First Minister, believes it can and tried yesterday to convince the public that the SNP government he leads at Holyrood can effect substantive change and, in the process, restore confidence in the political process. Radical, passionate governments make their mark by pursuing original, reforming and distinctive policies. Mr Salmond is constrained in this regard by the potential in the Scottish Parliament's voting arithmetic to bring the SNP to heel and, possibly, put it out of government. The requirement constantly to look over his shoulder to identify a potential ally or gamble on a neutral reaction to a policy explains why the high-flown rhetoric about the radical and the inspirational was promptly brought down to earth by Mr Salmond himself. His government would reform and inspire by focusing on the possible. As soundbites go, it is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

There is ample evidence in the SNP's first legislative programme, unveiled yesterday, of the Scottish Government pursuing an agenda founded on the art of the possible. Of the 11 bills, one is statutory (on the Scottish budget, which must await the autumn spending review at Westminster); some are largely inherited from the previous administration (the rape and sexual offences, judiciary and culture bills); while others do carry the stamp of the SNP, albeit with a faint mark (the abolition of bridge tolls and the graduate endowment, as well as a flooding bill). As Mr Salmond conceded, there was no rabbit to pull from the hat. The opposition parties made the most of the opportunity, describing the programme as disappointingly light on policy. It is one thing to criticise; being constructive is a different matter. The SNP's programme, regardless of the limitations, by its very nature challenges the opposition to respond. What now for its alternative programme? Agreeing policy in a process that culminates in legislation will be challenging, in part because of parliamentary procedures (via private members' bills, which are not easy to organise), in part because aspects of the SNP programme will appeal to different parties outside government, and have been framed with that in mind.

Mr Salmond perhaps miscalculated by raising expectations beyond the point at which they could be fulfilled. If his programme has a stamp, it is the stamp of pragmatism. It must also be borne in mind that his government is determined to demonstrate to the public that it can govern responsibly and, by its actions, win the trust of a sufficient number of voters to secure the ultimate goal of independence. A referendum on independence seems a long way off. For the moment, the nitty-gritty of government holds sway. It might not be riveting in the way Mr Salmond's rhetoric suggested. With the spending round coming up, a possible scrap with Gordon Brown over oil revenues and an independence referendum persistently in the background noise of Mr Salmond's national conversation, the real excitement might well be found away from the Holyrood parliament.