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.
William Hewitt (minister) whilst serving as Assistant Minister at Castlehill Parish Church in Ayr. In 1978 he became minister at Elderslie Parish Church, Johnstone, serving for 16 years before moving to St Luke's Parish Church, Greenock, in 1994. In 2006 St Luke's united with neighbouring St George's North Church to become Westburn Church. His latest role is in interim ministry, currently (2012) serving as Clerk "pro tem" to the Presbytery of Glasgow. He has also served as Moderator of the Presbytery of Greenock and the first Moderator of the successor Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley. In 1993, Mr Hewitt was appointed to the