The First Minister

1
The First Minister

• His role, his powers and the limits on his powers

2
You need to know

• What are the powers of the First Minister (FM)?
• What constraints on his powers?
• Relevant examples to illustrate the above

3
Who is Alex Salmond?

• Alex Salmond is Scotland's fourth FM. But what do
  we know about him?

4
Powers of Constraints on the Scottish First
Minister PowersConstraints FM can select MSPs to
sit in his Cabinet FM should appoint
powerful/popular This encourages loyalty among
party members colleagues This helps to keep the
party And therefore, a more united
party united and stops leadership
challenges FM sets policy agenda is
responsible for Due to AMS, FM unlikely to
command most legislative proposals This allows
him overall majority This means the FM has to to
prioritise and oversee major changes in
Scotland compromise or face his bills being
defeated FM is face of country and enjoys a
lot of FM is answerable to Parliament is
media attention/public This allows him to
directly not allowed to announce major
policy connect with the public decisions to
press first This increases the accountability
of the Scottish Government FM has access to
senior ministers in UK Government FM is
constrained by devolved powers special
privileges Allows him to put pressure on in
many areas of decision-making, the FM London and
promote Scotlands agenda s unable to do
anything other than express an opinion FM
is the leader of the Scottish Parliament FM
can be removed from office by a Commands the
loyalty of the largest party Motion of No
Confidence MSPs can This gives him the
authority to introduce legislation vote to
remove the FM at any time And the ability to set
the standard of debate in the Parliament.
5
Select a cabinet

• E.g. backs up his power by selecting close
  political allies such as Nicola Sturgeon, Depute
  FM and Health minister
• Constraint coalition leader Jack McConnell had
  to appoint 2 Lib Dems Jim Wallace and Ross
  Finnie to his Cabinet

6
Sets policy agenda

• E.g. E.g. In 2007 FM set out priorities for
  first 100 days in a presidential style speech
• Scrapped prescription charges without need for a
  vote in SP
• Constraint flagship policies (such as Local
  Income Tax and Independence Referendum) have been
  shelved

7
The face of Scotland

• regularly gives interviews in the press or on TV
  (e.g. Newsnight Scotland)
• Constraints faces weekly scrutiny through FMQT,
  had to present 10 bill plan to parliament first

8
Link with Westminster

• E.g. Met with new UK PM, David Cameron, and his
  depute Nick Clegg shortly after 2010 general
  election
• Constraint FM request for 700 million extra
  funding knocked back, at odds with UK coalition
  government over independence

9
Leader of largest party

• E.g. Strong leader with united party
• 10 bill programme including Scottish Water bill
  and scrapping Double Jeopardy
• Constraint - other parties control 64 of seats
  dangerously close to the 2/3 needed to remove FM

10
Questions

• Give a brief summary of the previous Scottish
  First Ministers.
• Why is First Ministers Questions a significant
  event in the Parliament?
• Outline the ways in which a First Minister can be
  removed from office.