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.
Alexander Keith (minister) Alexander Keith (minister) Alexander Keith (1792–1880) was a Church of Scotland minister, known for his writings on biblical prophecy. He was the son of George Skene Keith of Keith-hall and Kinkell, where he was born at the manse on 13 November 1792. He graduated M.A. at Marischal College, in 1809. From 1816 to 1840 he was minister of the parish of St. Cyrus, Scotland. At the Disruption of 1843, Keith left the established Church of Scotland with the dissenters who formed the Free Church of Scotland. Keith is probably best remembered for his book, "Evidence of the Truth of the