Humza Yousaf had problems with a fountain pen while he was sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister.
The new SNP leader twice had to be helped by officials and eventually had to be given a new pen while signing the parchments.
The 37-year-old won the SNP leadership on Monday, was voted First Minister on Tuesday and took the oaths of office at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Flanked by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC and watched by his family, Yousaf pledged allegiance to the King, as well as to serve him in the office of First Minister and as the Keeper of the Scottish Seal.
The oath was administered by Lord Carloway, the Lord President, who heads up the judiciary in Scotland.
Lord Carloway told the new First Minister a “successful democratic system” must be governed by the rule of law and can only be exist “if the government affords adequate protection to the judiciary from unwarranted attack”.
Yousaf went to Bute House after being sworn in. He was joined by his family on the steps of the First Minister's official residence and greeted his neighbours at next door property The Georgian House on Charlotte Square.
Yousaf was elected SNP leader with 52 per cent of the vote after the second round.
He won 48 per cent in the first round, with his closest rival Kate Forbes on 41 per cent and outsider Ash Regan on 11 per cent.
Yousaf will spend the rest of Wednesday appointing his Cabinet. His chosen ministers will visit Bute House throughout the day before an announcement later in the afternoon.
Forbes will not feature as she turned down the post of rural affairs in favour of a return to the backbenches. The rural affairs role was seen by many as a demotion from her position as finance secretary.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
