Well I suppose it can all begin now...

David Cameron, the resident Prime Minister, has made his official trip to Buckingham Palace to inform Her Majesty that the General Election is officially underway (under the terms of the Fixed Term Election Act we don't need her 'permission' any longer).

MPs are no more. For the next six weeks they are only candidates. I wish we could 'dissolve' the House of Lords with such ease. A retirement home for the friends of 'high heid yins' that no one elects but entitles them to expensive ermine cloaks and loads of perks, including an allowance of £300 a day just for turning up.

In the search for public spending cuts there is one institution that deserves the axe. Think about all the community centres and elderly clubs that could be saved if we diverted the millions wasted on the Lords back into drained council coffers?

I know I've said before in this column that I'd had enough of the forthcoming election before it even started but as I have been attending and chairing some political meetings with Tommy, I am now becoming excited at the possibility of a superb result for the SNP. This truly could be a unique and historic election in Scotland.

As the daughter of a Govan shipyard worker, steeped in the 'red' history of the Clyde, I was brought up a Labour supporter. But I was also brought up to think for myself.

My interest in the SNP began with Margo MacDonald and then subsequently Jim Sillars in the Govan by-election in 1988. Since then I have judged election candidates on their records of activity and strength of commitments not by the colour of their rosettes.

Never in history has there been a realistic chance of the SNP winning a General Election in Scotland. Some polls predict they will win 53 of the 59 seats being contested. That may be over optimistic but as long as they win 30 or more seats they will have won Scotland. And they will have won Scotland on the basis of uplifting promises like ditching the immoral Trident nuclear weapons programme, opposing cruel austerity cuts and continuing the crusade for independence. These are policies worth voting for.

A 30 plus team of SNP MPs will shake up the cosy and privileged political environment that Westmonster has come to stand for. Instead of the powerful voices of the rich and powerful being heard from wall to wall the ordinary voices of reason, peace and social justice will upset the comfortable equilibrium that cuts welfare to the bone while turning a blind eye to illegal wars, tax evasion and obscene inequality.

I am soooo enjoying the surge of interest in the SNP by the English news correspondents and political pundits down in Westminster. It seems to have just dawned on them that there is a 'danger' that the Scottish Nationalists may have a massively important part to play in the running of the UK. (How dare they?)

I'm sure I can detect panic in the voices of the Tories who seem to be incandescent with horror that a party who, is advocating nuclear disarmament, could form a coalition government.

Only a few months ago we were being 'love-bombed' by the British Establishment desperately trying to hold onto their state.

Unfortunately independence was rejected and we were expected to jump back into our box of obedience and deference to our English masters.

How dare we vote SNP and actually influence a General Election. English nationalists foam at the mouth at the prospect of England voting for one Government but ending up with another.

Well… welcome to our world here in Scotland. We didn't vote for Thatcher, Major or Cameron but we ended up with all three. We refuse to knuckle under any more. The Referendum set us free and although we lost the vote the truth is we are winning the war for independence.

And while I'm singing the praises of the Scottish Nationalist Party may I indulge in some girly observations, (which of course will no doubt be deemed as 'non PC' but who cares!)

Nicola Sturgeon looks bloody great. She is strutting her stuff in her killer heels and well-tailored suits.

I think she is handling her leadership with authority and dignity.

Gone is the 'wee nippy sweetie tag' which was commonly used to describe her. She is doing a great job so far. Give it laldy Nicola!