Wee thread in lieu of a blog. The Scotland Act says there must be a First Minister elected within 28 days of May 7th. If not there is another election. No ifs, no buts.

That FM needs a majority of votes cast among the 129 MSPs actually voting. So if some abstain but they get a majority of those voting they get the job.

But a plurality of votes means nothing if it is still a minority.

Salmond only became FM in 2007 because the Tories and Libs abstained. Giving him a majority of votes cast.

But, this year, if the Nats and the Greens have only 64 votes then, if the unionists parties reject her, reappointment, Sturgeon goes. The act allows for no caretaker role. It’s someone else or it is a second election. That’s the law. Undevolved law.

But it would not suit the unionist Parties (or more importantly the electorate) to fight a second election within eight weeks.

So a solution would need to be found. Which HAS to involve somebody else becoming First Minister. Within six weeks. Possibly as soon as two weeks tomorrow. Time we started talking about that choice.

For that given the polling trend is becoming a real possibility.