Nicola Sturgeon last night emerged from the formidable shadow of SNP leader Alex Salmond to earn a place in the spotlight in her own right. She took not just the overall accolade as Scottish Politician of the Year but also the title of Donald Dewar Debater of the Year.
Nicola Sturgeon last night emerged from the formidable shadow of SNP leader Alex Salmond to earn a place in the spotlight in her own right.
The First Minister will feel vindicated in advancing her career, as his Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary took not just the overall accolade as Scottish Politician of the Year, presented by The Herald, but also the title of Donald Dewar Debater of the Year, sponsored by eaga.
At the annual awards ceremony at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh, Chancellor Alistair Darling won the title of Best Scot at Westminster, an award that is sponsored by the Bank of Scotland.
The Chancellor won the accolade for the calm manner in which he has handled a year of unprecedented financial turmoil, assembling the rescue package for British banking which has been adopted as a template elsewhere in the world. Mr Darling, who was unable to attend the ceremony, said: "Thank you very much. I'm deeply honoured to receive the award. I'd love to have been there to collect it myself.
"However, I hope you understand that I am travelling to Washington to join finance ministers from around the world at the G20 summit to discuss the steps we need to take to support families and businesses across the world.
"I'm delighted that The Herald established these awards 10 years ago. Newspapers, quite rightly, hold politicians to account but it is nice to know that they can also recognise their achievements."
Sir Sean Connery won the International Scot Award for championing the cause of Scotland across the globe and for his charity work at home. Entrepreneur Ann Gloag and Olympic hero Chris Hoy were also shortlisted for that award, which is in its second year and is sponsored by Keppie Design.
The main prize saw a repeat of last year's shortlist with the First Minister and his Finance Secretary John Swinney both in the frame following another successful period in office for the minority SNP administration.
Ms Sturgeon was also up against Mr Salmond, as well Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, for Donald Dewar Debater of the Year Award.
Her double victory reflected the feeling of the judging panel that she had performed brilliantly in a number of roles - as an excellent deputy at First Minister's Questions, in full charge of her brief even during challenges such as the ambulance crisis and hospital infection outbreaks, and as a key player in the SNP's stunning victory in the Glasgow East by-election.
Other winners of the night included Fife Labour MSP John Park, as The One to Watch, sponsored by Microsoft. His award, presented by Monarch of the Glen and Hollyoaks actress Kari Corbett, reflected the fact that just 18 months into his time in parliament he has reached Shadow Cabinet rank and could be a real contender for leadership in the future.
At the other end of the spectrum of experience, veteran Glasgow Conservative Bill Aitken won the Committee A ward, for his impressive convenership of the Justice Committee. The award, which is sponsored by npower renewables, was presented by Scotland football manager George Burley.
The SNP's Chris Harvie was a respected academic in Germany when he unexpectedly won a seat at Holyrood last year. As befits an unconventional politician, he won the Free Spirit award for his colourful interventions on issues such as the demise of small town high streets, which managed to offend the citizens of Lockerbie when he called the town a "dump", and the dress sense of Scottish youngsters, whom he said he would prefer to see in knickerbockers than shell suits.
Mr Harvie was presented with the award by Rebus author Ian Rankin.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness, the former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader who served for six years as Deputy First Minister, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Diageo, for his pivotal role in the devolution project which saw him become the first Liberal since Lloyd George to serve in government.
Clydeside Action on Asbestos was named as Public Campaign of the Year in recognition of its achievements in changing the law to help those afflicted by asbestos-related disease.
Last night's event was the 10th annual Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards ceremony and during the evening a video review of the awards over the past decade was played to guests. A review of the year in politics was also shown.
Charles McGhee, Editor of The Herald, said: "I would like to offer my congratulations to our Scottish Politician of the Year, Nicola Sturgeon, whose exceptional performance, particularly on the health agenda, was praised by all of the judges. I would also like to congratulate all of our other winners and, of course, the nominees in each category.
"The Herald is delighted to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of these awards, which were established in 1999 to celebrate the inaugural year of the Scottish Parliament. I would also like to thank our sponsors this evening. Their support - and that of our other sponsors over the past decade - has enabled the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards to grow in stature to become the premier event in the Scottish political calendar."
The pipe band of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, performed at last night's event, opening the celebrations.
Their colleagues have recently returned from a tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where one of the battalion's soldiers, Corporal Barry Dempsey, was killed by a roadside bomb laid by Taliban insurgents.
