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The First Minister

The First Minister. His role, his powers and the limits on his powers. You need to know. What are the powers of the First Minister (FM)? What constraints on his powers? Relevant examples to illustrate the above. Who is Alex Salmond?.

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The First Minister

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  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 Scotland’s 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 Minister’s Questions a significant event in the Parliament? • Outline the ways in which a First Minister can be removed from office.

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