In politics, as in life, you are seen as you arrive and the initial impression of Anas Sarwar has to be that he has taken some bold steps to get Labour back on the Scottish political map.
Sure, this is not Sarwar’s first rodeo.
He cut his teeth as a Westminster MP and didn’t make it as Labour leader the last time round.
But since winning the crown just last month, he has made some sure-footed moves.
Standing directly against Nicola Sturgeon in the Glasgow Southside constituency is an eye-catching, if forlorn, challenge.
However, the “It’s her constituency but it’s my home” line is a winning one that delivers on personal roots and national profile.
Choosing education as the main plank of Scottish Labour’s election campaign and as the theme of his first major speech isn’t just clever, it is a play to his party’s fundamental strengths.
It highlights Labour’s core belief that the life chances of poor children are massively boosted by good education and focuses on the SNP’s inability to deliver on that pathway out of poverty over 14 years.
Sarwar’s ideas on education, catch up plans for pupils, a resit guarantee and a free college places, have real merit and chime with the instincts of ordinary Scots.
That makes for political messaging with real cut through to voters.
Watch this guy, he may go far.
