A Day of Firsts

It has happened: by 49 votes to 46, with 33 abstentions, Alex Salmond has been nominated by Holyrood to serve as Scotland's fourth First Minister.

Salmond is the first SNP First Minister - this we know.

Salmond is also the first First Minister to represent the North East: he is the MSP for Gordon; Donald Dewar was the MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, Henry McLeish was the MSP for Central Fife and Jack McConnell continues to be the MSP for Motherwell & Wishaw.

Jack McConnell was the first sitting First Minister to seek re-election in 2003, and is now the First Minister to fail to secure it.

This is the first time that a Liberal Democrat has stood for First Minister.

This is also the first time that a woman has been nominated for the post as a Party Leader. However, Annabel Goldie is not the first woman to be nominated for the post: that honour goes to Margo MacDonald in 2003. Margo got two votes: from Dennis Canavan and John Swinburne. She herself voted for Dennis Canavan.

This is the first time that only the major parties and all the major parties have nominated a candidate.

Also, this is the first time that a second round of voting was required.

And tomorrow will be the first time that SNP MSPs have been nominated to serve in a Cabinet.