About the Scottish Parliament

The modern day Scottish Parliament is made up of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and was opened in 1999. This followed a referendum of the Scottish people which asked whether a) they wanted a Scottish Parliament and b) whether they wanted it to be able to raise or lower taxation by three pence in the pound. A majority of the people of Scotland voted Yes for both questions.

The first two terms of the Scottish Parliament (from 1999 to 2003 and from 2003 to 2007) had a coalition arrangement which saw Labour and the Liberal Democrats running the Scottish Executive. The SNP was the largest single party in the Scottish Parliament following the elections in May 2007. In May 2011 the SNP won 69 seats, thus meaning a majority within the Scottish Parliament and on 18th May 2011 Alex Salmond was re-elected as Scotland’s First Minister for a second term.

 For further information please visit the Official Scottish Parliament website.