Alex Salmond re-elected as First Minister

Published on Wednesday 18 May 2011 14:04

ALEX Salmond was re-elected to the post of First Minister today after the SNP's landslide election victory earlier this month.

• Alex Salmond is voted in as First Minister at Holyrood today. Picture: PA

The SNP leader stood unopposed for the position, which will give him five more years in charge of the next Scottish Government.

MSPs backed Mr Salmond's appointment, which requires official final approval by the Queen, by 68 votes to zero, with 57 abstentions.

Mr Salmond was among 69 SNP politicians to win a place in the 129-seat parliament - an unprecedented majority victory since devolution in 1999.

Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats congratulated the first minister at Holyrood today.

Mr Salmond used the occasion to renew his challenge to Westminster to hand increased tax and borrowing powers to the Scottish Parliament.

He said: "I think we should seize the moment - act together to bring these powers back home.

"Let this parliament move forward, as one, to make Scotland better."

Labour leader Iain Gray has announced he will step down in the autumn and Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said she will not stand for re-election in the next party contest.

Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott was replaced yesterday by new MSP Willie Rennie - one of just five Lib Dems returning to parliament.

Green co-leader Patrick Harvie remains in his pre-election position with one other party colleague at Holyrood.

Mr Salmond also repeated his party's intention to hold a referendum on independence within the five-year parliament.

He said: "We see our nation emerge from the glower of self-doubt and negativity - a change is coming and the people are ready.

"They put ambition ahead of hesitation and the process is not about endings, it's about beginnings."

Mr Salmond went on: "Whatever changes take place in our constitution, we will remain close to our neighbours.

"My dearest wish is to see the countries of Scotland and England stand together as equals.

"There is a difference between partnership and subordination - the first encourages mutual respect, the second breeds resentment."

The Holyrood election saw the SNP increase its presence from 47 to 69 seats, while Labour fell from 46 to 37 MSPs, the Tories dropped from 17 to 15 and the Lib Dems were reduced from 16 to five. Independent Margo MacDonald returned to parliament.

Next Wednesday, Mr Salmond is expected to ask parliament to appoint his cabinet, ministers and law officers.

On Thursday next week, MSPs will take part in a Scottish Government debate entitled Taking Scotland Forward.