Editing Lib–Lab pact (section)

==Scottish Parliament==
{{main|Government of the 1st Scottish Parliament|Government of the 2nd Scottish Parliament}}
After the [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|first general election]] to the reconvened [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999, the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] signed up to what was termed a "partnership government" with [[Scottish Labour|Labour]], with both parties providing ministers in a shared government.

Although standing on separate manifestos in the succeeding [[2003 Scottish Parliament election]] the joint working continued, with Labour's [[Jack McConnell]] serving as [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], and the Lib Dems' [[Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness|Jim Wallace]] serving under him as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland|Deputy First Minister]] (and [[Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning]]) who was then succeeded by [[Nicol Stephen]] of the same party as Deputy First Minister.

The [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|Scottish Parliament general election of 2007]] saw the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) surpass Labour as the largest party by one seat.<ref name = "salmond"/> The Scottish Liberal Democrats decided against coalition with either the SNP or Labour, and abstained in the vote for First Minister, won by SNP leader [[Alex Salmond]].<ref name = "salmond">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6659531.stm |title=Salmond elected as first minister |publisher=BBC News |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>