Ready to go - Mr McLeish shortly before resigning

Henry McLeish resigns just minutes before the Scottish Parliament is due to debate a vote of no confidence. The move is a surprise for the parliament - earlier in the week Mr McLeish showed no signs of stepping down.

  The BBC's Andrew Cassell reports

Wednesday 7 November

McLeish pressured to resign

John Swinney: Resignation call

First Minister Henry McLeish cancels all his official engagements to work on a speech to save his political career. He faces a full parliamentary debate on Thursday about his office allowances - with both opposition parties calling for him to quit.

  The BBC's Brian Taylor reports

Tuesday 6 November

Preparing to pay cash back

The row centred around Mr McLeish's Fife office

The first minister defends himself over the Officegate row and says he is prepared to pay back �36,000 from his own pocket. Mr McLeish attempts to play down the controversy over his office expenses, calling the affair "a muddle not a fiddle".

  The BBC's Andrew Cassell reports

Monday 5 November

Backbench support crucial

Mr McLeish under pressure in the chamber

Mr McLeish is told backbench support will be crucial to his ability to weather the current political storm of Officegate. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Strathclyde University's political analyst Malcolm Dickson says the first minister must get to grips with his present predicament.

 Strathclyde University's Malcolm Dickson

26 October 2000

Leadership win for McLeish

Henry McLeish is Scotland's new first minister

Henry McLeish is elected as the new first minister of Scotland. Members of the Scottish Parliament vote him into the post with a comfortable majority. It follows the death of Scottish First Minister Donald Dewar earlier in the month.

 The BBC's Brian Taylor reports