The SNP's big test

Alex Salmond is no different from any other incoming government leader in that he has a gap to bridge between policy intent and policy delivery. His is the first minority administration in devolution's short history. This makes bridging the gap all the more difficult to achieve as the SNP and its Green supporters at Holyrood lack a majority to push policy through. Indeed, the opposition parties could form a majority with the potential to bring the executive down. That would leave Mr Salmond staring into a chasm no bridge could cross.