Undoubtedly 2014 was a landmark year for Scottish politics. Everyone expected the independence referendum to shine a spotlight on Scotland but I’m not sure anyone was expecting the unprecedented levels of interest – from home and abroad and from the political anoraks to those who would normally be classed as disengaged.

People in Scotland decided to remain part of the United Kingdom with a united future. In 2015 we need to keep working together to grow our economy and create even more jobs. We need to work together to share risks and offer help and support to those who are unwell, elderly or out of work.

And people are what matter, not politics, as tragic events in Glasgow just before Christmas reminded us so starkly.

Looking ahead I want to see the UK and Scottish Governments co-operating more to deliver better services and ultimately lives for people throughout Scotland. I want us to reset that relationship that had become a bit dysfunctional in recent times.

One of the things we will work together on will be providing extra powers to the Scottish Parliament and implementing the Smith Agreement that all political parties signed up to. Draft legislation will be published before the end of January – just as we promised.

We also need to meet the demands to lower the voting age. Our 16 and 17 year olds were given the vote in the referendum and proved they were more than up to this task.

We are acting to ensure 16 and 17 year olds will also be able to vote in the next Scottish Parliament election in 2016.  I strongly support this for Westminster elections too, and hope that we can achieve sufficient parliamentary support to make this happen in future.

More than 2 million people were right to put their trust in staying in the UK and we must work to show those who voted yes the benefits which Scotland can reap as part of the UK.

More than anything else, I hope that we can move on from the referendum in 2015. We made a decision. It was the most democratic decision that Scotland has ever made. We cannot go on having the same arguments and debates. We need to respect those who have a different view from us but we all need to respect the democratic outcome.

We must also continue to heal the referendum rift. While the referendum engaged voters, it is also divided individuals and communities across Scotland. Had the result gone the other way, it would have divided our United Kingdom forever.

So while 2014 was about whether we should divided, I look forward to 2015 as a year in which we can unite. The challenges facing Scotland are significant.  Ensuring a successful future for North Sea oil when global prices have slumped. Supporting economic growth while the eurozone remains in flux. Providing support for families across with tax cuts, increased child care support, and funding for hospitals, schools and transport.

Set against a backdrop of continued global economic turbulence, these challenges remain significant. But the success of the UK government in stabilising our economy, getting back to growth, and operating one single economic market ensure that Scotland and all of our UK family can move forward and succeed together. That is our collective challenge for 2015.

In unity, there is strength. Whether we think of Scotland’s place in the UK family of nations, or the UK’s place in the European family of nations, the principle remains the same. We have voice at the table – a strong voice – only if we choose to sit there. The immediate pleasure some may experience in walking out is nothing like as great as the long term benefits of sticking together, helping one another, coming out stronger.

This year, we have an opportunity to move on from the independence debate in Scotland, and to take on those who similarly threaten our place in the EU. Getting smaller is never the answer. Let 2015 be a year of unity. This is a new dawn for Scotland and I feel a real sense of optimism as I look forward to the year ahead.