This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20181668
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Alex Salmond becomes longest-serving Scottish first minister | Alex Salmond becomes longest-serving Scottish first minister |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Alex Salmond has become Scotland's longest-serving first minister, having overtaken Labour's Jack McConnell to reach the political milestone. | Alex Salmond has become Scotland's longest-serving first minister, having overtaken Labour's Jack McConnell to reach the political milestone. |
| The SNP leader will not officially mark the day but instead he will be undertaking government engagements in Edinburgh and Glasgow. | The SNP leader will not officially mark the day but instead he will be undertaking government engagements in Edinburgh and Glasgow. |
| Mr Salmond is Scotland's fourth first minister and to date the only non-Labour politician to take the post. | Mr Salmond is Scotland's fourth first minister and to date the only non-Labour politician to take the post. |
| Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Mr McConnell went before him. | Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Mr McConnell went before him. |
| In an interview with BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Salmond said he was proud his achievements during his 2002 days in the post. | |
| He told presenter Hayley Millar: "I think the most substantial thing that I am proud of, and the administration should be, is the establishment of a social contract between the Scottish government and the people of Scotland in extraordinarily tough times. | |
| "In these difficult times we have managed to both preserve and indeed extend social objectives like the removal of tuition fees, the protection of free care for the elderly, the importance of having a national health service which is free at the point of need to everyone. | |
| "These are big social protections and advances and that is what I would describe as a social contract between the government and the people." | |
| Following devolution and the first elections to the new Scottish Parliament, Labour grandee Mr Dewar became the first minister on 13 May 1999. | Following devolution and the first elections to the new Scottish Parliament, Labour grandee Mr Dewar became the first minister on 13 May 1999. |
| He held the post until his death in October 2000. | He held the post until his death in October 2000. |
| Mr McLeish was Scotland's next first minister, taking on the role from 26 October, 2000, to 8 November, 2001. | Mr McLeish was Scotland's next first minister, taking on the role from 26 October, 2000, to 8 November, 2001. |
| By the end of November that year Mr McConnell was in the hot seat. He lasted until May 2007 when the SNP, under the leadership of Mr Salmond, won minority government. | By the end of November that year Mr McConnell was in the hot seat. He lasted until May 2007 when the SNP, under the leadership of Mr Salmond, won minority government. |
| On Wednesday, 7 November, Mr Salmond overtook Mr McConnell's time in the post. | |
| 'Vote of confidence' | |
| Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated the SNP leader on reaching the political milestone. | Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated the SNP leader on reaching the political milestone. |
| She said: "The people of Scotland overwhelmingly trust the Scottish government headed by Alex Salmond - 71% trust the Scottish government to act in Scotland's interests, up from 51% under the previous Lab/Lib Executive in 2006, and compared to just 18% who trust the UK government. | She said: "The people of Scotland overwhelmingly trust the Scottish government headed by Alex Salmond - 71% trust the Scottish government to act in Scotland's interests, up from 51% under the previous Lab/Lib Executive in 2006, and compared to just 18% who trust the UK government. |
| "In 2011, people in Scotland gave a remarkable vote of confidence in Alex Salmond's leadership and the team, record and vision of the SNP - delivering an overall majority at Holyrood, and becoming the only first minister to win two elections. | "In 2011, people in Scotland gave a remarkable vote of confidence in Alex Salmond's leadership and the team, record and vision of the SNP - delivering an overall majority at Holyrood, and becoming the only first minister to win two elections. |
| "It is this record of success that will help win a yes vote in the referendum for an independent Scotland in autumn 2014." | "It is this record of success that will help win a yes vote in the referendum for an independent Scotland in autumn 2014." |