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Nicola Sturgeon to be confirmed as Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon wins Scottish first minister vote
(35 minutes later)
The Scottish Parliament is to formally vote for the country's next first minister - with Nicola Sturgeon certain to remain in the role. Nicola Sturgeon is to be reappointed as first minister of Scotland after she was backed for the job by MSPs.
Ms Sturgeon's SNP won its third consecutive Holyrood election on 5 May, but finished two seats short of an overall majority.Ms Sturgeon's SNP won its third consecutive Holyrood election on 5 May, but finished two seats short of an overall majority.
MSPs will vote from about 14:00 on Tuesday, with the winner then formally appointed by the Queen. Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie was the only MSP to stand against Ms Sturgeon.
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie is to stand against Ms Sturgeon. Ms Sturgeon, who won 63 votes to Mr Rennie's five, is now the official nominee for first minister, to be confirmed by the Queen.
During the vote, 59 members abstained, backing neither candidate.
Despite the Liberal Democrats finishing fifth in the election after winning just five seats, Mr Rennie said he wanted to underline the fact Ms Sturgeon will lead a minority administration.Despite the Liberal Democrats finishing fifth in the election after winning just five seats, Mr Rennie said he wanted to underline the fact Ms Sturgeon will lead a minority administration.
Ms Sturgeon became first minister on 20 November 2014, after Alex Salmond stood down in the wake of the independence referendum.Ms Sturgeon became first minister on 20 November 2014, after Alex Salmond stood down in the wake of the independence referendum.
At the time, she defeated Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson - whose party is now the second largest in the parliament - by 66 votes to 15, with 39 abstentions.At the time, she defeated Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson - whose party is now the second largest in the parliament - by 66 votes to 15, with 39 abstentions.
Ms Davidson will not stand this time, after pledging during the election campaign to form a strong opposition. Ms Davidson did not stand this time, after pledging during the election campaign to form a strong opposition.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to use the position of first minister to change Scotland for the better.Speaking ahead of the vote, Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to use the position of first minister to change Scotland for the better.
Calling on MSPs from all parties to support her nomination, she said the SNP had won an "overwhelming mandate to govern", and that she had a "mandate to continue as first minister".Calling on MSPs from all parties to support her nomination, she said the SNP had won an "overwhelming mandate to govern", and that she had a "mandate to continue as first minister".
'Outward looking''Outward looking'
She added: "If re-elected by parliament I will lead a government that seeks to win votes, not simply by the force of our numbers, but by the strength of our arguments - and by the support we are able to build for our policies in the country as a whole.She added: "If re-elected by parliament I will lead a government that seeks to win votes, not simply by the force of our numbers, but by the strength of our arguments - and by the support we are able to build for our policies in the country as a whole.
"And we will not assume a monopoly of wisdom. Good ideas exist across the parliamentary chamber and I promise that we will always seek to judge them on merit, rather than on their party of origin."And we will not assume a monopoly of wisdom. Good ideas exist across the parliamentary chamber and I promise that we will always seek to judge them on merit, rather than on their party of origin.
"That is the open, inclusive and outward looking approach to government that I will endeavour to take.""That is the open, inclusive and outward looking approach to government that I will endeavour to take."
The election of a first minister in Wales is currently deadlocked after Labour's Carwyn Jones and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru tied 29-29 in a Senedd vote last week. Ms Sturgeon paid tribute to the "colourful" campaign Mr Rennie had run during the election, and joked that if the vote were tied, they would race down a "giant inflatable slide" to decide who got the job.
But there is little prospect of a similar situation in Scotland, given the commanding number of SNP MSPs and the unwillingness of the other parties to unite around a single opposition candidate. Mr Rennie said he had put himself forward to underline that Holyrood does not have an overall majority government, saying all the parties are minorities.
He joked that when he told his son that he was going to put himself forward for the post of first minister, he said "oh dad, you're not are you?"
The Lib Dem leader also took the chance to underline his party's top policy priorities, including education, mental health and civil liberties.
The SNP has said it will form a minority government after winning 63 of the 129 seats in the election, which also saw the Conservatives win 31 seats, Labour 24, the Scottish Greens six and the Liberal Democrats five.The SNP has said it will form a minority government after winning 63 of the 129 seats in the election, which also saw the Conservatives win 31 seats, Labour 24, the Scottish Greens six and the Liberal Democrats five.
The post of first minister has previously always been held by the leader of the largest single party in the Scottish Parliament.The post of first minister has previously always been held by the leader of the largest single party in the Scottish Parliament.
But Liberal Democrat Jim Wallace, who was then the deputy first minister - stepped in on a temporary basis when Labour's Donald Dewar became ill, and again when Mr Dewar died in October 2000.But Liberal Democrat Jim Wallace, who was then the deputy first minister - stepped in on a temporary basis when Labour's Donald Dewar became ill, and again when Mr Dewar died in October 2000.
Mr Wallace also found himself in the hot seat when Labour's Henry McLeish quit as first minister in 2001 following a row over the sub-letting of his constituency office in Glenrothes.Mr Wallace also found himself in the hot seat when Labour's Henry McLeish quit as first minister in 2001 following a row over the sub-letting of his constituency office in Glenrothes.