After the historical victory in the Scottish parliamentary election 3rd of May, negotiations the previous weeks made it clear that it was impossible for Alex Salmond and his Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) to form a government coalition based on a majority in parliament.

The most natural coalition partner, The Liberals, refused to enter a coalition with SNP if the nationalists does not withdraw their demand for a popular vote on independence from United Kingdom. SNP will not withdraw this demand, an independent Scotland remains their top priority. As The Conservatives and The Liberals made it clear that they would not support a Labour government either, it became evident that the only solution was a SNP minority government with party leader Alex Salmond as First Minister.

This was formally decided through several votings in the Scottish parliament 16th of May. Salmond won the election with 49 votes (SNP+The Green Party), against Labour candidate McConell’s 46 votes. The 33 representatives from other parties refrained from voting. On the 17th of May, Alex Salmond took his oath as First Minister, and the same day he publicly announced the new Scottish government.

The new government structure has gone through several changes.The most important one is the reduction in number of ministers, from 18 to 16. Furthermore, a new post is established. Directly below the First Minister, one will now find the minister of Europe, external affairs and culture. The title deputy minister is removed. The list goes on.

As a curiousity, Alex Salmond and his SNP government was quick to boicott the expression ‘Scottish Executive’, which was known as the official name for the Scottish self-government. SNP has replaced this expression with ‘devolved Scottish government’, or straight out ‘Scottish government’. Here follows the new Ministers with Responsibilities in the devolved Scottish government:

First Minister – Alex Salmond MSP
Minister for Parliamentary Business – Bruce Crawford MSP
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture – Linda Fabiani MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth – John Swinney MSP
Minister for Enterprises, Energy and Tourism – Jim Mather MSP
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change – Stewart Stevenson MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning – Fiona Hyslop MSP
Minister for Schools and Skills – Maureen Watt MSP
Minister for Children and Early Years – Adam Ingram MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing – Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Minister for Public Health – Shona Robinson MSP
Minister for Communication and Sport – Stewart Maxwell MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Kenny MacAskill MSP
Minister for Community Safety – Fergus Ewing MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment – Richard Lochhead MSP
Minister for Environment – Michael Russell MSP

The historical election is followed by a historical government. With exception of a short period during the 1970’s, minority government has been unheard of in UK parliaments. Labour will struggle to reach agreements with SNP, who has made it very clear that they will front a policy which strongly promote Scottish interests in the union. The potential for conflict is definitly there. On the other hand, SNP, The Liberals and Labour are not that far away in an ideological perspective. Beyond the independence-conflict, one would have to dig deep to find the crucial differences between the opposition and government in Scotland. However, the question of popular vote is the question, and will cause concern on both sides of the border.