However, the loss of two Labour first minsters - first the sudden death of Donald Dewar and then the resignation of Henry McLeish - followed by the lacklustre and lackadaisical administration of Jack McConnell and the catastrophic organisation of the 2007 elections - opened the door to an SNP minority government by the narrowest of margins.
Nokho, ukulahlekelwa ongqongqoshe bokuqala be-Labour - okokuqala kube wukudlula emhlabeni kukaDonald Dewar kanye nokushiya esikhundleni kukaHenry McLeish - kwalandelwa ukuphatha ngaphandle kogqozi kanye nokungazimiseli kukaJack McConnell kanye nokuhlelwa kokhetho okungahambanga kahle ngowezi-2007 - kwavulela uhulumeni we-SNP intuba yokungena ngezibalo ezincane kakhulu.