New First Minister for Scotland

Nearly two weeks after the elections to the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond has at last become First Minister. It was a very civil affair, with congratulations coming from out-going First Minister Jack McConnell, and Liberal Democrat leader and out-going Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen. However, it was Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie, in a speech lasting just 52 seconds, who stole the show by pledging to keep the new First Minister in order.

Over the last two weeks, though, we have seen a different Alex Salmond. The tough political operator that we have come to know well has evolved a more conciliatory side – pledging to work to build consensus and trust. But more than that, it seems that Mr Salmond has grown in stature, almost as if he has grown into the post of First Minister and already eclipsing his immediate predecessor.

Sweet n' Sour Conspiracy

It seems that Labour MSPs are already conspiring to replace Jack McConnell as leader of the Scottish Labour party. An entertaining article in today’s Herald has reported that a group of women Labour MSPs gathered at the weekend and, over a Chinese takeaway, discussed how to oust Mr McConnell.

Despite their protestations of loyalty, several of the group apparently aspire to Mr McConnell’s job. Wendy Alexander is perhaps the best known of the group, which also includes Margaret Curran, Johann Lamont, Sarah Boyack and Karen Gillon.

However, by far the most entertaining suggestion is that John Reid, soon to be ex-Home Secretary, should be the next leader of Scottish Labour. One of Labour’s recently elected constituency MSPs, it is suggested, should resign their seat and force a by-election that would allow Reid to enter the Scottish Parliament. The suggestion comes from Labour MP Brian Donohoe, who seems to have forgotten the old dictum that the best way to lose an election is to have one.

Mr Donohoe must be delusional if he thinks that John ‘attack-dog’ Reid would be some kind of electoral asset, or that Labour MSPs would welcome him with open arms. But maybe Donohoe just wants to get Reid out of Westminster and thinks that dumping him in the Scottish Parliament is one way to achieve that. Although, I bet Alex Salmond would love the idea.

Fergusson Elected Presiding Officer

Congratulations to Alex Fergusson who was today elected Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Fergie defeated Independent MSP Margo MacDonald by 108 votes to 20. What possessed Margo MacDonald to stand against Fergusson is beyond me.

Last week Ms MacDonald claimed that she had no interest in the job but that she would do it for a year to allow the Parliament to proceed with electing a First Minister and Executive. After Fergusson decided to put his name forward for the post, and in so doing received widespread support, Ms MacDonald decided to stand declaring that she did not want an establishment ‘stitch-up’, whilst claiming that she believed Mr Fergusson was a man of integrity. Whereas Margo had the opportunity to establish herself as a Parliamentary elder statesman, this strange behaviour merely serves to undermine her standing and make her look fickle.

Fergusson to run for Presiding Officer

It is good news that Tory MSP Alex Fergusson has decided to run for the post of Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Mr Fergusson, who has been a member of the Parliament since it opened in 1999, is well respected across all the parties and combines an amiable personality with the ability to get things done. Elected as a list MSP for the South of Scotland at the first elections to the Parliament in 1999, Mr Fergusson captured the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency from the SNP at the 2003 elections, with a majority of just 99 votes. Last week he managed to buck the SNP trend and increased his majority to a very respectable 3,333 votes.

Given the tight Parliamentary arithmetic there has, of course, been a great reluctance amongst the SNP and Labour parties to put one of their number forward for the post. It could be argued that it is the Tories turn anyway – as the Parliament’s first PO was the Lib Dem Lord Steel, the outgoing George Reid was a Nationalist, and with Labour just one seat behind the SNP it is hardly surprising that they would be happy to see a Tory fill the vacancy. That said, had the circumstances been different, Mr Fergusson would have commanded cross-party support anyway.

There is one question that arises, however. Lord Steel and Mr Reid each served just one term as Presiding Officer before retiring from the Parliament at the subsequent election. Has this now become a Parliamentary convention – one that Mr Fergusson is happy with?

Minority Government

It has been interesting to watch Alex Salmond's attempts to form an administration. The most obvious candidate as a coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, have ruled themselves out (for the moment) of a formal coalition with the SNP. This is perhaps understandable as the Lib Dems have had their first experience in a long time of how it feels to be on the crappy end of election night. Losing three constituencies that they have held since the 1980s would have stung, especially as one of them was lost to the man who is likely to become Scotland's new First Minister.

Yet the door is still open for them to enter a coalition at some point in the near future. Today's announcement that the Greens and SNP have signed a formal 'agreement of co-operation' is obviously helpful to Mr Salmond. However this is far from being a coalition or even the 'confidence and supply' agreement that had been talked about earlier in the week. It does gain the SNP two extra votes in most Parliamentary debates, but it does not guarantee Green support for Finance Bills or in confidence motions.

Why have the Greens been so reluctant to join an SNP administration? Firstly there is a point of political difference - the Greens do not like the SNP's road building proposals. Yet it does also seem as if the Greens are reluctant to go into a government with the SNP without the Liberal Democrats also being involved. Indeed, Robin Harper has said that the Green's would consider a formal agreement should the Lib Dems change their mind.

It is hard to judge before it has even taken office how stable the new Executive is going to be. However, if we have a turbulent couple of years with the SNP unable to pass its legislation it is possible to envisage Alex Salmond inviting the Lib Dems into a coalition. Perhaps after a few years without their ministerial limos the Lib Dems might be more amenable to such an invitation. The question is, would they join with Mr Salmond or could we see Jack McConnell return?