This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6633341.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

After 129 of 129 seats declared SNP2126+2047 LAB379-446 CON413-117 LD115-116 Others03-143

FIND YOUR RESULTS

After 129 of 129 seats declared SNP2126+2047 LAB379-446 CON413-117 LD115-116 Others03-143

FIND YOUR RESULTS

Version 0 Version 1
Prince to attend Holyrood Kirking Lib Dems reject Greens talk offer
(1 day later)
The traditional Kirking of the Scottish Parliament is set to take place at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh as talks continue over the running of Holyrood. The Scottish Liberal Democrats have rejected a plea from the Greens to enter into talks on a future SNP governing coalition of Scotland.
Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, will attend the blessing service, along with newly elected MSPs, representatives of Scotland's faiths and other guests. Nicol Stephen's party had come under pressure to meet with the Greens on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a rainbow coalition.
This is followed on Wednesday by the official swearing in ceremony for MSPs. The plan was that it would involve the SNP, Lib Dems and the two Green MSPs.
Meanwhile, the SNP is continuing to seek coalition partners, but is likely to form a minority government. But a spokeswoman for the Lib Dems said that they were "politely declining" the offer.
After what SNP leader Alex Salmond described as a useful first meeting with the Greens, negotiations are to resume with the party's co-convenor Robin Harper. It is the second time that Labour's former coalition partner has publicly said it would not enter into coalition talks.
The bulk of our preparations now is perhaps assuming the responsibility of government as a minority Alex SalmondSNP leader The SNP faces going into minority government if the Lib Dems do not enter coalition for the third time at Holyrood.
A deal with the Greens would only give the partnership 49 MSPs, while the prospect of co-operation with the Liberal Democrats to achieve the 65 MSPs needed for a majority government seems unlikely. The election result last week saw the SNP win 47 seats, Labour came second with 46, the Tories were next with 17, the Lib Dems won 16, the Greens two and Margo MacDonald was returned as an Independent.
The Nationalists emerged as the largest party in the Scottish election with 47 seats, beating Scottish Labour by one.
After talks on Monday, Mr Salmond said: "The bulk of our preparations now is perhaps assuming the responsibility of government as a minority."
The Lib Dems seem to have ruled out a deal with the SNP, who refused to "jettison" the party's aim of a referendum on independence before entering into talks.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RESULTS
Party Const Regn +/- Tot

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RESULTS
Party Const Regn +/- Tot
Enter a full postcode:Enter a full postcode:
Results in more detailResults in more detail
The Kirking ceremony, which takes place at 1820 BST, will be led by the Very Reverend Gilleasbuig Macmillan, who officiated at the Kirking ceremonies in 1999 and 2003. The issue of an independence referendum is at the heart of the Lib Dems disagreements with the SNP.
It marks the eve of the third session of the modern era of the parliament. Following the Lib Dem announcement, a Labour spokesman said: "The pressure is on Alex Salmond to see whether he has the character and maturity to form a government."
Behind the scenes, negotiations will also continue to find the successor to George Reid as the parliament's presiding officer. The party will bide its time while the negotiations were ongoing, he added.
These have been made more awkward by the Conservatives indicating they feel the new post should come from either the SNP or Labour, both of whom will not want to lose an MSP with the arithmetic in the chamber being so tight. Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell said that he had refused to accept that a minority SNP administration was now inevitable.
Elsewhere, the fallout from the elections looks set to dominate early proceedings at Westminster. Mr McConnell, who is still first minister, also said he had not considered stepping down as leader.
Scottish MPs will get a chance to pass their verdict on the results at the monthly Scottish questions to be held in the Commons. Zero waste
He said the SNP had the right and the responsibility to seek to form an administration.
But he added: "Should they fail to do so, then clearly as the second largest party, we will take any decision at that time in the best interests of Scotland.
"We are not going to say at this stage that we are withdrawing entirely from the process of forming a new government."
The Nationalists and Greens have been locked in talks all day in Edinburgh over a possible partnership agreement.
Robin Harper and Alex Salmond have begun seeking an agreement
A statement from the Greens said there had been movement on the Greens' top priority of climate change, while the parties agree in policy areas like zero waste and free school meals.
SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon claimed Mr McConnell was still in denial about the result of the Scottish parliamentary election last week.
Earlier she said: "We're still very open to coalition discussions with the Liberal Democrats - we've invited them to get round the table to talk to us without any preconditions."
The traditional "Kirking" of the Scottish Parliament was also taking place at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh with Prince Charles in attendance.
Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, attended the blessing service, along with newly elected MSPs, representatives of Scotland's faiths and other guests.