Scottish National Party

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is a left-leaning political party which campaigns for an independent Scotland outside the United Kingdom. The party was formed in 1934 and now forms a minority administration in the Scottish Parliament; it also contests seats in the UK's House of Commons, but only votes on issues affecting Scotland. The SNP is also represented in the European Parliament and on Scottish local councils. Its leader is Alex Salmond.

On 16th May 2007, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted by 49 to 46 for Salmond to replace Labour's Jack McConnell as First Minister of Scotland. The party runs Scotland with issue-by-issue support from the Scottish Green Party's MSPs. The SNP informally renamed the Scottish Executive the 'Scottish Government' in September 2007, changing letter headings, publicity material and signs in and around the Parliament building accordingly. However, this change has no legal standing, and legislation continues to refer to the Scottish Executive.

Independence policy
The SNP advocates full independence from the rest of the UK - i.e. England, Wales and Northern Ireland - but supports Scottish membership of the European Union and other international organisations. Under SNP-led independence, Scotland would remain in the UK's Sterling currency, but the party would campaign for the new state to join the Euro.