1. The Scottish Parliament
During a referendum in 1997, Scots voted in favour of a devolved Scottish Parliament. Some powers were reserved by the UK Parliament in Westminster but others, such as health and education, were devolved to the new Scottish Parliament which opened in 1999.

2. Recent Scottish Governments
1999 – 2003 = Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition
2003 – 2007 = Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition
2007 – 2011 = Scottish National Party formed minority government
present
Scottish National Party (SNP) won a majority in 2011 election. This was unusual as the electoral system used, the Additional Member System, is a proportional system. This was the first time one party had won a majority of seats in a Scottish election
SNP formed the Scottish Government
Alex Salmond is currently First Minister
Alex Salmond, First Minister 2007 – present
(SNP)
Donald Dewar, Scotland’s first First Minister (Labour)
Jack McConnell, First Minister (Labour)

3. 2011 Scottish Parliamentary Election Results
Party
No. of seats
SNP 69
Labour 37
Conservative 15
Liberal Democrats 5
Green 2
Independent 1

4. Scottish National Party
Currently Scotland’s main political party
Led by Alex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon is Deputy First Minister
Centre left party
Promotes Scottish independence – referendum will be held on 18th September 2014
SNP also in favour of social democracy, nuclear disarmament and stronger ties with the E.U

5. Scottish Labour Party Currently Scotland’s main opposition party
Centre left party (like the UK Labour Party) with strong ties to Trade Unions
Led by Johann Lamont
Support Scotland remaining as part of the UK
Labour were in Government in Scotland (with Liberal Democrats) from

6. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Unlike in the UK Parliament, the Conservatives in Scotland are a minority party
Centre right party
Led by Ruth Davidson
Support Scotland remaining as part of the UK
Promotes conservatism and British unionism

7. Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats were in coalition government with Labour from
Lost a lot of support in 2011 – as a result of forming a coalition government with the Conservatives in UK Parliament in 2010
Centre – Centre/Left party
Led by Willie Rennie
Support Scotland remaining as part of the UK but would allow Scotland more fiscal responsibility

8. Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Green Party have enjoyed representation since the Scottish Parliament opened
They had a peak of 7 seats in 2003 – 2007 Parliament and currently have 2 seats
Centre left party
Led by Patrick Harvie
Supports Scottish independence
Promotes environmentalism and equality

9. Independent MSPs
There is currently only one independent MSP – Margo MacDonald
Previously, the 2003 – 2007 Parliament had 3 independent MSPs
Margo MacDonald supports Scottish independence
MacDonald’s main campaign issue is supporting the right to die / assisted suicide