Third Sturgeon government
Third Sturgeon government | |
---|---|
9th Government of Scotland | |
2021–present | |
Date formed | 20 May 2021 |
People and organisations | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
First Minister's history | 2014–present |
Deputy First Minister | John Swinney |
No. of ministers | 27 |
Total no. of members | 27 |
Member parties |
|
Status in legislature | Majority cooperation and confidence and supply agreement between the SNP and the Greens 71 / 129 (55%) (August 2021–present)Minority 64 / 129 (50%) (May–August 2021) |
Opposition cabinet | Opposition Parties |
Opposition party |
|
Opposition leader | Douglas Ross |
History | |
Election(s) | 2021 general election |
Legislature term(s) | 6th Scottish Parliament |
Predecessor | Second Sturgeon government |
Nicola Sturgeon formed the third Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 6th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of First Minister on 18 May 2021 and announced the formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government on 20 May.[1] On 31 August 2021, the SNP and Scottish Greens entered a power-sharing arrangement which resulted in the appointment of two Green MSPs as junior ministers in the government, delivery of a shared policy platform, and Green support for the government on votes of confidence and supply.[2][3]
Sturgeon is the first First Minister to form a third administration.
History[]
In the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won 64 of the 129 seats contested.[4] Incumbent First Minister Nicola Sturgeon soon afterwards announced her intention to form a minority government. She was nominated for the post of first minister by a vote of the Scottish Parliament on 18 May, defeating Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie by 64 votes to 31 and 4 respectively.
Long standing ministers Jeane Freeman, Michael Russell, Roseanna Cunningham and Aileen Campbell did not seek re-election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, with Fiona Hyslop and Fergus Ewing standing down from government.[5] This left Sturgeon with many empty posts.
Shortly after being elected, Sturgeon re-appointed John Swinney as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and also appointed him the newly created Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery post.[6] Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes, Shirley-Anne Somerville and Michael Matheson all remained in government. Shona Robison and Keith Brown made a return to cabinet, having previously served in Sturgeon's governments. Only Mairi Gougeon and Angus Robertson were new to government. The Scottish Parliament confirmed the appointment of ministers and junior ministers on 20 May.[7]
In May 2021, both the Lord Advocate, James Wolffe, and Solicitor General for Scotland, Alison Di Rollo, announced their intention to step down as Scotland's top law officers.[8] On 17 June, Sturgeon nominated Dorothy Bain QC to serve as Lord Advocate and Ruth Charteris QC to serve as Solicitor General. This is the first time in history both posts have been held by women.[9]
On 20 August 2021, following two months of negotiations, the SNP and Scottish Greens announced a new power-sharing agreement.[10][11] While not an official coalition, it would be the first time in both Scottish and UK history that Green politicians would be in government.[12][13] The Greens are expected to hold two ministerial posts.[14] The agreement will see both parties pledge for a second referendum on Scottish independence, an increase investment in active travel and public transport, enhancing tenants rights, a ten-year £500m Just Transition and establishing a National Care Service.[15][16]
Cabinet Secretaries[]
Cabinet[] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Post | Minister | Portrait | Political Party | Term | |
First Minister | The Rt Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP | SNP | 2014–present | ||
Deputy First Minister | John Swinney MSP | SNP | 2014–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery | 2021–present | ||||
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy | Kate Forbes MSP | SNP | 2020–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | Humza Yousaf MSP | SNP | 2021–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills | Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP | SNP | 2021–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport | Michael Matheson MSP | SNP | 2018–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans | Keith Brown MSP | SNP | 2021–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government | Shona Robison MSP | SNP | 2021–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands | Mairi Gougeon MSP | SNP | 2021–present | ||
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture | The Rt Hon. Angus Robertson MSP | SNP | 2021–present |
Junior Ministers[]
Scottish Law Officers[]
Law officers[17][] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
Lord Advocate | Dorothy Bain QC | 2021–present | |
Solicitor General for Scotland | Ruth Charteris QC | 2021–present |
References[]
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon re-elected as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "SNP and Greens agree new power-sharing deal". BBC News. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT between THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT and THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP". gov.scot. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win". BBC News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ Ross, Calum. "Cabinet Reshuffle: Fergus Ewing and Fiona Hyslop leave top posts". Press and Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "John Swinney to be minister for Covid recovery". BBC News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Business Motion". The Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Scotland's lord advocate and solicitor general resign". BBC News. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Holyrood appoints women as Scotland's top lawyers for the first time". The National. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "SNP-Greens deal pledges indyref2 within five years". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Peter (20 August 2021). "SNP and Greens negotiate deal to form power-sharing government at Holyrood". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Co-operation deal between SNP and Greens to be revealed this week". The National. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Scotland: SNP and Scottish Greens' power-sharing agreement is 'groundbreaking', Nicola Sturgeon says". Sky News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Greens enter government as deal done with SNP". STV News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "What does the SNP-Green deal mean for Scotland?". Largs and Millport Weekly News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Working Together to Build A Greener, Fairer, Independent Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- Scottish governments
- Cabinets established in 2021
- 2021 establishments in Scotland
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Ministries of Elizabeth II
- Lists of current governments