First Minister of Scotland

First Minister of Scotland
Post	First Minister
Body	Scotland
Insigniacaption	Logo of the Scottish Government
Incumbent	John Swinney
Incumbentsince	8 May 2024
Department	Scottish Government
Style	First Minister, (informal), The Right Honourable, (UK and Commonwealth)
Member of	Scottish Parliament, Privy Council, British–Irish Council
Reports to	Scottish Parliament
Residence	Bute House
Seat	St Andrew's House, Edinburgh
Nominator	Scottish Parliament
Appointer	The Monarch
Appointer qualified	on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament
Termlength	His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	7 May 1999
First	Donald Dewar
Salary	£177,534 per annum
Deputy	Deputy First Minister

First Minister of Scotland. The First Minister is the head of the Scottish Government, the devolved administration for Scotland within the United Kingdom. Nominated by the Scottish Parliament and formally appointed by the Monarch, the officeholder is responsible for the overall direction, development, and implementation of government policy. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet, represents Scotland domestically and internationally, and is the principal political figure in Scottish public life.

Role and responsibilities

The First Minister leads the Scottish Government and is ultimately accountable to the Scottish Parliament for all its actions and policies. Key duties include setting the legislative and policy agenda, as outlined in documents like the Programme for Government, and chairing weekly meetings of the Scottish Cabinet at St Andrew's House. The officeholder represents the Scottish Government in major intergovernmental forums, including the Joint Ministerial Committee, and acts as the principal advocate for Scotland's interests on visits to places like the European Union and the United States. The First Minister also recommends individuals to the Sovereign for appointment as Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland.

Appointment and election

Following a Scottish Parliament election, the Presiding Officer nominates a candidate for First Minister, who must then be formally elected by the Parliament through a simple majority vote. If no candidate secures a majority, a second vote is held where a plurality suffices; if this fails, the Presiding Officer can propose a candidate who must then win a majority. Upon election, the Presiding Officer recommends the successful candidate to the Monarch for appointment, a process formalized at ceremonies such as the Kissing of Hands. The First Minister must be a member of the Scottish Parliament and typically leads the largest party or a viable coalition, such as the Scottish National Party or Scottish Labour Party.

List of First Ministers

Since the establishment of devolution under the Scotland Act 1998, there have been seven individuals who have held the office. The inaugural First Minister was Donald Dewar of the Scottish Labour Party, who took office on 7 May 1999. He was succeeded by Henry McLeish and then Jack McConnell, who oversaw significant periods of legislative activity. The first First Minister from the Scottish National Party was Alex Salmond, who served from 2007 to 2014, a tenure that included the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Nicola Sturgeon succeeded Salmond, becoming the first woman to hold the office and serving a record term until 2023. She was followed briefly by Humza Yousaf, and the current officeholder is John Swinney, who assumed the role in May 2024.

Powers and functions

The First Minister's executive powers are derived from the Scotland Act 1998 and subsequent amendments like the Scotland Act 2016. These include the authority to appoint and dismiss Scottish Ministers, determine the structure of government directorates, and set the agenda for the Scottish Parliament through the government's legislative programme. The officeholder has a central role in the Scottish budget process, working with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to present the annual Scottish budget to Holyrood. The First Minister also holds reserve powers to recommend the dissolution of Parliament to the Monarch and can trigger an extraordinary election under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998.

History and development

The office was created following the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum and the subsequent passage of the Scotland Act 1998, which established the modern Scottish Parliament. The title "First Minister" was chosen over "Prime Minister" to distinguish the devolved role from that of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The role's powers have evolved through successive legislation, notably the Scotland Act 2012 and the Scotland Act 2016, which devolved further competencies in areas like taxation and welfare. Key historical moments include the signing of the Edinburgh Agreement by Alex Salmond and David Cameron, which paved the way for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, and the tenure of Nicola Sturgeon during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.

Relationship with other governments

The First Minister's relationship with the UK Government, led by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is governed by the principles of the Memorandum of Understanding and is often conducted through the Joint Ministerial Committee. This relationship has been tested during constitutional debates, such as those surrounding the Scottish independence movement and the Brexit process following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. The First Minister also engages directly with other devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland, and represents Scotland in international bodies like the British–Irish Council and at events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Category:First Ministers of Scotland Category:Scottish Government