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Re-arranging the 'furniture'

• Brian Taylor
• 24 Apr 07, 06:15 PM

So how鈥檚 the government getting on during this election? Not the Big One in Westminster 鈥� but the domestic version here in Scotland.

What do you mean, you thought the government was out on the hustings trying to hold on to seats?

I mean the permanent government. Her Majesty鈥檚 loyal civil service in the Scottish Executive

They鈥檝e been decidedly busy. Quietly running the country while their elected bosses are kept occupied in the minor matter of convincing the voters.

Oh, stop it, Brian. You鈥檝e been watching too many reruns of 鈥淵es, Minister鈥�.

Absolutely seriously, the executive civil servants are in purdah - barred from influencing the election in any way. No news releases. No statements. No new ad campaigns.

However, that doesn鈥檛 mean they put their considerable brains in neutral. Scotland must be governed, domestically. That means the civil servants must prepare for whatever the electorate delivers.

Consequently, they have been busy - seriously, very busy - scrutinising the various parties鈥� policies. Assessing and costing them. Looking for early signs of cross-over which might facilitate coalition.

They are also readying themselves for the negotiations which will be needed. Of course, they prepare for all eventualities.

All parties are equal in official eyes. But, realistically, some options are more equal than others.

In 鈥�99 and 鈥�03, it was reasonable to prepare most assiduously for a Labour/LibDem coalition.

This time round, my guess would be that other combinations might be on the civil service cards.

Remember that, to govern, a politician has to be elected first minister by the new members of the Scottish Parliament. (Strictly, that election is to nominate a recommended candidate to the Palace: HM the Queen appoints.)

To achieve that status, the favoured candidate must be able to win more votes than the alternatives.

Note that鈥檚 not simply the biggest number of votes - you鈥檇 get that by leading the largest party.

The winner needs to get more votes than all the others put together.

It鈥檚 like musical chairs. If that outcome isn鈥檛 generated by the first vote in Parliament, then the bottom contender drops out - and the vote is held again, iteratively, until an overall winner emerges.

That means the winner needs to assemble a coalition, at least for that day - unless, of course, their own party has an overall majority by itself.

Think, finally, of this. If Holyrood fails to appoint a first minister within 28 days of the election, then Scotland has to go to the polls all over again. Fun, eh?

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