IF a week is a long time in politics, a year is an eternity.

Twelve months ago the SNP faithful debated passionately before deciding, narrowly, to overturn years of opposition to Nato.

One year on - and with less than a year to go to the referendum - we have seen a very different side of the party: the SNP as a disciplined and determined campaigning machine.

From the platform at Perth Concert Hall, ministers delivered identikit speeches crafted to convey a few clear, simple messages.

Scotland could and should be independent, speakers repeated over and over. The Scottish Government is trusted by and accountable to the people of Scotland. Westminster, by contrast, is remote and lurching to the right.

Grassroots activists were exhorted to campaign for the sake of their children and future generations and in memory of sadly-missed party figures.

Meanwhile an emotional appeal went out to undecided voters: how would you feel the day after the referendum if the historic opportunity is passed up?

This, then, will be the basis of the SNP campaign over the coming 11 months.

But two other themes emerged as the party trained its sights on two crucial groups it must win over to stand any chance of victory: traditional Labour voters and the "missing millions" who have switched off politics altogether.

Firstly, there came a sustained attack on Labour. Speeches from the First Minister's down were littered with Labour-bashing lines in a bid to quash any thought of Ed Miliband winning power in 2015.

At the same time, policy announcements held out the hope of a more socially democratic Scotland under independence. Nicola Sturgeon's plan to cut fuel bills by £70 was a direct attempt to trump Labour's promise of a energy price freeze. Alex Salmond, meanwhile, promised the minimum wage would rise with inflation.

Secondly, SNP ministers - especially Ms Sturgeon - adopted a much harder tone discussing the consequences of a No vote. Scotland would be punished, was the message. Social security would be "dismantled," the Deputy First Minister claimed.

The Scottish Government's White Paper on independence, the eagerly awaited blueprint for how an independent Scotland would work in practice, will be published on November 26, Mr Salmond revealed in his rapturously-received speech on Saturday.

Before then, though, attention switches to Dunfermline and the by-election to replace disgraced former MSP Bill Walker.

A victory over the favourites Labour on Thursday night would indeed be a huge boost to the Nationalists' campaign.