"The Scottish Labour Party I lead in our Parliament will not forget the lessons of the past four years. But we will move on."

The full text of Jack McConnell's victory statement delivered to party workers in Glasgow on Friday

"I want to start this morning by thanking the thousands of people who voted Labour in Scotland yesterday. We will not let them down.

I also want to congratulate those Labour MSPs returned to parliament or who will join us for the first time. And I wish to express my thanks and commiserations to those who were unsuccessful.

Today we begin to build a new Scotland. A Scotland where government is on the side of the people and where all of our energy is directed at improving the lives of men, women and children in every part of this country.

Yesterday the people of Scotland made their decision and delivered their verdict.

The results were better for Scottish Labour than everyone was predicting just one month ago and the turnout, while disappointing, was higher than seemed likely earlier in the year.

The detailed outcome is clearly to some extent a protest against the pace of reform and the pace of delivery. Low turnout, protest votes, votes for minor parties sent a signal to all politicians that the people of Scotland are impatient for change.

This morning, I want to say directly to them - I have heard you. I have met hundreds of you during the 4 weeks of the election campaign and I have listened to what you have said.

Today and tomorrow and for every day we are in government I will continue to listen. But I will also act. I share your impatience and your frustration.I understand why you feel that way. And I share your hopes and your belief that this can be a better country to live and work in, to raise a family with hope and to grow old with dignity.

And today, we begin to work to deliver on all that we set out in our Manifesto. And I begin my work to show you that we are on your side.

From the pensioners in Lochee to the young people here in Glasgow, from the workers in Dumbarton to the shoppers in Largs. The business people in Dumfries and the children in Aberdeen. I want to deliver what we promised. I meant what I said and we will do what we said we would do.

Yesterday's votes gave Labour in Scotland the honour of being the largest party in the Scottish Parliament. I believe people across Scotland did that because Scottish Labour put forward the ideas and the policies to tackle directly the priorities the people of Scotland have.

Labour begins the work now to tackle anti-social behaviour, reform the health service and speed up justice in our courts. To drive down waiting times and drive up safety on our streets.

Today Labour has been given the opportunity to do the job the people of Scotland have clearly said they want us to do. It is about hard work and effort and concentration. Not for self interest or self promotion. For the people of Scotland.

People who believe in the Scottish Parliament. Who look to it to tackle their concerns and help them improve their lives and build a better future for their children. People who have been disappointed by the past 4 years. But are willing to give the parliament another chance.

Labour will not let them down. We will not indulge in petty squabbles or meaningless debates. We will have a clear focus on the people's priorities, maturity in our behaviour and absolute determination to deliver on our promises.

Now I will seek to form a stable and focussed government for Scotland. Not for its own sake but to do the job we have been elected to do. The first step will be to talk with Jim Wallace as Leader of the Liberal Democrats and I intend to do that today. Tomorrow I will meet Labour MSPs.

Voting is a serious business. Yesterday thousands of people made the effort to cast their vote, deliver their judgement on us all. Today the serious business of government begins. And it is serious because it is government in the name of all those who voted and all of those who didn't.

I want to lead a government that will be true to all those who voted, regardless of which party or individual they cast their vote for. Given the opportunity we will govern well. We will work with others and we will govern for all of Scotland, urban and rural.

"We will work hard to live up to the trust they have put in us. And we will work hard to convince all those who didn't vote, that next time it will be worth it."