Swinney government

Swinney government

12th Government of Scotland
Swinney's cabinet outside Bute House, 2024
Date formed8 May 2024
People and organisations
MonarchCharles III
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Deputy First MinisterKate Forbes
Member parties
  •   Scottish National Party
Status in legislatureMinority
62 / 129 (48%)
Opposition cabinetOpposition Parties
Opposition party
Opposition leaderDouglas Ross (until September 2024)
Russell Findlay (September 2024–present)
History
Legislature term6th Scottish Parliament
PredecessorSecond Yousaf government
This article is part of
a series about
John Swinney
Incumbent
Cabinet positions (2007–2023)

John Swinney formed the Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session.[1]

History

On 29 April 2024, Humza Yousaf announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Scottish National Party, and as First Minister.[2] Swinney announced his candidacy for the internal leadership contest, and was elected unopposed.[3] Shona Robison resigned as Deputy First Minister on 8 May in favour of Kate Forbes, but was re-appointed as Swinney's Finance Secretary with additional responsibility for local government.[4][5]

The majority of Swinney's cabinet was previously part of Humza Yousaf's previous governments. The only addition to the cabinet was Kate Forbes replacing Shona Robison as Deputy First Minister of Scotland, and taking part of Màiri McAllan's responsibility for economy into her portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.[6] Robison was, however, re-appointed by Swinney as Finance Secretary with additional responsibility for local government, with McAllan appointed as the reduced portfolio of Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy.[7]

Additionally, only one new junior minister joined Swinney's government, former minister Ivan McKee, with the number of junior ministerial posts being reduced from 16 to 14. The portfolio of Minister for Employment and Investment was created, with Tom Arthur appointed to the role. The ministers for independence and culture were abolished, with their incumbents Jamie Hepburn and Kaukab Stewart moved to other positions. Joe FitzPatrick's local government position was abolished, and he therefore departed government along with Equalities Minister Emma Roddick and Parliamentary Business Minister George Adam.[8]

The Scottish Parliament formally approved the appointments of Kate Forbes and Ivan McKee on 9 May 2024.[9][10]

Prior to Swinney's appointment, it was announced in February 2024 that Màiri McAllan would be taking maternity leave.[11] From 1 July 2024, McAllan will begin her maternity leave, where Gillian Martin will be appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and Alasdair Allan will be appointed as Acting Minister for Climate Action.[12]

Cabinet

May 2024 – present

Portfolio Portrait Minister Term
First Minister The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP May 2024 – present
Cabinet secretaries
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP May 2024 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison MSP March 2023 – present[a]
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP February 2024 – present[b]
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop MSP February 2024 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan MSP February 2024 – present[c][d]
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth MSP March 2023 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP May 2021 – present
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture The Rt Hon Angus Robertson MSP May 2021 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP March 2023 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance MSP March 2023 – present
Also attending cabinet meetings
Permanent Secretary John-Paul Marks 2022–present
Minister for Parliamentary Business Jamie Hepburn MSP May 2024–present
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC 2021–present

List of junior ministers

May 2024 to present

Junior ministers

Post Minister Term
Minister for Parliamentary Business Jamie Hepburn MSP 2024–present
Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur MSP 2024–present
Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee MSP 2024–present
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto MSP 2023–present
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd MSP 2023–present
Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise Natalie Don MSP 2023–present
Minister for Higher and Further Education

Minister for Veterans

Graeme Dey MSP 2023–present
Minister for Business Richard Lochhead MSP 2023–present
Minister for Climate Action[e] Gillian Martin MSP 2023–present
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Christina McKelvie MSP 2024-present
Minister for Equalities Kaukab Stewart MSP 2024–present
Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP 2023–present
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown MSP 2023–present
Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP 2024-present

Scottish law officers

Law officers[13]

Post Name Portrait Term
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC 2021–present
Solicitor General for Scotland Ruth Charteris KC 2021–present

Notes

  1. ^ Robison previously held the Finance portfolio since March 2023 but gained the additional portfolio of Local Government in May 2024
  2. ^ Portfolio was titled Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care from 8 February 2024 to 8 May 2024
  3. ^ McAllan had additional responsibility for the Economy from 8 February 2024 until this was shuffled to Kate Forbes on 8 May 2024
  4. ^ McAllan is currently on maternity leave, with Gillian Martin filling the role in an acting capacity
  5. ^ Currently also Acting Cabinet Secretary for New Zero and Energy whilst incumbent Màiri McAllan is on maternity leave

References

  1. ^ Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-07). "John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "SNP leader Humza Yousaf resigns as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  3. ^ Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-06). "John Swinney declares 'new chapter' as he becomes SNP leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. ^ "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  6. ^ "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  7. ^ "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  8. ^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  9. ^ "Appointment of a Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  10. ^ "Appointment of a Junior Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  11. ^ Kendix, Lauren Gilmour, Max (2024-06-27). "I'll be back, says Mairi McAllan as she announces pregnancy". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Màiri McAllan maternity cover". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  13. ^ "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2021-06-19.