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Scottish Parliament election

Election 07 graphic

A good day for politics

  • Brian Taylor
  • 16 May 07, 12:00 PM

After the tension of the campaign and the chaos of the count, Holyrood put on its best face for the choice of first minister.

In the second and final round, Alex Salmond was elected by 49 votes (SNP plus Green) to 46 (Labour) with 33 abstentions (Tory/LibDem/Margo).

The speeches were modest, moderate and uniformly gracious.

The new first minister described Scotland as "diverse, not divided" and promised to work entirely in the collective national interest.

Jack McConnell thanked Scotland for the opportunity to serve - and offered well-chosen words of praise to his successor. Both Annabel Goldie and Nicol Stephen were witty and thoughtful.

It won't last, of course. There will be conflict ahead. How could it be other with a tight, close chamber?

But this was a good day for Holyrood and a good day for decent, democratic politics.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 01:15 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • phil wrote:

We will undoubtly see a change in the way politics is debated in the new Scotland - the big question is will we see a change in the way it is reported ?

  • 2.
  • At 01:21 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Ross wrote:

Im so pleased that finally we have a decent leader in charge of our country! Even after all of the scaremongering, lies and biased press Labour are where they belong after iraq and trident.....out of power

  • 3.
  • At 01:26 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Ross McLean wrote:

Well said Brian. So nice to see a bit of positive coverage for a change. far too much girning and griping and sullen-ness in our politics (and political coverage). There are bad things in our politics and they will come, no doubt. But when we see our politicians at their best we should say so.

  • 4.
  • At 03:15 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Craig wrote:

Well done to Alex and the SNP, it was time! (has been for a long time)

  • 5.
  • At 04:03 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Hamish Tennant wrote:

So the Lib Dems abstained en masse, definitely no political manouevring there then.
The result hopefully will mark a new positive era for the Scottish parliament with the opposition major parties expiditing policies that represent marked advances for the country, and are not blocked for their own satisfaction. (Lib Dems anyone?)

  • 6.
  • At 04:10 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Deek wrote:

Some nice bits in Alex's speech - hopefully a sign of a more level, less cocky Mr Salmond. It has indeed been a long time coming.

I've taken a fairly ambivelent view to Scottish Politics in recent years, but it's with the expert views of you Brian, that's helped me understand things. Here's to you.

  • 7.
  • At 04:29 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Jonah wrote:

The whole place, MSP`s, and their entourages and expenses are a FARCE.

WHAT exactly has the Scottish Parliament done - except keep the Central Scotalnd Mafia in jobs and their associates rewarded.

  • 8.
  • At 05:35 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Bob wrote:

Jonah really is a Jonah. Rise to the occasion, man, and be positive about your country for once!

  • 9.
  • At 06:57 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Lesley Johnston wrote:

I'm absolutely delighted to see this day arrive in Scottish politics and now sincerely hope that the other Parties will not spend the next 4 years trying to undermine the SNP just for the sake of it. I do have my doubts, however, and am not convinced that they will place the good governance of our country ahead of their fear and loathing of the SNP. Alex Salmond is surely the most capable politician we in Scotland have had in many a year and he should be given every support to lead the country effectively for the good of all the people.

  • 10.
  • At 07:06 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Razzamataz wrote:

OK Brian so it is a good day for democracy when out of 129 MSP's 31 of them abstain!! What chance have we in combatting voter apathy when the Parliamentarians can't even use their vote when they are able!!

Oh Jonah - how can you be so ungrateful!

First, it keeps our Brian blogging and thats got to be a good thing - ( except when he's traducing people.)

Second it gives otherwise useless muffins like you and I something to vent our spleen about.

Third it gave a chance for civil service officers to practice their commissioning skills so that they will get it right next time the next time we need a "big building".

Sixth it provides an opportunity for other countries to observe a pilot of different aproaches to electoral balloting. This ensures that they don't risk adopting arrangements that result in hundreds of thousands of wasted votes.

Worth every penny of the few hundred million it has cost so far I would say.

  • 12.
  • At 08:52 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • George wrote:

Very good speeches by all.

Alex Salmonds' point about relying on dealing with policy by policy and relying on the power of argument rather than the force of a powerful majority party will hopefully be a very good thing.

Well, democratically, Salmond must be given a chance to make a go of it. Everything is all nice and smiley for now, but it will soon be a bear pit as Salmond and his Council of 6 try to get legislation through.

It is going to be hugely disruptive to existing strategies.

  • 14.
  • At 09:18 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Donna Scott wrote:

This has been an excellent 2 weeks in Scottish politics (apart from the voting papers fiasco!). I never thought I would see this day. Time to start enjoying following politics. Well done Alex Salmond, First Minister.

  • 15.
  • At 09:36 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • sacrebleu wrote:

Jings - they were all being nice to each other! A historic day right enough.

  • 16.
  • At 09:59 PM on 16 May 2007,
  • Bedd Gelert wrote:

Good coverage, Brian - this has surfaced from the London arm of the BBC, but the coverage has been quite light, so it is good to get an update from 'our man on the ground'.

  • 17.
  • At 04:05 AM on 17 May 2007,
  • James wrote:

I remember the goal of having a new kind of concensual parliament for Scotland, unlike the advesorial style of Westminster. It seems to me that minority government is the only way to truly achieve this, also has any body realised that for the first time we have an goverment which is answerable to parliament, instead of controling it. Maybe therefore we should ban majority coalitions in the interests of democracy, usualy it takes a bicameral (2 chamber) system like the US or Australia to achieve this.

  • 18.
  • At 09:29 AM on 17 May 2007,
  • scothighland wrote:

#7
This is why turnout is so low at elections.I dont blame you Jonah.
I dont feel that way but I do understand what you say.It is something maybe for this parliament to think about.

  • 19.
  • At 10:17 AM on 18 May 2007,
  • Rod Aries wrote:

As mentioned by a BBC Article, the rumour that Ms Wendy Alexander could make a leadership challenge to Jack McConnell seems a good move for their party.

As the SNP have said "It's time"

  • 20.
  • At 11:54 PM on 18 May 2007,
  • stuartonatrain wrote:

re: James' comment - well said. I do think that with Alex Salmond we can look forward to intelligent arguments, stated without recourse of a higher body, positioned for the benefit of the Scottish nation.

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