Dewar government

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Dewar government
1st devolved government of Scotland
1999–2000
Donald Dewar.jpg
Date formed13 May 1999
Date dissolved11 October 2000
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterDonald Dewar
First Minister's history1999–2000
Deputy First MinisterJim Wallace
Member parties
  •   Labour Party
  •   Liberal Democrats
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
72 / 129 (56%)
Opposition party  Scottish National Party
Opposition leaderAlex Salmond (1999-2000)
John Swinney (2000)
History
Election(s)1999 general election
Legislature term(s)1st Scottish Parliament
SuccessorMcLeish government

The Dewar government (13 May 1999 – 11 October 2000) was a coalition composed of the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats that was formed by Donald Dewar at the start of the 1st Scottish Parliament. The coalition was agreed and the announcement of the deal on 14 May 1999 was marked with a signing ceremony held at the Museum of Scotland.[1][2] Dewar, as Scotland's first First Minister, obtained the Scottish Parliament's approval for the first slate of members of the Scottish Executive on 19 May 1999.[3][4] The government ended with Dewar's death on 11 October 2000.[5]

List of ministers[]

Cabinet[6][]

Post Minister Term Party
First Minister The Rt Hon. Donald Dewar MSP May 1999–Oct. 2000 Labour Party
Deputy First Minister
Minister for Justice
Jim Wallace QC MSP Liberal Democrats
Minister for Children and Education Sam Galbraith MSP Labour Party
Wendy Alexander MSP
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Henry McLeish MSP
Minister for Finance Jack McConnell MSP
Minister for Health and Community Care Susan Deacon MSP
Chief Whip and Government Business Manager Tom McCabe MSP
Minister for Rural Affairs Ross Finnie MSP Liberal Democrats
Minister for Transport and the Environment Sarah Boyack MSP Labour Party
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. The Lord Hardie PC QC May 1999–Feb. 2000
The Rt Hon. Colin Boyd QC Feb. 2000–Oct. 2000

Junior ministers[6][]

Post Minister Term Party
Deputy Minister for Children and Education Peter Peacock MSP May 1999–Oct. 2000 Labour Party
Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport Rhona Brankin MSP
Deputy Minister for Social Inclusion, Equality and the Voluntary Sector Jackie Baillie MSP
Frank McAveety MSP
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Nicol Stephen MSP Liberal Democrats
Alasdair Morrison MSP Labour Party
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care Iain Gray MSP
Deputy Minister for Justice (with particular responsibility for Land Reform) Angus MacKay MSP
Iain Smith MSP Liberal Democrats
John Home Robertson MSP Labour Party
Solicitor General for Scotland Colin Boyd QC May 1999–Feb. 2000
Neil Davidson QC Feb. 2000–Oct. 2000

Changes[]

Lord Hardie unexpectedly resigned from his post as Lord Advocate on 17 February 2000. The post was filled by the then Solicitor General, Colin Boyd, who was in turn replaced by Neil Davidson.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Scottish coalition deal unveiled". BBC News. 14 May 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Scottish coalition deal in full". BBC News. 14 May 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "'Second 11' revealed by Dewar". BBC News. 18 May 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Dewar mixes old and new faces". BBC News. 18 May 1999. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  5. ^ "'Father of nation' dies". BBC News. 11 October 2000. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Ministers, Law Officers and Ministerial Parliamentary Aides by Cabinet: Session 1" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Swift response over Hardie resignation". BBC News. 17 February 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
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