Dear Johann, I know we haven't been in contact much in recent months, what with you being involved in a lengthy campaign to be leader of the Scottish Labour Party and me being busy reconstructing a political future, but congratulations on your success and I wish you well in your exceptionally challenging role.

Forgive me for sending you a note on what lies ahead but the challenge is how you take the party forward and deal with the impact of the "Hurricane Salmond" that wreaked havoc over much of our former heartland. I hope you appreciate my observations on the tasks ahead.

l First Minister's Question Time is not the only show in town but it does matter.

You are pitted against a fearless and skilled, if occasionally over-confident, Parliamentary performer in Alex Salmond. Remember, however, that Donald Dewar bested him regularly and even if the First Minister has a present air of apparent invincibility it often comes with the counterpoint of political hubris. The recent stushie in the Parliament over tackling bigotry demonstrated a combination of Mr Salmond's desperation to be the man of the moment and the supine loyalty of the true believers on the back benches.

To outfox him, you need to get him on detail every time but always connect what you do and say to the strong message of meeting the needs and hopes of Scots. To paraphrase a slogan from one of our favourite tipples: "Policies made in Scotland from the girders of sound Scottish Labour values of opportunity and fairness for all."

l Learn from defeat and have the courage to change.

Just accept that the voters sent us a message in May and stop flagellating ourselves about it. Move on to making the changes to enable voters to trust Scottish Labour once more. In 2003 the SNP were drubbed but a swift change of leader, simple and clear policies that chimed with people's concerns and a relentless on-message discipline combined to put them back in the game by 2007.

l Stop any girning and avoid our recent curmudgeonliness. The preserve of Scottishness is not only bottled by the SNP. Our task is to reignite the belief in Scottish Labour once again.

l Run a proper campaign every minute of every day from now until 2016.

Never again should Labour be hirpled by a campaign that had Labour's leader as the third preferred choice behind even a Tory to be First Minister with Scottish voters.

There are still many ills that beset our blessed Caledonia and voters are looking for Scottish Labour's vision of a better Scotland. At all times we should be campaigning as a party that looks fit for government and not one doomed to perpetual opposition.

l Set the agenda on Labour's terms.

Argue our case on how we will put Scotland back to work and how we will use the Parliament to improve education and health. We should lead on any demands for more powers that will make our country a better place. I know you are a keen co-operator so why don't you champion the most radical decentralisation of services in our history and mutualise large sectors of the local and national state?

l Complete the journey.

Like you, I have grappled with the importance of class and national identity in Scottish politics and, like you, my socialism doesn't stop at Gretna. We are both a mosaic of the many identities of modern Scotland and the job you have taken on is to lead Scottish Labour to take us to a better future. We may have "no gods and precious few heroes'', as was said after the demise of the Clydesiders, but there is still a destination that many Scots want to arrive at that we can take them to.

I wish you well over the next few years but remember it all starts today with First Minister's Questions. Enjoy the experience.

Frank McAveety is a former Scottish Government Minister and former Labour MSP for Glasgow Shettleston.