First Minister of Scotland elect its members, it is difficult for a single party to gain an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP gained an overall majority of seats in the 2011 election, and thus had enough numbers to vote in its leader, Alex Salmond, as First Minister for a second term. After the election of the Scottish Parliament, a First Minister must be nominated within a period of 28 days. Under the terms of the Scotland Act, if the Parliament fails to nominate a First Minister, within this time frame, it will be dissolved and a fresh election held.
Reporting Scotland Lumsden, Alan Douglas and Eddie Mair. Long-serving BBC Scotland sports commentator Archie Macpherson also established the programme's weekend sports previews on Friday nights. Current main anchor Jackie Bird has now presented the programme on a regular basis since October 1989, making her the longest-serving presenter. Her 25 years on-air were marked in October 2014. In-depth weather forecasts were introduced as part of a major relaunch of the programme in October 1992, initially fronted by Vanessa Collingridge, and later, the popular Heather Reid (aka "Heather the Weather") who stayed with "Reporting Scotland" for fifteen years. The programme also increased its use