Keir Starmer’s Scottish Labour conference speech was delivered in some of the most favourable circumstances for his party since the last time they were in Government.
Opinion polls show Labour with a massive lead over the Tories, who appear too weak to claw back support.
Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation has also opened up the possibility of sizable gains in Scotland.
With the SNP’s main electoral asset gone, and a leadership contest certain to stir up divisions, Scottish Labour feel they could win over a dozen seats at the general election.
One poll had Labour two points behind the SNP, compared to the 2019 hammering when the gulf was over 25 percentage points.
Labour on both sides of the border have gone from sad also-rans to a potential party of government in three years.
Starmer’s speech, like the address of Anas Sarwar on Friday, explicitly addressed SNP voters by trying to tap into their desire for change.
It was his strongest yet in recognising the need to appeal to pro-independence supporters.
But senior insiders still believe the turnaround is based more on the weakness of opponents than the strength of Starmer’s message.
They feel the giant poll at a UK level is soft and could disappear if the Conservatives gain momentum during an election campaign.
Starmer has neutralised weakness - he clamped down on anti-semitism and has been strong on defence policy - but his party remains policy-light.
And while the “reach out” message to SNP voters was sound, the lack of progress in proposing new powers for Holyrood alarms some in the Scottish party. Critics fear there has been backtracking.
Complacency is the danger for Labour, such as the belief Tory incompetence and SNP division will be enough to propel Starmer into Downing Street.
It is no accident Labour has not won a general election since 2005 or a Holyrood for sixteen years.
They became disconnected from the public by focusing on themselves and niche concerns.
Starmer must keep reforming Labour if he is to replace Rishi Sunak in Downing Street.
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