Premiership of Henry McLeish

Henry McLeish's term as first minister of Scotland began on 26 October 2000 when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session. It followed the death of Donald Dewar. McLeish served as the second First Minister, and his premiership is the shortest of any officeholder. His term was dominated by his financial scandal, known as Officegate. The scandal resulted in McLeish's resignation on 8 November 2001.

McLeish entered office amid the mourning of his predecessor's death. As First Minister, he oversaw the introduction of free personal care for the elderly and initiated the Scottish Executive's response to the September 11 attacks in New York City. He also implemented the McCrone Agreement for teachers in Scotland. McLeish managed several task forces designed to improve the competitiveness of Scottish industry, especially the PILOT project for Scottish oil and gas supply chains.

In his final months in office, McLeish was in a scandal involving allegations he sub-let part of his tax-subsidised Westminster constituency office without it having been registered in the register of interests kept in the Parliamentary office. Though McLeish could not have personally benefited financially from the oversight, he undertook to repay the £36,000 rental income. He resigned on 8 November 2001, having served only 1 year, 12 days.

Bid for Scottish Labour leadership
The Inaugural First Minister, Donald Dewar, died on 11 October 2000 of a brain hemorrhage following a fall outside Bute House. The office of First Minister was filled by Jim Wallace until the election of a new leader was elected. The day after Dewar's funeral, McLeish launched his bid to be the next leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, with Jack McConnell later announcing his bid too.

The ballot was held amongst a restricted electorate of Labour MSPs and members of Scottish Labour's national executive, because there was insufficient time for a full election to be held. McLeish defeated his rival Jack McConnell by 44 votes to 36 in the race to become the second first minister.

Nomination and appointment
On 26 October 2000, a vote to nominate a First Minister by the Scottish Parliament was held. McLeish won the parliament's approval for appointment, defeating John Swinney, leader of the Scottish National Party, David McLeitchie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and independent MSP, Dennis Canavan, by 68 to 33, 19 and 3, respectively. On the same day, McLeish was presented by Her Majesty the Queen with a Royal Warrant of Appointment and was officially sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Cabinet
On the following day, McLeish formed his government. It was the continuation of the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition that had existed under the Dewar government, with Jim Wallace remaining as Deputy First Minister. In the wake of the 2000 SQA exam controversy, he removed Sam Galbraith as education minister, replacing him with his leadership opponent McConnell. Wendy Alexander took over McLeish's former ministerial role, while Angus MacKay took McConnell's former finance portfolio.

Education


In 2001, McLeish pledged £10 million in education spending to provide books, equipment as well as providing homework materials for children across Scotland who were under looked after accommodation orders by local authorities. Additionally, McLeish committed to ensuring there was mainstream provision across Scotland's schools during his tenure as First Minister, stating that "part of our task is to provide mainstream provision, but it is also part of our task to top up provision, where we can, to reach children who suffer from a number of disadvantages", during a speech to the Scottish Parliament chamber on 25 November 2001.

On education policy, one of the major achievements of McLeish's tenure as First Minister was the introduction of the McCrone agreement, the framework and agreement policy paper on teachers pay and working conditions across Scottish education and Scottish schools.

Executive policy
McLeish failed in his attempt to rebrand the Scottish Executive as the Scottish Government. In 2007, the Scottish Executive did, however, later become known as the Scottish Government following the election victory of the SNP under Alex Salmond.

Europe
During his tenure as First Minister, McLeish sought for Scotland to have a closer relationship and stronger voice in Europe, as well as the European Union. McLeish appointed Jack McConnell, his eventual successor as First Minister, to further promote Scottish interests and Scotland in Europe and for external affairs across the European Union. A Scottish Executive press release highlighted "it is a top priority of the executive to engage constructively and thoroughly with the European Union, and with devolution, we are determined to make a step change in our level of engagement".

Healthcare
McLeish claimed in September 2001 that "Scotland compares favourably with any other part of the United Kingdom. We have an important commitment to bringing down the average waiting time to nine months and an important commitment to planning ahead. If a situation arises in which it is appropriate to use private facilities, the Minister for Health and Community Care would want to do so". As First Minister, McLeish was highly critical of what he claimed was plans by the Scottish Conservative party to privatise NHS Scotland, as well as the SNP for "having no private sector involvement". Additionally, he claimed that health in Scotland was "important to all of us", and pledged his executive to "use private facilities where appropriate", claiming "that is important, and I am sure that it is a view that the Scottish people support".

During his tenure as First Minister, McLeish long said that the Scottish Executive was in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government in London over the issue of personal care for the elderly. He made a commitment in 2001 that the Scottish Executive would "deliver full personal care to the people of Scotland". He further added "because of the publication of the report, we will be able to move soon to announcing the Executive's response to what I regard as an excellent paper. Discussions are on-going on a number of issues relating to the care development group report. Those discussions with Westminster are constructive and helpful".

Spending on the NHS in Scotland during his time in office had been increased by £1.8 billion over the last three years. His executive invested in health services across Scotland, with McLeish advocating during First Ministers Questions in September 2001 "we are providing record sums to health authorities in Scotland. It is for health authorities to ensure equality of service, investment in staff and continuing refurbishment of infrastructure and buildings. That is what is happening. I repeat: the Executive is providing the health service with formidable sums of money. A massive commitment has been made by a coalition that believes in the NHS".

Homelessness and mental health
As First Minister, McLeish appointed a health and homelessness co-ordinator. In September 2001, the Scottish Executive issued guidance to NHS Scotland that outlined their actions and views on how the NHS in Scotland "must take to address the health needs of homeless people, including those who have mental health problems". McLeish committed an increase in spending for NHS Scotland health boards to meet the demands of mental health, with health boards in Scotland receiving on average a 5.5% increase in spending in 2001. During a parliamentary speech in September 2001, McLeish stated that "greater priority is being given to mental health in Scotland, and the assumption is being made that people who are homeless have more problems than most. Over the next three years we intend to tackle both issues".

Other issues
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the United States, McLeish instructed all airports in Scotland to be on alert and tighten their security measures.

Officegate scandal
In April 2001, reports emerged of McLeish receiving £4,000 annually from 1998 from the law firm Digby Brown, who were sub letting his constituency office in Glenrothes, Fife. Although the House of Commons Standards Commissioner questioned the reports, his spokesperson stated: "The matter has been dealt with. The income in question was not for Mr McLeish's personal use, it went straight into covering the costs of running the office. The scandal would become known as theOfficegate scandal.

In later October, McLeish released a statement in relation to paying £9,000 to the Fees Office at the House of Commons and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Sir David Steel, banned the debate of McLeish's financial records. Steel had highlighted the situation was a matter of Westminster, not the Scottish Parliament. On 28 October, the Fife Constabulary announced its launch of an investigation following complaints made against McLeish and he refused to answer questions from reporters.

By 2 November, the Leader of the Opposition at Holyrood, John Swinney, calls for McLeish's resignation after a "humiliating" appearance on the BBC's Question Time, when he admits he was unaware of the total sum of money involved. On 6 November, it is emerged that the rental income for sub letting the office from 1987 was £36,122. McLeish claimed it was an "honest mistake" and offered to pay the remaining fees. A survey by Scotland Today revealed, 77% of Scots believed he should resign as a result of the scandal.

Resignation
On the early hours of 8 November, McLeish tendered his resignation as First Minister of Scotland. In a speech to the Scottish Parliament, McLeish admitted to making "mistakes" and that he "was at fault" for the Officegate scandal. During his resignation speech, McLeish was highly critical of the media and their role in his resignation, stating "what has surprised and dismayed me is how my family, friends, staff and colleagues have been brought into matters that are my responsibility alone". He further added that, despite being First Minister for just over twelve months, that he "would accept I have made no personal gain from any of this".

Following his resignation as First Minister, McLeish continued to sit as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament for the Central Fife constituency.