This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Holyrood Election 2003
02/05/2003
The election on May 1 has returned 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) for the new parliamentary session which will run until 2007.
The first meeting of the session will be held on Wednesday, May 7 in the Assembly Hall at the Mound in Edinburgh. On that day, newly returned MSPs will take the Oath of Allegiance and elect a new Presiding Officer and two Deputy Presiding Officers.
The Parliament has until May 28 to nominate one of its members for appointment as First MInister to lead the Scottish Executive.
After receiving his or her Warrant of Appointment from the Queen the First MInister may, with the agreement of Parliament and the approval of the Queen, then appoint Scottish Ministers and Deputy Ministers.