Scotland Politics

The largest parties are the Scottish National Party, who campaign for full Scottish independence and the Labour party with the Conservatives historically doing less well north of the border. First Minister Alex Salmond (SNP) leads a minority government. Before him, Jack McConnell (Labour) was First Minister; the government was then formed on a coalition basis with the Liberal Democrats. Other parties that are currently represented in the parliament are the Conservative and the Unionist Party and the Scottish Greens.

The main political debate in Scotland revolves around the constitutional question. Now the main argument about Scotland's constitutional status is over whether the Scottish Parliament should get additional powers or seek to obtain full independence.

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