John Swinney rediscovers SNP confidence that has defined party's Holyrood success

Let’s be honest, the self-belief and the public support is nowhere near the level it was at the height of Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership.

But the man who came in when the party was at its lowest point in a generation to find some much-needed stability and keep things steady has achieved that.

Although there is still a chance a unionist coalition led by Labour’s Anas Sarwar could deprive Mr Swinney of continuing as First Minister after May’s election, that prospect looks less likely than the SNP managing to secure an elusive majority, if you believe the polls.

READ MORE: John Swinney promises to spend £500m on childcare if SNP wins election

All the data points to the SNP being the biggest party after polling day.

Mr Swinney, who has kept things beige and bland in a bid not to rock the boat as Labour’s support has crumbled under a deeply-unpopular UK government, seems to have found his mojo again and his identity as a leader.

Scottish Labour has been humbled after Mr Sarwar’s botched call for the Prime Minister to resign and a messy party conference in Paisley last month - with a dire headline plea from the party leader to “hold your nose” and vote for us.

While the SNP’s support and delivery from almost 20 years in government is far from perfect, Mr Swinney’s party, as it stands, is the only one serious about preparing for government in May.

It is difficult not to take Mr Swinney’s vow, made again earlier this week, to eradicate child poverty as sincere - the First Minister means business.

While progress on child poverty has not matched targets or expectations, although success has been greater than south of the Border, his vow to reshape childcare provision in Scotland, will form a key part of how that mission moves forward after the election.

READ MORE: How the SNP has turned its fortunes around under John Swinney

Opponents will point to a very similar vow made by Ms Sturgeon ahead of the 2021 election that has not managed to be delivered.

But if Mr Swinney secures his mandate after May’s election, majority or not, he could see a confident SNP bringing forward bold policies Scottish Labour is yet to put on the table.

Senior SNP minister Mairi McAllan told Scotland on Sunday that the SNP, under heavy-weights including Mr Swinney and Ms Sturgeon was able to “confidently build a better future for Scotland”.

“If we secure a win in this election, you can bet your bottom dollar that Scotland is putting its head up and its shoulders back.”

The mood at Saturday’s SNP conference in Edinburgh has been positive and upbeat, but not the dizzy buzz on the back of the independence movement following the referendum that has been a feature in past years. The SNP has, to some extend, been humbled after a difficult few years.

While the conference was busy, there was a noticeable lack of young activists that have, in the past, been a key part of the energy the party has enjoyed over the years, both in the political bubble and on the doorsteps on the campaign trail.

The SNP is poised to hold power for a third decade if it can win May’s election. If that does materialise, unionists parties will have some serious questions over how they can remove the SNP from office without calling their bluff on an independence referendum.