Having won the election on a promise to "slim down" government, Alex Salmond has only six Cabinet places to play with and the Lib Dems demand two as the price of coalition. With himself as First Minister, Salmond hands health to Nicola Sturgeon, ente
rprise to Jim Mather, justice to Kenny MacAskill and education to John Swinney. SNP fundamentalists feel excluded, especially after a deal is struck with the Lib Dems on a limited two-year Programme for Government to get around the lack of agreement on a bill for an independence referendum. The 'Disaffected Dozen' form a clique that stresses the need to put the constitutional question to the people at the earliest opportunity.
2 Annabel Goldie becomes Presiding Officer
The search for someone to run the Parliament turns into a real version of the mock dragging of the new Speaker of the Commons to his chair. Murray Tosh had been everyone's choice for the job but failed to be re-elected. With every vote vital, first of all in electing a new First Minister, the major parties are unwilling to put up candidates, ending the prospects of the SNP's Roseanna Cunningham or Labour's Trish Godman. When the Tories formally decide to back no other party but vote instead on an issue-by-issue basis, the way is clear for Annabel Goldie to take her no-nonsense approach to the chair. Murdo Fraser takes over as Scottish Conservative leader.
3 Iain Gray becomes Labour leader
Jack McConnell stays at the head of his party for a month, but resigns when it becomes clear that he'll spend at least four years as leader of the opposition while the malcontents undermine him. He stands down as an MSP when he accepts the offer to take forward Glasgow's successful Commonwealth Games bid. Gordon Brown puts his full weight behind Wendy Alexander to replace McConnell, but this hinders rather than helps her campaign. Andy Kerr, Charlie Gordon and Malcolm Chisholm also enter the race, but former enterprise minister Iain Gray emerges from the pack to win on a pledge to lead a party more independent of London and committed to greater powers for Holyrood.
4 Gordon Brown loses his grip on Scotland
The SNP victory is compounded by the loss of Fife Central in the Chancellor's heartland. His failure to get Wendy Alexander installed as Scottish Labour leader is another blow. Iain Gray's decision to back the Nationalists' independence referendum - but with a third option authorising the Executive to negotiate with Westminster for more powers - shows that even though he is now Prime Minister, Brown no longer has total control of the party north of the Border.
5 George Foulkes never sits as an MSP
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock is the unhappiest "winner" of the May 3 vote. He'd only agreed to top Labour's Lothian candidates list to legitimise his role as chief Nat-basher during the acrimonious campaign. His election, following the collapse of Labour's votes in the region's constituency seats, scuppers his plans for a comfortable semi-retirement in the House of Lords. There is even worrying talk of him taking on a front-bench slot. Citing ill-health, Foulkes resigns before Parliament even reconvenes, passing his place at Holyrood to one Carol Fox, sister of Scottish Socialist Party convener Colin.
6 Tavish Scott is future of the Lib Dems
The Lib Dems make the most of their role as "kingmakers", extracting two Cabinet jobs from Salmond and sidestepping the referendum question for two years. But questions are asked about Nicol Stephen's leadership - the party lost a seat in the election and many are unhappy at his U-turn on a deal with the Nats. One unnamed backbencher questions whether he has the "moral authority" to continue as leader. Tavish Scott, who unsuccessfully advocates a 'Stop Alex' approach, emerges as the focal point for an unhappy party.
7 The Greens get even more influential
In a bizarre turn, Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie have more clout on their own than their party previously did with seven MSPs. Their backing secures Salmond the First Minister's job and thereafter they are wooed by all sides ahead of every vote. They force the SNP-Lib Dem coalition to move ahead quickly on road tolling.
8 Margo MacDonald is Scotland's favourite MSP
Having declined the Presiding Officer's job due to ill-health, Scotland's only Independent MSP becomes a pivotal figure. She backs the new Executive on most issues but remains no fan of Salmond, whom she mocks regularly at First Minister's Questions. When the fragile SNP-Lib Dem coalition struggles to get anything done in Parliament, she labels them "The Mellow Yellows". The name sticks. MacDonald sees herself as the voice of ordinary Scots in Parliament - and so do they.
9 Scotland meets its new 'First Lady'
Previously, Moira Salmond could walk down the streets in total anonymity. That's the way both she and Alex liked it, but the SNP leader is persuaded by his team of media advisers that the public will be suspicious of a First Minister who always flies solo. Moira, a former civil servant who is 18 years older than her husband, reluctantly agrees to a more public profile but finds that her reception is much warmer than that afforded her predecessor Bridget McConnell. When she meets the Queen at the formal handing over of the Royal Warrant, observers remark on how well the two women get on.
10 None of the above happens
Salmond never becomes First Minister. The Lib Dems join Labour and the Tories to vote against him and his plans for a minority administration. The new Parliament is dissolved after 28 days and the election is rerun in June. A population angry at being asked to vote again - even though this time round the ballot papers are clearer and counted by hand - stays away in droves.
The 39% turnout is declared "a stain upon democracy" by Alex Salmond, who once again wins in Gordon but sees his party back in opposition.
A smirking Jack McConnell declares "it's time... to get on with the business of running Scotland".
And 10 things you shouldn't expect to happen...
• Gordon Brown admits that he blew the election by ruling out more powers at Holyrood and publicly apologises to McConnell for "tying his hands".
• Sir Sean Connery comes back to Scotland and becomes what the tabloids call 'Preshiding Offisher'.
• The Proclaimers are jointly installed as Culture Minister(s).
• Scottish experts are invited to oversee the 2008 US Presidential election "to ensure expedience and probity".
• Alex Salmond keeps on Jack McConnell's fitness trainer and loses three stones after twice-daily workouts.
• In the first recorded incidence of him actually doing what he said he would, Jack McConnell goes to Malawi to teach. His pupils manage to fail their exams.
• Sir David Murray says he cannot live in an independent Scotland and takes Rangers into the English Premiership. Gordon Strachan says "that's a diddy league not worth winning" and moves Celtic to Italy.
• Flower Of Scotland is deemed too gloomy. In the contest to replace it as national anthem Paulo Nutini's Why Don't We Just Rewind? wins after Unionists rig the public vote.
• When the Scottish National Party ban "alien transmissions" from crossing the Border, Tommy and Gail Sheridan take the Richard & Judy slot on the new 'Channel Fower'.
• Glasgow declares independence from Scotland, with city council leader Steven Purcell insisting "we're not going to be run by a bunch of teuchters and Dundonians. They can keep Govan if they want it."
