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class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Election and term</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Election_and_term-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Election and term subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Election_and_term-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Nomination_as_First_Minister" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Nomination_as_First_Minister"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Nomination as First Minister</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Nomination_as_First_Minister-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Oath_of_office" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Oath_of_office"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Oath of office</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Oath_of_office-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Term_in_office" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Term_in_office"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Term in office</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Term_in_office-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Legislative_powers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Legislative_powers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Legislative powers</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Legislative_powers-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Legislative powers subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Legislative_powers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Scots_Law_and_civil_service" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Scots_Law_and_civil_service"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Scots Law and civil service</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Scots_Law_and_civil_service-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Security_and_intelligence" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Security_and_intelligence"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Security and intelligence</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Security_and_intelligence-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Keeper of the Great Seal</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Privy_Council" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Privy_Council"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Privy Council</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Privy_Council-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Executive_powers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Executive_powers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Executive powers</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Executive_powers-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Executive powers subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Executive_powers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Cabinet_appointments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cabinet_appointments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Cabinet appointments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cabinet_appointments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Accountability_to_parliament" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Accountability_to_parliament"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Accountability to parliament</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Accountability_to_parliament-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Foreign_relations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Foreign_relations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Foreign relations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Foreign_relations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Deputy_and_'Acting'_First_Minister" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Deputy_and_'Acting'_First_Minister"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Deputy and 'Acting' First Minister</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Deputy_and_'Acting'_First_Minister-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Precedence_and_privileges" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Precedence_and_privileges"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Precedence and privileges</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Precedence_and_privileges-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-List_of_nominating_elections" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#List_of_nominating_elections"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>List of nominating elections</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-List_of_nominating_elections-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Timeline_of_Scottish_first_ministers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Timeline_of_Scottish_first_ministers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Timeline of Scottish first ministers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Timeline_of_Scottish_first_ministers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">First Minister of Scotland</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 35 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-35" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">35 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84" title="وزير إسكتلندا الأول – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="وزير إسكتلندا الأول" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_ministre_d%27Esc%C3%B2cia" title="Primer ministre d'Escòcia – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Primer ministre d'Escòcia" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cy mw-list-item"><a href="https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prif_Weinidog_yr_Alban" title="Prif Weinidog yr Alban – Welsh" lang="cy" hreflang="cy" data-title="Prif Weinidog yr Alban" data-language-autonym="Cymraeg" data-language-local-name="Welsh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Cymraeg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skotlands_f%C3%B8rsteminister" title="Skotlands førsteminister – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Skotlands førsteminister" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Minister_(Schottland)" title="First Minister (Schottland) – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="First Minister (Schottland)" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A0%CF%81%CF%8E%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%A5%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B3%CF%8C%CF%82_%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82_%CE%A3%CE%BA%CF%89%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82" title="Πρώτος Υπουργός της Σκωτίας – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Πρώτος Υπουργός της Σκωτίας" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministro_principal_de_Escocia" title="Ministro principal de Escocia – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Ministro principal de Escocia" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskoziako_lehen_ministro" title="Eskoziako lehen ministro – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Eskoziako lehen ministro" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84_%D8%A7%D8%B3%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF" title="وزیر اول اسکاتلند – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="وزیر اول اسکاتلند" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_ministre_d%27%C3%89cosse" title="Premier ministre d'Écosse – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Premier ministre d'Écosse" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gd mw-list-item"><a href="https://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr%C3%AComh-mhinistearan_na_h-Alba" title="Prìomh-mhinistearan na h-Alba – Scottish Gaelic" lang="gd" hreflang="gd" data-title="Prìomh-mhinistearan na h-Alba" data-language-autonym="Gàidhlig" data-language-local-name="Scottish Gaelic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Gàidhlig</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%8A%A4%EC%BD%94%ED%8B%80%EB%9E%9C%EB%93%9C%EC%9D%98_%ED%96%89%EC%A0%95%EC%88%98%EB%B0%98" title="스코틀랜드의 행정수반 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="스코틀랜드의 행정수반" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%89%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80" title="स्कॉटलैंड के प्रथम मंत्री – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="स्कॉटलैंड के प्रथम मंत्री" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menteri_Pertama_Skotlandia" title="Menteri Pertama Skotlandia – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Menteri Pertama Skotlandia" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-is mw-list-item"><a href="https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86%C3%B0sti_r%C3%A1%C3%B0herra_Skotlands" title="Æðsti ráðherra Skotlands – Icelandic" lang="is" hreflang="is" data-title="Æðsti ráðherra Skotlands" data-language-autonym="Íslenska" data-language-local-name="Icelandic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Íslenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primi_ministri_della_Scozia" title="Primi ministri della Scozia – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Primi ministri della Scozia" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A8%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1_%E1%83%9E%E1%83%98%E1%83%A0%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98_%E1%83%9B%E1%83%98%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98" title="შოტლანდიის პირველი მინისტრი – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="შოტლანდიის პირველი მინისტრი" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0kotijos_pirmasis_ministras" title="Škotijos pirmasis ministras – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Škotijos pirmasis ministras" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sk%C3%B3cia_els%C5%91_minisztereinek_list%C3%A1ja" title="Skócia első minisztereinek listája – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Skócia első minisztereinek listája" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84_%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF" title="وزير اول سكوتلاند – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="وزير اول سكوتلاند" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menteri_Pertama_Scotland" title="Menteri Pertama Scotland – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Menteri Pertama Scotland" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B3%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E9%A6%96%E7%9B%B8" title="スコットランド首相 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="スコットランド首相" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skottlands_f%C3%B8rsteminister" title="Skottlands førsteminister – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Skottlands førsteminister" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierwsi_ministrowie_Szkocji" title="Pierwsi ministrowie Szkocji – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Pierwsi ministrowie Szkocji" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primeiro-ministro_da_Esc%C3%B3cia" title="Primeiro-ministro da Escócia – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Primeiro-ministro da Escócia" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a 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For a list of Scottish first ministers, see <a href="/wiki/List_of_first_ministers_of_Scotland" title="List of first ministers of Scotland">List of first ministers of Scotland</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size: 125%;">First Minister of Scotland</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-subheader" style="font-size: 125%; font-weight: normal;"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Gaelic language">Scottish Gaelic</a>: <i lang="gd">Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba</i></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="padding-bottom:0.4em; border-bottom:solid 1px #ccd2d9;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg/120px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg.png" decoding="async" width="120" height="116" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg/180px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg/240px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_in_Scotland.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1550" data-file-height="1500" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption"><a href="/wiki/Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom">Royal Coat of Arms</a> used by the<br /><a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">Monarch</a> in <a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="padding-bottom:0.4em; border-bottom:solid 1px #ccd2d9;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Flag_of_Scotland.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/100px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="60" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/150px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/200px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></a></span><br /><a href="/wiki/Flag_of_Scotland" title="Flag of Scotland">Flag of Scotland</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><div style="padding-bottom:0.4em; border-bottom:solid 1px #ccd2d9; line-height:1.4em;"><div style="padding-bottom:0.4em;"><span class="mw-default-size mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_(53720492021)_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="284" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-John_Swinney_-_First_Minister_%2853720492021%29_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2382" data-file-height="3076" /></a></span></div><div style="display:inline;font-weight:bold;">Incumbent<br /><a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a><br /></div>since 8 May 2024</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><a href="/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Minister" title="Office of the First Minister">Office of the First Minister</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Government</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Cabinet" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Cabinet">Scottish Cabinet</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Style_(form_of_address)" title="Style (form of address)">Style</a></th><td class="infobox-data">First Minister and <a href="/wiki/Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland">Keeper of the Scottish Seal</a><sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <br /> (formal)<br /><a href="/wiki/First_Minister" class="mw-redirect" title="First Minister">First Minister</a><br />(informal)<br /><a href="/wiki/Right_Honourable" class="mw-redirect" title="Right Honourable">The Right Honourable</a><br />(UK and Commonwealth) <br /><a href="/wiki/Excellency" title="Excellency">His/Her Excellency</a><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br />(international)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Status</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Head_of_government" title="Head of government">Head of government</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Member of</th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government#Cabinet" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Cabinet</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Privy Council of the United Kingdom">Privy Council</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/British-Irish_Council" class="mw-redirect" title="British-Irish Council">British-Irish Council</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Prime_Minister_and_Heads_of_Devolved_Governments_Council" title="Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Governments Council">PM and Heads of Devolved Governments Council</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Council_of_the_Nations_and_Regions" title="Council of the Nations and Regions">Council of the Nations and Regions</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Reports to</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Official_residence" title="Official residence">Residence</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Bute_House" title="Bute House">Bute House</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Seat_(legal_entity)" title="Seat (legal entity)">Seat</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/St_Andrew%27s_House" title="St Andrew's House">St Andrew's House</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Nominator</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Appointer</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">The Monarch</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Term_of_office" title="Term of office">Term length</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/At_His_Majesty%27s_pleasure" title="At His Majesty's pleasure">At His Majesty's pleasure</a><br />(following nomination by the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Inaugural holder</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Donald_Dewar" title="Donald Dewar">Donald Dewar</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Formation</th><td class="infobox-data">17 May 1999<span class="noprint"><br />(25 years ago)</span><span style="display:none"> (<span class="bday dtstart published updated">1999-05-17</span>)</span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Deputy</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland" title="Deputy First Minister of Scotland">Deputy First Minister of Scotland</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Salary</th><td class="infobox-data">£165,678 per annum <span style="font-size:85%;">(2023)</span><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>a<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br />(including £67,662 <a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a> salary)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://firstminister.gov.scot/">firstminister<wbr />.gov<wbr />.scot</a></span> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1362216#P856" title="Edit this at 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.mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks vcard hlist"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">This article is part of <a href="/wiki/Category:Politics_of_Scotland" title="Category:Politics of Scotland">a series</a> within the<br /><a href="/wiki/Category:Politics_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Category:Politics of the United Kingdom">Politics of the United Kingdom</a> on the</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland" title="Politics of Scotland">Politics of Scotland</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/125px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png" decoding="async" width="125" height="75" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/188px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/250px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">The Crown</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">The Monarch</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Charles_III" title="Charles III">Charles III</a> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Succession_to_the_British_throne" title="Succession to the British throne">Heir apparent</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/William,_Prince_of_Wales" title="William, Prince of Wales">William</a>, <a href="/wiki/Duke_of_Rothesay" title="Duke of Rothesay">Duke of Rothesay</a> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_prerogative_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Royal prerogative in the United Kingdom">Prerogative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/British_royal_family" title="British royal family">Royal family</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Succession_to_the_British_throne" title="Succession to the British throne">Succession</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Privy Council of the United Kingdom">Privy Council</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_the_Crowns" title="Union of the Crowns">Union of the Crowns</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Balmoral_Castle" title="Balmoral Castle">Balmoral Castle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Holyrood_Palace" title="Holyrood Palace">Holyrood Palace</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_republicanism" title="Scottish republicanism">Scottish republicanism</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Executive</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Government</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Swinney_government" title="Swinney government">Swinney government</a> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a class="mw-selflink selflink">First Minister</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><small><a href="/wiki/The_Rt_Hon" class="mw-redirect" title="The Rt Hon">The Rt Hon</a></small> <a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a></span> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland">Keeper of the Great Seal</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><small><a href="/wiki/The_Rt_Hon" class="mw-redirect" title="The Rt Hon">The Rt Hon</a></small> <a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a></span> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland" title="Deputy First Minister of Scotland">Deputy First Minister</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Kate_Forbes" title="Kate Forbes">Kate Forbes</a> <small><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government#Cabinet" title="Scottish Government">Cabinet Secretaries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government#Junior_Scottish_Ministers" title="Scottish Government">Junior Ministers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_budget" title="Scottish budget">Scottish budget</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Taxation_in_Scotland" title="Taxation in Scotland">Taxation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Directorates_of_the_Scottish_Government" title="Directorates of the Scottish Government">Directorates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Executive_agencies_of_the_Scottish_Government" title="Executive agencies of the Scottish Government">Executive agencies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Public_bodies_of_the_Scottish_Government" title="Public bodies of the Scottish Government">Public bodies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/State-owned_enterprises_of_the_United_Kingdom#Scottish_Government" title="State-owned enterprises of the United Kingdom">State-owned enterprises</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bute_House" title="Bute House">Bute House</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/St_Andrew%27s_House" title="St Andrew's House">St Andrew's House</a></li></ul> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_relations_of_Scotland" title="International relations of Scotland">International relations</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Legislature</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a></b></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/6th_Scottish_Parliament" title="6th Scottish Parliament">Sixth session</a> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Presiding_Officer_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament">Presiding Officer</a> </b></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Alison_Johnstone" title="Alison Johnstone">Alison Johnstone</a> <small><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Act_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Act of the Scottish Parliament">Primary legislation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_statutory_instrument" title="Scottish statutory instrument">Statutory instrument</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Committees_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Committees of the Scottish Parliament">Committees</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First_Minister%27s_Questions_(Scottish_Parliament)" title="First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)">First Minister's Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Standards_Commission_for_Scotland" title="Standards Commission for Scotland">Standards Commission for Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_1998" title="Scotland Act 1998">Scotland Act 1998</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_2012" title="Scotland Act 2012">2012 Act</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_2016" title="Scotland Act 2016">2016 Act</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Adjacent_Waters_Boundaries_Order_1999" title="Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999">Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UK_Withdrawal_from_the_European_Union_(Continuity)_(Scotland)_Act_2020" class="mw-redirect" title="UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2020">EU Continuity Act 2020</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Scots_law" title="Scots law">Law and justice</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Justice_and_Home_Affairs" title="Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs">Cabinet Secretary for Justice</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Angela_Constance" title="Angela Constance">Angela Constance</a> <small><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">MSP</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Lord_Advocate" title="Lord Advocate">Lord Advocate</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Dorothy_Bain" title="Dorothy Bain">Dorothy Bain</a> <small><a href="/wiki/King%27s_Counsel" title="King's Counsel">KC</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Lord_President_of_the_Court_of_Session" title="Lord President of the Court of Session">Lord President</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><small><a href="/wiki/The_Rt_Hon" class="mw-redirect" title="The Rt Hon">The Rt Hon</a></small> <a href="/wiki/Colin_Sutherland,_Lord_Carloway" title="Colin Sutherland, Lord Carloway">Lord Carloway</a> <small><a href="/wiki/King%27s_Counsel" title="King's Counsel">KC</a> <a href="/wiki/Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Privy Council of the United Kingdom">PC</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scots_law" title="Scots law">Scots law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udal_law" title="Udal law">Udal law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Courts_of_Scotland" title="Courts of Scotland">Courts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Judiciary_of_Scotland" title="Judiciary of Scotland">Judiciary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Courts_and_Tribunals_Service" title="Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service">Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crown_Office_and_Procurator_Fiscal_Service" title="Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service">Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Police_Scotland" title="Police Scotland">Police Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Prison_Service" title="Scottish Prison Service">Scottish Prison Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advocate_General_for_Scotland" title="Advocate General for Scotland">Advocate General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solicitor_General_for_Scotland" title="Solicitor General for Scotland">Solicitor General</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland" title="Elections in Scotland">Elections and referendums</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"><b><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland#Scottish_Parliament" title="Elections in Scotland">Scottish Parliament elections</a></b><br /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="1999 Scottish Parliament election">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2003 Scottish Parliament election">2003</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2007_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2007 Scottish Parliament election">2007</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2011 Scottish Parliament election">2011</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2016 Scottish Parliament election">2016</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2021_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2021 Scottish Parliament election">2021</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Next_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="Next Scottish Parliament election"><i>Next</i></a></li></ul> <hr /> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland#UK_Parliament" title="Elections in Scotland">United Kingdom Parliament elections</a></b><br /> </p> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom_(Scotland)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="First Parliament of the United Kingdom (Scotland) (page does not exist)">1801 co-option</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1802_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1802 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1802</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1806_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1806 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1806</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1807_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1807 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1807</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1812_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1812 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1812</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1818_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1818 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1818</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1820_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1820 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1820</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1826_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1826 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1826</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1830_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1830 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1830</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1831_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1831 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1831</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1832_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1832 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1832</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1835_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1835 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1835</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1837_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1837 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1837</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1841_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1841 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1841</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1847_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1847 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1847</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1852_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1852 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1852</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1857_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1857 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1857</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1859_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1859 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1859</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1865_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1865 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1865</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1868_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1868 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1868</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1874_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1874 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1874</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1880_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1880 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1880</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1885_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1885 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1885</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1886_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1886 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1886</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1892_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1892 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1892</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1895_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1895 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1895</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1900_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1900 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1900</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1906_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1906 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1906</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=January_1910_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="January 1910 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1910 (Jan)</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=December_1910_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="December 1910 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1910 (Dec)</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1918_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1918 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1918</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1922_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1922 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1922</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1923_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1923 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1923</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1924_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1924 United Kingdom general election in Scotland (page does not exist)">1924</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1929_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1929 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1929</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1931_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1931 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1931</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1935_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1935 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1935</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1945_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1945 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1945</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1950_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1950 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1950</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1951_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1951 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1951</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1955_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1955 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1955</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1959_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1959 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1959</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1964_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1964 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1964</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1966_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1966 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1966</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1970_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1970 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1970</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/February_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="February 1974 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1974 (Feb)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/October_1974_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="October 1974 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1974 (Oct)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1979_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1979 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1983_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1983 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1983</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1987_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1987 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1987</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1992_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1992 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="1997 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">1997</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2001_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2001 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2001</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2005 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2005</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2010 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2010</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2015 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2015</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2017_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2017 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election_in_Scotland" title="2019 United Kingdom general election in Scotland">2019</a></li></ul> <hr /> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland#European_Parliament" title="Elections in Scotland">European Parliament elections</a></b><br /> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1979_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1984_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="1984 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">1984</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1989_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">1989</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1999_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2004_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">2004</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">2009</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">2014</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom">2019</a></li></ul> <hr /> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland#Local_councils" title="Elections in Scotland">Local elections</a></b><br /> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1967_Scottish_local_elections" title="1967 Scottish local elections">1967</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=1968_Scottish_local_elections&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1968 Scottish local elections (page does not exist)">1968</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1969_Scottish_local_elections" title="1969 Scottish local elections">1969</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1970_Scottish_local_elections" title="1970 Scottish local elections">1970</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1971_Scottish_local_elections" title="1971 Scottish local elections">1971</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1972_Scottish_local_elections" title="1972 Scottish local elections">1972</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1973_Scottish_local_elections" title="1973 Scottish local elections">1973</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1974_Scottish_local_elections" title="1974 Scottish local elections">1974</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1977_Scottish_local_elections" title="1977 Scottish local elections">1977</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1980_Scottish_local_elections" title="1980 Scottish local elections">1980</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1982_Scottish_regional_elections" title="1982 Scottish regional elections">1982</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1984_Scottish_local_elections" title="1984 Scottish local elections">1984</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1986_Scottish_regional_elections" title="1986 Scottish regional elections">1986</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1988_Scottish_local_elections" title="1988 Scottish local elections">1988</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1990_Scottish_regional_elections" title="1990 Scottish regional elections">1990</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1992_Scottish_local_elections" title="1992 Scottish local elections">1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_Scottish_regional_elections" title="1994 Scottish regional elections">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1995_Scottish_local_elections" title="1995 Scottish local elections">1995</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1999_Scottish_local_elections" title="1999 Scottish local elections">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_Scottish_local_elections" title="2003 Scottish local elections">2003</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2007_Scottish_local_elections" title="2007 Scottish local elections">2007</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2012_Scottish_local_elections" title="2012 Scottish local elections">2012</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2017_Scottish_local_elections" title="2017 Scottish local elections">2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2022_Scottish_local_elections" title="2022 Scottish local elections">2022</a></li></ul> <hr /> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland#Referendums" title="Elections in Scotland">Referendums</a></b><br /> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1975_United_Kingdom_European_Communities_membership_referendum" title="1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum">1975</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1979_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1979 Scottish devolution referendum">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_Strathclyde_water_referendum" title="1994 Strathclyde water referendum">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1997_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1997 Scottish devolution referendum">1997</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edinburgh_congestion_charge#Referendum" title="Edinburgh congestion charge">2005</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_United_Kingdom_Alternative_Vote_referendum" title="2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum">2011</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_Scottish_independence_referendum" title="2014 Scottish independence referendum">2014</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_United_Kingdom_European_Union_membership_referendum" title="2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum">2016</a></li></ul> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament_constituencies_and_electoral_regions_from_2011#Constituencies" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions from 2011">Scottish Parliament constituencies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament_constituencies_and_electoral_regions_from_2011#Electoral_regions" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions from 2011">Scottish Parliament electoral regions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Westminster_constituencies" title="Scottish Westminster constituencies">Scottish Westminster constituencies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_second_Scottish_independence_referendum" title="Proposed second Scottish independence referendum">Proposed second independence referendum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Scotland" title="Electoral system of Scotland">Electoral system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Scotland" title="List of political parties in Scotland">Political parties</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Devolution_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Devolution in the United Kingdom">Scotland and the United Kingdom</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Government of the United Kingdom">United Kingdom Government</a></b></li></ul> <p><a href="/wiki/Starmer_ministry" title="Starmer ministry">Starmer ministry</a> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Prime Minister of the United Kingdom">Prime Minister</a></b><br /></li></ul> <p><small><a href="/wiki/The_Rt_Hon" class="mw-redirect" title="The Rt Hon">The Rt Hon</a></small> <a href="/wiki/Keir_Starmer" title="Keir Starmer">Keir Starmer</a> <small><a href="/wiki/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)" title="Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)">MP</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Scotland" title="Secretary of State for Scotland">Secretary of State for Scotland</a></b></li></ul> <p><small><a href="/wiki/The_Rt_Hon" class="mw-redirect" title="The Rt Hon">The Rt Hon</a></small> <a href="/wiki/Ian_Murray_(Scottish_politician)" title="Ian Murray (Scottish politician)">Ian Murray</a> <small><a href="/wiki/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)" title="Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)">MP</a></small> </p> <hr /> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_Scottish_devolution" class="mw-redirect" title="History of Scottish devolution">Scottish devolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Treaty_of_Union" title="Treaty of Union">Treaty of Union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="House of Commons of the United Kingdom">House of Commons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/House_of_Lords" title="House of Lords">House of Lords</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Office_of_the_Secretary_of_State_for_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland">Scotland Office</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Affairs_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Affairs Committee">Scottish Affairs Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Grand_Committee" title="Scottish Grand Committee">Scottish Grand Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interministerial_Standing_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Interministerial Standing Committee">Interministerial Standing Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Barnett_formula" title="Barnett formula">Barnett formula</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reserved_and_excepted_matters" class="mw-redirect" title="Reserved and excepted matters">Reserved matters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Legislative_consent_motion" title="Legislative consent motion">Sewel motion</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:left; background:lavender;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Scotland" title="Local government in Scotland">Administration</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Subdivisions_of_Scotland" title="Subdivisions of Scotland">Council areas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_local_government_in_Scotland" title="History of local government in Scotland">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sheriffdom" title="Sheriffdom">Sheriffdoms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_community_council_areas_in_Scotland" title="List of community council areas in Scotland">Community councils</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lieutenancy_areas_of_Scotland" title="Lieutenancy areas of Scotland">Lieutenancy areas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convention_of_Scottish_Local_Authorities" title="Convention of Scottish Local Authorities">Convention of Scottish Local Authorities</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-below"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Politics_of_Scotland" title="Category:Politics of Scotland">Category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portal:Scotland" title="Portal:Scotland">Scotland portal</a></li></ul> <div class="hlist" style="text-align:center;font-weight:normal;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Outline_of_political_science#Politics_by_region" title="Outline of political science">Other countries</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Politics_of_Scotland" title="Template:Politics of Scotland"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Politics_of_Scotland" title="Template talk:Politics of Scotland"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Politics_of_Scotland" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Politics of Scotland"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>first minister of Scotland</b> (<a href="/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Gaelic language">Scottish Gaelic</a>: <i lang="gd">prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba</i>, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="gd-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/Scottish_Gaelic" title="Help:IPA/Scottish Gaelic">[ˈpʰrʲiəv<span class="wrap"> </span>ˈvinɪʃtʲɛr<span class="wrap"> </span>nə<span class="wrap"> </span>ˈhal̪ˠapə]</a></span>, formally known as the <b>First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal</b>,<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is the <a href="/wiki/Head_of_government" title="Head of government">head of government</a> of <a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a> and the leader of the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Government</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Executive_(government)" title="Executive (government)">executive branch</a> of the devolved government of Scotland. The first minister also serves as the <a href="/wiki/Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland">keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland</a> whilst in office. </p><p>The first minister chairs the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Cabinet" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Cabinet">Scottish Cabinet</a> and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development, and presentation of the Scottish Government's policies. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Scotland in an official capacity, at home and abroad.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The first minister is nominated by the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Scottish Parliament</a> by <a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">members of the Scottish Parliament</a> (MSPs), and is formally appointed by the <a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">monarch</a>. Members of the Scottish Cabinet, junior ministers of the Scottish Government, as well as the Scottish law officers, are appointed by the first minister. The first minister is directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament for their actions and the actions of the wider government and cabinet. </p><p>The office is currently held by <a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a>, the MSP for <a href="/wiki/Perthshire_North_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)" title="Perthshire North (Scottish Parliament constituency)">Perthshire North</a> and the leader of the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_National_Party" title="Scottish National Party">Scottish National Party</a> (SNP). Swinney was elected first minister by the Scottish Parliament on 7 May 2024, and was sworn in on the following day.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Following the <a href="/wiki/1997_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1997 Scottish devolution referendum">referendum in 1997</a>, in which the Scottish electorate gave their consent, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive (later the Scottish Government) were established by the <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Parliament of the United Kingdom">Parliament of the United Kingdom</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" title="Labour Party (UK)">Labour</a> <a href="/wiki/First_Blair_ministry" title="First Blair ministry">government</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Prime Minister of the United Kingdom">prime minister</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tony_Blair" title="Tony Blair">Tony Blair</a>. </p><p>Under the <a href="/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707" title="Acts of Union 1707">Acts of Union 1707</a>, the former <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_Scotland" title="Parliament of Scotland">Parliament of Scotland</a> merged with the English parliament, forming the <a href="/wiki/Parliament_of_Great_Britain" title="Parliament of Great Britain">Parliament of Great Britain</a>. The re-establishment of a dedicated <a href="/wiki/Legislature" title="Legislature">legislature</a> and <a href="/wiki/Executive_(government)" title="Executive (government)">executive</a> for Scotland was known as <a href="/wiki/Devolution" title="Devolution">devolution</a> and initiated a measure of <a href="/wiki/Home_rule" title="Home rule">home rule</a> (self-governance) in its domestic affairs, such as <a href="/wiki/NHS_Scotland" title="NHS Scotland">health</a>, <a href="/wiki/Education_in_Scotland" title="Education in Scotland">education</a> and <a href="/wiki/Law_in_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Law in Scotland">justice</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-history_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-history-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The devolution movement came to a head in the 1970s, and resulted in a <a href="/wiki/Royal_Commission_on_the_Constitution_(United_Kingdom)" title="Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)">Royal Commission on the Constitution</a>, leading to the <a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_1978" title="Scotland Act 1978">Scotland Act 1978</a>. This would have established an autonomous Scottish Executive with a leader termed 'First Secretary', a post for which <a href="/wiki/Strathclyde" title="Strathclyde">Strathclyde</a> political leader <a href="/wiki/Geoff_Shaw_(minister)" title="Geoff Shaw (minister)">Geoff Shaw</a> was widely expected to be chosen.<sup id="cite_ref-herald_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-herald-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-indy_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-indy-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Shaw died prematurely and the failure of the <a href="/wiki/1979_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1979 Scottish devolution referendum">referendum of 1979</a> led to the Act not being implemented. </p><p>Following the <a href="/wiki/1997_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1997 Scottish devolution referendum">1997 referendum</a> and <a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_1998" title="Scotland Act 1998">Scotland Act 1998</a>, <a href="/wiki/Scottish_devolution" title="Scottish devolution">Scottish devolution</a> led to the establishment of a post of first minister as head of the devolved Scottish Government. </p><p>Since 1999, the <a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Scotland" title="Secretary of State for Scotland">Secretary of State for Scotland</a> of the <a href="/wiki/British_Government" class="mw-redirect" title="British Government">British Government</a> has had a much reduced role at the renamed <a href="/wiki/Scotland_Office" title="Scotland Office">Scotland Office</a> as a result of the transfer of responsibilities to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government.<sup id="cite_ref-Secretary_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Secretary-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Election_and_term">Election and term</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Election and term"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Nomination_as_First_Minister">Nomination as First Minister</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Nomination as First Minister"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first minister is nominated by the Scottish Parliament at the beginning of each term, by means of an <a href="/wiki/Exhaustive_ballot" title="Exhaustive ballot">exhaustive ballot</a> among its members, and is then formally appointed by the <a href="/wiki/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Monarchy of the United Kingdom">monarch</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Although any member of the Scottish Parliament can be nominated for first minister, the government must maintain the confidence of the Scottish Parliament in order to gain supply (access to exchequer funds) and remain in office. For this reason, every permanent first minister has been the leader of the largest party, or the leader of the senior partner in any majority <a href="/wiki/Coalition" title="Coalition">coalition</a>. There is no term of office for a first minister; they hold office "<a href="/wiki/At_His_Majesty%27s_pleasure" title="At His Majesty's pleasure">at His Majesty's pleasure</a>". In practice, a first minister cannot remain in office against the will of the Scottish Parliament; indeed, the Scotland Act explicitly requires the first minister to either resign or seek a parliamentary dissolution (and with it, new elections) if his or her government "no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament." Whenever the office of first minister falls vacant, the sovereign is responsible for appointing the new incumbent upon nomination by the Scottish Parliament; the appointment is formalised at a meeting between the sovereign and the first minister designate.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Given the <a href="/wiki/Additional_member_system" class="mw-redirect" title="Additional member system">additional member system</a> used to elect its members, it is difficult for a single party to gain an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.<sup id="cite_ref-pr_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pr-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The SNP did gain an overall majority of seats in the <a href="/wiki/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election" title="2011 Scottish Parliament election">2011 election</a>, and thus had enough numbers to vote in its leader, <a href="/wiki/Alex_Salmond" title="Alex Salmond">Alex Salmond</a>, as first minister for a second term. </p><p>After the <a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland" title="Elections in Scotland">election of the Scottish Parliament</a>, a first minister must be nominated within a period of 28 days.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Under the terms of the Scotland Act, if the Parliament fails to nominate a first minister, within this time frame, it will be dissolved and a fresh election held.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> If an incumbent first minister is defeated in a general election, they do not immediately vacate office. The first minister only leaves office when the Scottish Parliament nominates a successor individual.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Oath_of_office">Oath of office</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Oath of office"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After accepting office, the first minister takes the <a href="/wiki/Official_Oath" class="mw-redirect" title="Official Oath">Official Oath</a>, as set out in the Promissory Oaths Act 1868.<sup id="cite_ref-oath_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-oath-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The oath is tendered by the <a href="/wiki/Lord_President_of_the_Court_of_Session" title="Lord President of the Court of Session">Lord President of the Court of Session</a> at a sitting of the Court in <a href="/wiki/Parliament_House,_Edinburgh" title="Parliament House, Edinburgh">Parliament House</a> in Edinburgh.<sup id="cite_ref-oath_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-oath-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The oath is: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>I, [<i>name</i>], do swear that I will well and truly serve His Majesty King Charles in the office of first minister of the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Government</a>, So help me God.</p></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Term_in_office">Term in office</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Term in office"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Court_of_Session_(53707036026).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg/220px-Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg/330px-Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg/440px-Court_of_Session_%2853707036026%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="9215" data-file-height="5471" /></a><figcaption>First Minister John Swinney taking the oath of office at the <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Session" title="Court of Session">Court of Session</a></figcaption></figure> <p>The period in office of a first minister is not linked to the term of <a href="/wiki/Members_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Members of the Scottish Parliament">members of the Scottish Parliament</a>. The Scotland Act set out a four-year maximum term for each session of Parliament.<sup id="cite_ref-elections_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elections-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Act specifies than an election to the Scottish Parliament will be held on the first Thursday in May, every four years, starting from 1999.<sup id="cite_ref-elections_16-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elections-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Parliament can be dissolved and an extraordinary general election held, before the expiration of the four-year term, but only if two-thirds (or more) of elected MSPs vote for such action in a resolution of the Scottish Parliament. If a simple majority of MSPs voted a no-confidence motion in the first minister or government, that would trigger a 28-day period for the nomination of a replacement; should that time period expire without the nomination of a new first minister, then an extraordinary election would have to be called.<sup id="cite_ref-elections2_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elections2-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The first minister, once appointed, continues in office as the head of the Scottish Government until they resign, are dismissed or die in office. Resignation can be triggered by the passage of a <a href="/wiki/Motion_of_No_Confidence" class="mw-redirect" title="Motion of No Confidence">Motion of No Confidence</a> in the first minister or the Scottish Government or by rejecting a <a href="/wiki/Motion_of_confidence" class="mw-redirect" title="Motion of confidence">motion of confidence</a> in the Scottish Parliament.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In those situations, the first minister must tender their resignation and the resignation of their government.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In such circumstances, the <a href="/wiki/Presiding_Officer_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament">presiding officer</a> would appoint an interim first minister, until the Scottish Parliament determined on a new nominee to be appointed by the monarch.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During their tenure in office, the First Minister is supported by the <a href="/wiki/Chief_of_Staff_to_the_First_Minister" title="Chief of Staff to the First Minister">Chief of Staff to the First Minister</a>, who acts at the first minister's principal adviser on the first minister's strategic programme in government, inter-governmental relations, co-ordination of the team of special advisers to the first minister.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legislative_powers">Legislative powers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Legislative powers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Scots_Law_and_civil_service">Scots Law and civil service</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Scots Law and civil service"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg/220px-Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg/330px-Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg/440px-Ruth_Charteris_and_Dorothy_Bain_at_Court_of_Session.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1152" /></a><figcaption>Scotland's law officers – the <a href="/wiki/Lord_Advocate" title="Lord Advocate">Lord Advocate</a> and <a href="/wiki/Solicitor_General_for_Scotland" title="Solicitor General for Scotland">Solicitor General for Scotland</a></figcaption></figure> <p>As detailed in the Scotland Act 1998, the First Minister is responsible for recommending to the monarch a nominee for the position of <a href="/wiki/Lord_Advocate" title="Lord Advocate">Lord Advocate</a> and <a href="/wiki/Solicitor_General_for_Scotland" title="Solicitor General for Scotland">Solicitor General for Scotland</a>. The First Minister is also responsible for advocating whether a Lord Advocate or Solicitor General who is currently in post should be removed, subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Additionally, the First Minister has various functions and responsibilities regarding the appointments and removal of Scottish judges within the Scottish court system.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Permanent_Secretary_to_the_Scottish_Government" title="Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government">Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government</a> is nominated by the First Minister. The permanent secretary is the most senior civil servant in Scotland who serves to promote, implement, develop and communicating the Scottish Government's policy agenda. The First Minister is directly responsible for the management of the civil service in Scotland, as well as civil service staff within the Scottish Government.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The First Minister has responsibility in respect of the exercise of operation and functions during vacancies which may arise in the offices of Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice Clerk and the incapacity of the holders of those offices as outlined in the Senior Judiciary (Vacancies and Incapacity)(Scotland) Act 2006.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Additionally, the First Minister considers any action relating to recommendations made by the Standards Commission or Chief Investigating Officer in regards of Crown Appointments under Section 23 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The First Minister is an official consultee regarding selections for membership of the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Supreme Court of the United Kingdom">Supreme Court</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Security_and_intelligence">Security and intelligence</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Security and intelligence"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png/220px-Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png/330px-Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png/440px-Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room.png 2x" data-file-width="1106" data-file-height="503" /></a><figcaption>The Scottish Government Resilience Room in operation, chaired by the First Minister</figcaption></figure> <p>The Office of the First Minister has responsibility for all functions relating to reports made by the Interception of Communications Commissioner and Intelligence Services Commissioner as detailed in both Sections 58 and 60 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> During times of national crisis, such as flooding, terror attacks or public health emergencies, the First Minister chairs the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government_Resilience_Room" title="Scottish Government Resilience Room">Scottish Government Resilience Room</a> (SGoRR).<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The function of the resilience room committee is to co-ordinate policy and response to major events in Scotland that affect the population and, with the help of specialist teams within the division assist department, develop detailed risk assessments which are used to inform policy across Scotland.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There are currently different levels of resilience response in Scotland which is overseen by the First Minister and Scottish Government ministers:<sup id="cite_ref-Safer_Scotland_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Safer_Scotland-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>Cabinet Sub-Committee: Scottish Government Resilience CSC</li> <li>The Scottish Resilience Partnership (SRP)</li> <li>Scottish Government Resilience (Ministerial): SGoR(M)</li> <li>Scottish Government Resilience (Officials): SGoR(O)</li> <li>Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR)</li></ul> <p>The First Minister is directly responsible for each of the corresponding resilience levels in Scotland, and has the responsibility of the Scottish Government Liaison Offices who can be deployed in emergencies and national crisis to act as the principal point of contact for the First Minister, Scottish Government and other Scottish ministers.<sup id="cite_ref-Safer_Scotland_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Safer_Scotland-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>If a crisis or emergency is considered to affect the entirely of either the United Kingdom or the British Isles, such as the <a href="/wiki/2007_Glasgow_Airport_attack" title="2007 Glasgow Airport attack">2007 Glasgow Airport attack</a>, the UK Government and Scottish Government (along with the governments of both Wales and Northern Ireland), will develop a co-ordinate response to a UK wide emergency or crisis.<sup id="cite_ref-Safer_Scotland_22-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Safer_Scotland-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The First Minister is directly responsible for co-ordinating this policy and would be called to attend the UK Government's emergency room, <a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Office_Briefing_Rooms" title="Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms">COBRA</a>, for instances such as a significant terrorist attack, a serious outbreak of animal disease or emergencies affecting large numbers of British citizens overseas.<sup id="cite_ref-Safer_Scotland_22-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Safer_Scotland-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal">Keeper of the Great Seal</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Keeper of the Great Seal"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The First Minister is the <a href="/wiki/Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland">Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland</a> which is considered to be one of the highest privileges of the office. The First Minister has additional responsibility over how Wafer Scottish Seals are to be kept and how they are to be taken under section 38(4) & 38(5)(b) of the Scotland Act. The First Minister has the power to sign royal warrants on behalf of the monarch.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>As Keeper of the Great Seal, First Minister Humza Yousaf was the first First Minister to oversee the departure of the <a href="/wiki/Stone_of_Scone" title="Stone of Scone">Stone of Scone</a>, an ancient symbol of Scotland's nationhood, for <a href="/wiki/Westminster_Abbey" title="Westminster Abbey">Westminster Abbey</a> for usage in the <a href="/wiki/Coronation_of_Charles_III_and_Camilla" title="Coronation of Charles III and Camilla">Coronation of Charles III and Camilla</a> on 6 May.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Privy_Council">Privy Council</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Privy Council"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg/220px-Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="155" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg/330px-Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg/440px-Jack_McConnell_issued_the_Royal_Warrant_by_the_Queen.jpg 2x" data-file-width="683" data-file-height="480" /></a><figcaption>The First Minister becomes a member of the Privy Council upon receiving the Royal Warrant from the monarch</figcaption></figure> <p>The First Minister is a member of the Privy Council and is appointed by the Monarch. There are a variety of matters in which the Prime Minister would offer advice to the monarch on the exercise of their functions and on which it would be appropriate for the Prime Minister to consult or to take advice from the First Minister. Such matters include the recommendations of Scottish candidates for honours and dignities, which are currently a reserved matter under the devolution settlement, and advice on the appointment of the Lords Lieutenants in Scotland, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and members of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the Forestry Commission. There are also matters where a Minister of the Crown gives advice to the reigning monarch and the First Minister would need to be consulted by the Minister of the Crown, or would be required to give advice to that Minister of the Crown.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Scotland Act 1998 confers upon the First Minister various functions of advising the monarch directly. Such functions include seeking the monarch's approval regarding the appointment of Scottish Ministers as well as recommending to the monarch nominations for appointment as Scottish Law Officers. Section 95 of the Scotland Act highlights the arrangements for the First Minister to nominate for the appointment as Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice Clerk. Additionally, the Scotland Act also grants the First Minister to recommend to the monarch the appointment of other judges.<sup id="cite_ref-Parliament.uk_19-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Parliament.uk-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Executive_powers">Executive powers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Executive powers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The First Minister is the head of the Scottish Government and is responsible for the overall development, implementation and presentation of the government's policies, as well as responsible promoting and representing Scotland at home and overseas.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The role and powers of the first minister are set out in sections 45 to 49 of the <a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_1998" title="Scotland Act 1998">Scotland Act 1998</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-powers_13-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-powers-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Cabinet_appointments">Cabinet appointments</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Cabinet appointments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Cabinet_meeting.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Cabinet_meeting.jpg/220px-Cabinet_meeting.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="129" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Cabinet_meeting.jpg/330px-Cabinet_meeting.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Cabinet_meeting.jpg/440px-Cabinet_meeting.jpg 2x" data-file-width="8992" data-file-height="5293" /></a><figcaption>The First Minister is responsible for chairing the Scottish Cabinet</figcaption></figure> <p>Following their appointment, the first minister may then nominate <a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_Executive_ministerial_teams" class="mw-redirect" title="List of Scottish Executive ministerial teams">ministers</a> to sit in the Scottish Cabinet and junior ministers to form the Scottish Government. They are then formally elected by the Scottish Parliament. Ministers hold office at His Majesty's Pleasure and may be removed from office, at any time, by the first minister. The first minister also has the power to appoint the law officers and chief legal officers of the Scottish Government – the <a href="/wiki/Lord_advocate" class="mw-redirect" title="Lord advocate">lord advocate</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Solicitor_General_for_Scotland" title="Solicitor General for Scotland">solicitor general</a> but only with the support of the Scottish Parliament. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Accountability_to_parliament">Accountability to parliament</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Accountability to parliament"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first minister is responsible to the Scottish Parliament for their actions and the actions of the overall Scottish Government. MSPs can scrutinise the activities of the first minister and their Cabinet by tabling written questions or by asking oral questions in the Scottish Parliament. Direct questioning of the first minister takes place at <a href="/wiki/First_Minister%27s_Questions_(Scottish_Parliament)" title="First Minister's Questions (Scottish Parliament)">First Minister's Questions</a> (FMQs) each Thursday at noon when Parliament is sitting. The 30-minute session enables MSPs to ask questions of the first minister, on any issue. The leaders of the largest opposition parties have an allocation of questions and are allowed to question the first minister each week. Opposition leaders normally ask an opening question to the first minister, relating to their meeting with the Scottish Cabinet, or when they next expect to meet the Prime Minister, and then follow this up by asking a supplementary question on an issue of their choosing. </p><p>In addition to direct questioning, the first minister is also able to deliver oral statements to the Scottish Parliament chamber, after which members are invited to question the first minister on the substance of the statement. For example, at the beginning of each parliamentary term, the first minister normally delivers a statement, setting out the legislative programme of the Government, or a statement of government priorities over the forthcoming term.<sup id="cite_ref-Programme_for_Government_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Programme_for_Government-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Foreign_relations">Foreign relations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Foreign relations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/International_relations_of_Scotland" title="International relations of Scotland">International relations of Scotland</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Henry_McLeish_and_George_W._Bush_in_the_Oval_Office,_2001.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Henry_McLeish_and_George_W._Bush_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_2001.jpg/220px-Henry_McLeish_and_George_W._Bush_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_2001.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="131" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Henry_McLeish_and_George_W._Bush_in_the_Oval_Office%2C_2001.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="298" data-file-height="177" /></a><figcaption>First Minister Henry McLeish meets with U.S. President <a href="/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Oval_Office" title="Oval Office">Oval Office</a> of the <a href="/wiki/White_House" title="White House">White House</a>, 2001</figcaption></figure> <p>Whilst foreign policy remains a reserved matter,<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the Scottish Government, and the First Minister, may promote the economy and Scottish interests on the world stage and encourage foreign businesses, international devolved, regional and central governments to invest in Scotland.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Whilst the first minister usually undertakes a number of international visits to promote Scotland, international relations, European and Commonwealth relations are also included within the portfolios of the <a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Culture,_Tourism_and_External_Affairs" class="mw-redirect" title="Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs">Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs</a> (responsible for international development)<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the <a href="/wiki/Minister_for_International_Development_and_Europe" class="mw-redirect" title="Minister for International Development and Europe">Minister for International Development and Europe</a> (responsible for European Union relations and international relations).<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Overall, accountability for intergovernmental relations is the responsibility of the First Minister.<sup id="cite_ref-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk_30-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The First Minister is a member of the <a href="/wiki/Intergovernmental_relations_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom">Heads of Government Council</a> ("The Council") (previously the Joint Ministerial Committee) and the <a href="/wiki/Council_of_Nations_and_Regions" class="mw-redirect" title="Council of Nations and Regions">Council of Nations and Regions</a>. Other cabinet secretaries and junior ministers within the Scottish Government participate in tier two (the Inter-ministerial Standing Committee) and tier 3 (the Inter-ministerial Group) of The Council which may include areas including education, finance and economy, investment and trade and rural affairs.<sup id="cite_ref-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk_30-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The First Minister represents Scotland at the annual <a href="/wiki/British-Irish_Council" class="mw-redirect" title="British-Irish Council">British-Irish Council</a> summits.<sup id="cite_ref-First_Minister_leads_Scottish_delegation_to_British-Irish_Council_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-First_Minister_leads_Scottish_delegation_to_British-Irish_Council-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Deputy_and_'Acting'_First_Minister"><span id="Deputy_and_.27Acting.27_First_Minister"></span>Deputy and 'Acting' First Minister</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Deputy and 'Acting' First Minister"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg/220px-First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg/330px-First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg/440px-First_Minister_Nicola_Sturgeon_and_Deputy_First_Minister_John_Swinney.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5028" data-file-height="3327" /></a><figcaption>The First Minister is supported by the Deputy First Minister</figcaption></figure> <p>Associated with the office of first minister, there is also the post of <a href="/wiki/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland" title="Deputy First Minister of Scotland">deputy first minister</a>. Unlike the office of first minister, the post of deputy is not recognised in statute and confers no extra status on the holder. Like the first minister, the deputy first minister is an elected member of the Scottish Parliament and a member of the Scottish Government. From 1999 to 2007, when Scotland was governed by a Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition, the leader of the Liberal Democrats – the junior government party – was given the role of deputy first minister; a title which they held in conjunction with another ministerial portfolio. For example, <a href="/wiki/Nicol_Stephen" title="Nicol Stephen">Nicol Stephen</a>, deputy first minister from 2005 to 2007, simultaneously held the post of <a href="/wiki/Minister_for_Enterprise_and_Lifelong_Learning" title="Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning">Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning</a>. </p><p>On two occasions since 1999, the deputy first minister has assumed the role of 'acting' first minister, inheriting the powers of the first minister in their absence or incapacitation. From 11 October 2000 to 26 October 2000, following the death in office of the then First Minister <a href="/wiki/Donald_Dewar" title="Donald Dewar">Donald Dewar</a>, his deputy <a href="/wiki/Jim_Wallace,_Baron_Wallace_of_Tankerness" title="Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness">Jim Wallace</a> became acting first minister, until the Labour party appointed a new leader, and consequently first minister.<sup id="cite_ref-acting_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-acting-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Wallace also became Acting First Minister between 8 November 2001 and 22 November 2001, following the resignation of <a href="/wiki/Henry_McLeish" title="Henry McLeish">Henry McLeish</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-acting_32-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-acting-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An officer with such a title need not always exist; rather, the existence of the post is dependent on the form of Cabinet organisation preferred by the first minister and their party. The deputy first minister does not automatically succeed if a vacancy in the premiership is suddenly created. It may be necessary for the deputy to stand in for the first minister on occasion, for example by taking the <a href="/wiki/Floor_(legislative)" title="Floor (legislative)">floor</a> at First Minister's Questions. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Precedence_and_privileges">Precedence and privileges</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Precedence and privileges"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Royal_Banner_of_Scotland,_Holyrood_Palace.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg/220px-Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg/330px-Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg/440px-Royal_Banner_of_Scotland%2C_Holyrood_Palace.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2560" data-file-height="1920" /></a><figcaption>The first minister as <i><a href="/wiki/Ex_officio" class="mw-redirect" title="Ex officio">ex officio</a></i> the keeper of the <a href="/wiki/Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Great Seal of Scotland">Great Seal of Scotland</a> is permitted to fly the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Banner_of_Scotland" title="Royal Banner of Scotland">Royal Banner of Scotland</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The first minister is, by virtue of section 45(7) of the Scotland Act 1998, <i><a href="/wiki/Ex_officio" class="mw-redirect" title="Ex officio">ex officio</a></i> the keeper of the <a href="/wiki/Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Great Seal of Scotland">Great Seal of Scotland</a> and their place in the <a href="/wiki/Order_of_precedence_in_Scotland" title="Order of precedence in Scotland">order of precedence in Scotland</a> is determined by the holding of that office.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-precedence_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-precedence-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The scale of precedence in Scotland was amended by <a href="/wiki/Warrant_(law)" title="Warrant (law)">royal warrant</a> on 30 June 1999 to take account of devolution and the establishment of the post of first minister.<sup id="cite_ref-precedence_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-precedence-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The amended scale reflected the transfer of the office of keeper of the Great Seal from the secretary of state for Scotland to the first minister and also created a rank for the <a href="/wiki/Presiding_officer_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament">presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-precedence_34-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-precedence-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Throughout Scotland, the first minister outranks all others except the <a href="/wiki/British_Royal_Family" class="mw-redirect" title="British Royal Family">royal family</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lord_lieutenant" class="mw-redirect" title="Lord lieutenant">lord lieutenants</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Sheriff_principal" title="Sheriff principal">sheriff principal</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Lord_Chancellor" title="Lord Chancellor">Lord Chancellor</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Moderator_of_the_General_Assembly_of_the_Church_of_Scotland" title="Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland">moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Prime_minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Prime minister of the United Kingdom">prime minister of the United Kingdom</a>, <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_prime_ministers" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth prime ministers">Commonwealth prime ministers</a> (whilst in the United Kingdom), the <a href="/wiki/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_(United_Kingdom)" title="Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)">speaker of the House of Commons</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Lord_Speaker" title="Lord Speaker">Lord Speaker</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-precedence_34-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-precedence-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As keeper of the Great Seal, the first minister is entitled to fly the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Banner_of_Scotland" title="Royal Banner of Scotland">Royal Banner of Scotland</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>As of April 2015, the first minister is entitled to draw a total salary of £144,687, which is composed of a basic MSP salary of £59,089 plus an additional salary of £85,598 for the role as first minister.<sup id="cite_ref-pay_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pay-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This can be compared to the UK Prime Minister who is entitled to draw a total salary of £142,500, composed of a basic <a href="/wiki/Member_of_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Member of Parliament">MP</a> salary of £67,060 and an additional office holder's salary of £75,440 (the total entitlement for the prime minister had peaked at £198,661 in April 2011 but this was then dropped by around 25%).<sup id="cite_ref-salary_37-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-salary-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The first minister is the highest paid member of the Scottish Government. Sturgeon said she would claim £135,605, £9,082 less than her entitlement, as part of a voluntary pay freeze pegging her salary to 2008/09 levels.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The first minister traditionally resides at <a href="/wiki/Bute_House" title="Bute House">Bute House</a> which is located at number 6 <a href="/wiki/Charlotte_Square" title="Charlotte Square">Charlotte Square</a> in the <a href="/wiki/New_Town,_Edinburgh" title="New Town, Edinburgh">New Town</a> of <a href="/wiki/Edinburgh" title="Edinburgh">Edinburgh</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Bute_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bute-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The house became the property of the <a href="/wiki/National_Trust_for_Scotland" title="National Trust for Scotland">National Trust for Scotland</a> in 1966, after the death of the previous owner <a href="/wiki/John_Crichton-Stuart,_4th_Marquess_of_Bute" title="John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute">John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute</a> and remains in the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland.<sup id="cite_ref-Bute_39-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bute-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Prior to devolution, Bute House was the official residence of the Secretary of State for Scotland.<sup id="cite_ref-Bute_39-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bute-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Weekly meetings of the Scottish Cabinet take place in the Cabinet room of the house.<sup id="cite_ref-Bute_39-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bute-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Bute House is also where the first minister holds press conferences, hosts visiting dignitaries and employs and dismisses government Ministers. The Office of the First Minister is located at <a href="/wiki/St_Andrews_House" class="mw-redirect" title="St Andrews House">St Andrews House</a> in Edinburgh.<sup id="cite_ref-offices_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-offices-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Appointments to the <a href="/wiki/Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Privy Council of the United Kingdom">Privy Council of the United Kingdom</a> are made by the <a href="/wiki/Monarch_of_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Monarch of the United Kingdom">monarch</a>, although in practice they are made only on the advice of the <a href="/wiki/UK_government" class="mw-redirect" title="UK government">UK government</a>. To date all first ministers have been appointed <a href="/wiki/List_of_current_members_of_the_British_Privy_Council" title="List of current members of the British Privy Council">members</a> of the Privy Council, and therefore entitled to use the style '<a href="/wiki/Right_Honourable" class="mw-redirect" title="Right Honourable">Right Honourable</a>'. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-packed" style="text-align: center;"> <li class="gallerycaption">Privileges of office of First Minister</li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 212.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 210.66666666667px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bute_House,_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Official Residence, Bute House at 6 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh"><img alt="Official Residence, Bute House at 6 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG/316px-Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG" decoding="async" width="211" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG/475px-Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG/633px-Bute_House%2C_Charlotte_Square_Edinburgh.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3948" data-file-height="2248" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Official Residence, <a href="/wiki/Bute_House" title="Bute House">Bute House</a> at 6 Charlotte Square in <a href="/wiki/Edinburgh" title="Edinburgh">Edinburgh</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180.66666666667px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:St_Andrew%27s_House,_Edinburgh_(2496437377).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The First Minister has an office at St Andrew's House"><img alt="The First Minister has an office at St Andrew's House" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg/271px-St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="181" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg/407px-St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg/543px-St_Andrew%27s_House%2C_Edinburgh_%282496437377%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3215" data-file-height="2134" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The First Minister has an office at <a href="/wiki/St_Andrew%27s_House" title="St Andrew's House">St Andrew's House</a> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="One of the vehicles used by the Office of the First Minister, the Tesla Model 3[40]"><img alt="One of the vehicles used by the Office of the First Minister, the Tesla Model 3[40]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg/270px-Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg" decoding="async" width="180" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg/405px-Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg/540px-Tesla_Model_3_Monaco_IMG_1212.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4319" data-file-height="2879" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">One of the vehicles used by the Office of the First Minister, the <a href="/wiki/Tesla_Model_3" title="Tesla Model 3">Tesla Model 3</a><sup id="cite_ref-heraldscotland.com_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heraldscotland.com-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 252px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 250px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The First Minister, and other ministers, also use the Kia Optima[40]"><img alt="The First Minister, and other ministers, also use the Kia Optima[40]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg/375px-20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg/562px-20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg/749px-20100731_kia_k5_01.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1330" data-file-height="640" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The First Minister, and other ministers, also use the <a href="/wiki/Kia_Optima" class="mw-redirect" title="Kia Optima">Kia Optima</a><sup id="cite_ref-heraldscotland.com_41-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heraldscotland.com-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 110px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 108px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Local_Heroes_Design_Project_(48127431913).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The First Minister has an office within the Scottish Parliament building"><img alt="The First Minister has an office within the Scottish Parliament building" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg/162px-Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="108" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg/243px-Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg/324px-Local_Heroes_Design_Project_%2848127431913%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3906" data-file-height="4336" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The First Minister has an office within the <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament_building" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Parliament building">Scottish Parliament building</a></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="List_of_nominating_elections">List of nominating elections</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: List of nominating elections"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="7">Party key </th> <td style="background: #0087DC"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Conservatives" title="Scottish Conservatives">Scottish Conservatives</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #E4003B"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Labour" title="Scottish Labour">Scottish Labour</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #FAA61A"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Liberal_Democrats" title="Scottish Liberal Democrats">Scottish Liberal Democrats</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #FDF38E"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_National_Party" title="Scottish National Party">Scottish National Party</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #00B140"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Greens" title="Scottish Greens">Scottish Greens</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #ff0000"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Socialist_Party" title="Scottish Socialist Party">Scottish Socialist Party</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background: #DCDCDC"> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Independent_politician" title="Independent politician">Independent</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption>First Minister nominative elections </caption> <tbody><tr> <th>Parliamentary term </th> <th>Date </th> <th colspan="1">Candidates </th> <th>Votes received </th></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="12"><a href="/wiki/1st_Scottish_Parliament" title="1st Scottish Parliament">1st Parliament</a> </td> <td rowspan="4">13 May 1999<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r981673959">.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}</style><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Donald_Dewar" title="Donald Dewar">Donald Dewar</a></b> </td> <td><b>71</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Alex Salmond </td> <td>35 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/David_McLetchie" title="David McLetchie">David McLetchie</a> </td> <td>17 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#DCDCDC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Dennis_Canavan" title="Dennis Canavan">Dennis Canavan</a> </td> <td>3 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">26 October 2000<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Henry_McLeish" title="Henry McLeish">Henry McLeish</a></b> </td> <td><b>68</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a> </td> <td>33 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> David McLetchie </td> <td>19 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#DCDCDC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Dennis Canavan </td> <td>3 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">22 November 2001<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Jack_McConnell" title="Jack McConnell">Jack McConnell</a></b> </td> <td><b>70</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> John Swinney </td> <td>34 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> David McLetchie </td> <td>19 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#DCDCDC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Dennis Canavan </td> <td>3 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="7"><a href="/wiki/2nd_Scottish_Parliament" title="2nd Scottish Parliament">2nd Parliament</a> </td> <td rowspan="7">15 May 2003<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b>Jack McConnell</b> </td> <td><b>67</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> John Swinney </td> <td>26 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> David McLetchie </td> <td>18 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#00B140; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Robin_Harper" title="Robin Harper">Robin Harper</a> </td> <td>6 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#ff0000; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Tommy_Sheridan" title="Tommy Sheridan">Tommy Sheridan</a> </td> <td>6 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#DCDCDC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Dennis Canavan </td> <td>2 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#DCDCDC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Margo_MacDonald" title="Margo MacDonald">Margo MacDonald</a> </td> <td>2 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/3rd_Scottish_Parliament" title="3rd Scottish Parliament">3rd Parliament</a> </td> <td rowspan="2">16 May 2007<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Alex_Salmond" title="Alex Salmond">Alex Salmond</a></b> </td> <td><b>49</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Jack McConnell </td> <td>46 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3"><a href="/wiki/4th_Scottish_Parliament" title="4th Scottish Parliament">4th Parliament</a> </td> <td>18 May 2011<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b>Alex Salmond</b> </td> <td><b>68</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2">19 November 2014<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Nicola_Sturgeon" title="Nicola Sturgeon">Nicola Sturgeon</a></b> </td> <td><b>66</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Ruth_Davidson" title="Ruth Davidson">Ruth Davidson</a> </td> <td>15 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/5th_Scottish_Parliament" title="5th Scottish Parliament">5th Parliament</a> </td> <td rowspan="2">17 May 2016<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b>Nicola Sturgeon</b> </td> <td><b>63</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FAA61A; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Willie_Rennie" title="Willie Rennie">Willie Rennie</a> </td> <td>5 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="11"><a href="/wiki/6th_Scottish_Parliament" title="6th Scottish Parliament">6th Parliament</a> </td> <td rowspan="3">18 May 2021<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b>Nicola Sturgeon</b> </td> <td><b>64</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Douglas_Ross_(Scottish_politician)" title="Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)">Douglas Ross</a> </td> <td>31 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FAA61A; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Willie Rennie </td> <td>4 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">28 March 2023<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/Humza_Yousaf" title="Humza Yousaf">Humza Yousaf</a></b> </td> <td><b>71</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Douglas Ross </td> <td>31 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Anas_Sarwar" title="Anas Sarwar">Anas Sarwar</a> </td> <td>22 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FAA61A; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <a href="/wiki/Alex_Cole-Hamilton" title="Alex Cole-Hamilton">Alex Cole-Hamilton</a> </td> <td>4 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">7 May 2024 </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FDF38E; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> <b><a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a></b> </td> <td><b>64</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#0087DC; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Douglas Ross </td> <td>31 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#E4003B; color:white;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Anas Sarwar </td> <td>22 </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r981673959"><span class="legend-color mw-no-invert" style="background-color:#FAA61A; color:black;border:1px solid darkgray;"> </span> Alex Cole-Hamilton </td> <td>4 </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Timeline_of_Scottish_first_ministers">Timeline of Scottish first ministers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Timeline of Scottish first ministers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/List_of_first_ministers_of_Scotland" title="List of first ministers of Scotland">List of first ministers of Scotland</a></div> <div class="timeline-wrapper"><map name="timeline_j4dg794ugfkhtm2rmi0gutcjp7jbnc5"><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/John_Swinney" coords="882,112,1000,136" title="John Swinney" alt="John Swinney" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Humza_Yousaf" coords="863,96,981,120" title="Humza Yousaf" alt="Humza Yousaf" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Nicola_Sturgeon" coords="825,80,963,104" title="Nicola Sturgeon" alt="Nicola Sturgeon" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Alex_Salmond" coords="539,64,658,88" title="Alex Salmond" alt="Alex Salmond" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Jack_McConnell" coords="283,49,414,73" title="Jack McConnell" alt="Jack McConnell" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Henry_McLeish" coords="94,33,219,57" title="Henry McLeish" alt="Henry McLeish" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Jim_Wallace" coords="96,17,208,41" title="Jim Wallace" alt="Jim Wallace" /><area shape="rect" href="/wiki/Donald_Dewar" coords="58,1,176,25" title="Donald Dewar" alt="Donald Dewar" /></map><img usemap="#timeline_j4dg794ugfkhtm2rmi0gutcjp7jbnc5" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/j4dg794ugfkhtm2rmi0gutcjp7jbnc5.png" /></div> <p><br /> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom_and_dependencies" title="List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies">List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The previous First Minister, <a href="/wiki/Nicola_Sturgeon" title="Nicola Sturgeon">Nicola Sturgeon</a>, froze her salary at £140,496 (2008–09 levels) when she took office and donated the additional pay back to the Scottish government.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 35em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://insideros.blog/2016/05/18/thekeeper-the-great-seal-of-scotland/">"The Keeper"</a>. <i>insideros.blog</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 April</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=insideros.blog&rft.atitle=The+Keeper&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Finsideros.blog%2F2016%2F05%2F18%2Fthekeeper-the-great-seal-of-scotland%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/nicola-sturgeon-named-as-global-advocate-for-un-gender-equality-campaign-37790006.html">"Nicola Sturgeon named as global advocate for UN gender equality campaign"</a>. BelfastTelegraph. 6 February 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 January</span> 2020</span>. <q>UN under-secretary-general Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "It is my honour to announce today her excellency Ms Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, as an inaugural HeForShe global advocate for gender equality.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Nicola+Sturgeon+named+as+global+advocate+for+UN+gender+equality+campaign&rft.pub=BelfastTelegraph&rft.date=2019-02-06&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Fnicola-sturgeon-named-as-global-advocate-for-un-gender-equality-campaign-37790006.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64537218">"Five things about Scottish politicians' tax returns"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/BBC_News_Online" title="BBC News Online">BBC News Online</a></i>. 7 February 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News+Online&rft.atitle=Five+things+about+Scottish+politicians%27+tax+returns&rft.date=2023-02-07&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-scotland-politics-64537218&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.parliament.scot/msps/msp-salaries">"MSP salaries"</a>. <i>parliament.scot</i>. <a href="/wiki/The_Scottish_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="The Scottish Parliament">The Scottish Parliament</a>. 5 April 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=parliament.scot&rft.atitle=MSP+salaries&rft.date=2023-04-05&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.parliament.scot%2Fmsps%2Fmsp-salaries&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://insideros.blog/2016/05/18/thekeeper-the-great-seal-of-scotland/">"The Keeper - The Great Seal of Scotland"</a>. <i>insideros.blog</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 April</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Bute+House&rft.pub=Office+of+the+First+Minister+%28Scottish+Government%29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffirstminister.gov.scot%2Fbute-house%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-heraldscotland.com-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-heraldscotland.com_41-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-heraldscotland.com_41-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20003878.elon-musks-tesla-scottish-government-new-ministerial-car-choice/">"Elon Musk's Tesla is Scottish Government new car of choice"</a>. 18 March 2022.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Elon+Musk%27s+Tesla+is+Scottish+Government+new+car+of+choice&rft.date=2022-03-18&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldscotland.com%2Fpolitics%2F20003878.elon-musks-tesla-scottish-government-new-ministerial-car-choice%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/342318.stm">"Dewar wins top job"</a>. <i>BBC</i>. 13 May 1999<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC&rft.atitle=Salmond+elected+as+first+minister&rft.date=2007-05-16&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F1%2Fhi%2Fscotland%2F6659531.stm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13426524">"SNP leader Alex Salmond re-elected as first minister"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. 18 May 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 February</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=SNP+leader+Alex+Salmond+re-elected+as+first+minister&rft.date=2011-05-18&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-13426524&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30118626">"Nicola Sturgeon is elected first minister of Scotland"</a>. <i>BBC News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 January</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=Nicola+Sturgeon+is+elected+first+minister+of+Scotland&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-30118626&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892">"Nicola Sturgeon wins Scottish first minister vote"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. 17 May 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 May</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=Nicola+Sturgeon+wins+Scottish+first+minister+vote&rft.date=2016-05-17&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-scotland-politics-36300892&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57146752">"Nicola Sturgeon re-elected as Scotland's first minister"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. 18 May 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 May</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=Nicola+Sturgeon+re-elected+as+Scotland%27s+first+minister&rft.date=2021-05-18&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-scotland-politics-57146752&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65098609">"Humza Yousaf confirmed as Scotland's new first minister"</a>. <i>BBC News</i>. 28 March 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 March</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft.atitle=Humza+Yousaf+confirmed+as+Scotland%27s+new+first+minister&rft.date=2023-03-28&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fuk-scotland-scotland-politics-65098609&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+Minister+of+Scotland" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_Minister_of_Scotland&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.firstminister.gov.scot/">Office of the First Minister of Scotland website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gov.scot/About/">Scottish Cabinet</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx">Scottish Parliament Official Report</a></li></ul> <table class="wikitable succession-box noprint" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:small;clear:both;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #cfc;"><a href="/wiki/Order_of_precedence_in_Scotland" title="Order of precedence in Scotland">Order of precedence in Scotland</a> </th></tr> <tr style="text-align:center;"> <td style="width:30%;" rowspan="1">Preceded by<div style="font-weight: bold"><a href="/wiki/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_(United_Kingdom)" title="Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)">Speaker of the House of Commons</a></div> </td> <td style="width: 40%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1"><b> <a href="/wiki/Order_of_precedence_in_Scotland" title="Order of precedence in Scotland">Order of Precedence</a><br />(gentlemen) </b> </td> <td style="width: 30%; text-align: center;" rowspan="1">Succeeded by<div style="font-weight: bold"><a href="/wiki/Presiding_Officer_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament">Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament</a></div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output 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government</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#BFD7FF;"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#BFD7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland" title="Deputy First Minister of Scotland">Deputy First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kate_Forbes" title="Kate Forbes">Kate Forbes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#BFD7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Cabinet_secretary" title="Cabinet secretary">Cabinet Secretaries</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Kate_Forbes" title="Kate Forbes">Kate Forbes</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Economy_and_Gaelic" title="Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic">Economy and Gaelic</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Shona_Robison" title="Shona Robison">Shona Robison</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Finance_and_Local_Government" title="Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government">Finance and Local Government</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Neil_Gray" title="Neil Gray">Neil Gray</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Health_and_Social_Care_(Scotland)" title="Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Scotland)">Health and Social Care</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jenny_Gilruth" title="Jenny Gilruth">Jenny Gilruth</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Education_and_Skills" title="Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills">Education and Skills</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/M%C3%A0iri_McAllan" title="Màiri McAllan">Màiri McAllan</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Net_Zero_and_Energy" title="Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy">Net Zero and Energy</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Fiona_Hyslop" title="Fiona Hyslop">Fiona Hyslop</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Transport_(Scotland)" title="Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Scotland)">Transport</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Mairi_Gougeon" title="Mairi Gougeon">Mairi Gougeon</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Rural_Affairs,_Land_Reform_and_Islands" title="Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands">Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Angus_Robertson" title="Angus Robertson">Angus Robertson</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_the_Constitution,_External_Affairs_and_Culture" title="Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture">Constitution, External Affairs and Culture</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Shirley-Anne_Somerville" title="Shirley-Anne Somerville">Shirley-Anne Somerville</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Social_Justice" title="Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice">Social Justice</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Angela_Constance" title="Angela Constance">Angela Constance</a> (<a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Justice_and_Home_Affairs" title="Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs">Justice and Home Affairs</a>)</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#BFD7FF;">May attend cabinet</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Dorothy_Bain" title="Dorothy Bain">Dorothy Bain</a> (<a href="/wiki/Lord_Advocate" title="Lord Advocate">Lord Advocate</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/John-Paul_Marks" title="John-Paul Marks">John-Paul Marks</a> (<a href="/wiki/Permanent_Secretary_to_the_Scottish_Government" title="Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government">Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jamie_Hepburn" title="Jamie Hepburn">Jamie Hepburn</a> (<a href="/wiki/Minister_for_Parliamentary_Business" class="mw-redirect" title="Minister for Parliamentary Business">Minister for Parliamentary Business</a>)</span></li> <li><span class="nowrap">Colin McAllister (<a href="/wiki/Chief_of_Staff_to_the_First_Minister" title="Chief of Staff to the First Minister">Chief of Staff to the First Minister</a>)</span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2" style="background:#BFD7FF;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Members_of_the_Scottish_Cabinet" title="Category:Members of the Scottish Cabinet">Category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland" title="Politics of Scotland">Politics of Scotland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Scottish_devolution" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Scottish_devolution" title="Template:Scottish devolution"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Scottish_devolution" title="Template talk:Scottish devolution"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Scottish_devolution" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Scottish devolution"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Scottish_devolution" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_devolution" title="Scottish devolution">Scottish devolution</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="/wiki/Devolution_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Devolution in the United Kingdom">Devolution in the United Kingdom</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Referendums</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1979_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1979 Scottish devolution referendum">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1997_Scottish_devolution_referendum" title="1997 Scottish devolution referendum">1997</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">devolved bodies</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish parliament">Scottish parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_Governments" class="mw-redirect" title="List of Scottish Governments">(list)</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">first minister</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_First_Ministers_of_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="List of First Ministers of Scotland">(list)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Commissions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">UK Parliament commissions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Commission_on_the_Constitution_(United_Kingdom)" title="Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)">Kilbrandon Commission</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Scottish parliament commissions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Commission_on_Scottish_Devolution" title="Commission on Scottish Devolution">Calman Commission</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smith_Commission" title="Smith Commission">Smith Commission</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Devolution legislation</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_1998" title="Scotland Act 1998">1998</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_2012" title="Scotland Act 2012">2012</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Act_2016" title="Scotland Act 2016">2016</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Devolved,_reserved_and_excepted_matters" title="Devolved, reserved and excepted matters">Devolved matters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Acts_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Acts of the Scottish Parliament">(Acts)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish law">Scottish law</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Committees</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Affairs_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish Affairs Committee">Scottish Affairs Select Committee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Grand_Committee" title="Scottish Grand Committee">Scottish Grand Committee</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">UK Government departments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cabinet_Office" title="Cabinet Office">Cabinet Office - Devolution Secretariat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_Justice_(United_Kingdom)" title="Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)">Ministry of Justice – Devolution Directorate-General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Advocate_General_for_Scotland" title="Advocate General for Scotland">Office of the Advocate General for Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Office" title="Scotland Office">Scotland Office</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Budget</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Barnett_formula" title="Barnett formula">Barnett formula</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Block_grant" title="Block grant">Block grant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Taxation_in_Scotland" title="Taxation in Scotland">Taxation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Constitution of the United Kingdom">Constitution of the United Kingdom</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Proposed</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Full_fiscal_autonomy_for_Scotland_and_Wales" title="Full fiscal autonomy for Scotland and Wales">Devo-max</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_devolution#Proposed_further_devolution" title="Scottish devolution">Further devolution</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Proposed alternatives to devolution</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Federalism_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Federalism in the United Kingdom">Federalism in the United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposed_United_Kingdom_Confederation" class="mw-redirect" title="Proposed United Kingdom Confederation">Proposed United Kingdom Confederation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_independence" title="Scottish independence">Scottish independence</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><b><span class="nowrap"><span class="mw-image-border noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="flag" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/32px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png" decoding="async" width="32" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/48px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/64px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Scotland" title="Portal:Scotland">Scotland portal</a></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r886047488">.mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Scotland_articles" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Scotland_topics" title="Template:Scotland topics"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Scotland_topics" title="Template talk:Scotland topics"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Scotland_topics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Scotland topics"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Scotland_articles" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a> articles</div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Outline_of_Scotland" title="Outline of Scotland">Outline of Scotland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/History_of_Scotland" title="History of Scotland">History</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_Scottish_history" title="Timeline of Scottish history">Timeline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prehistoric_Scotland" title="Prehistoric Scotland">Prehistoric</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_during_the_Roman_Empire" title="Scotland during the Roman Empire">Roman times</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_Middle_Ages" title="Scotland in the Middle Ages">Middle Ages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_Early_Middle_Ages" title="Scotland in the Early Middle Ages">Early Middle Ages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kingdom_of_Scotland" title="Kingdom of Scotland">Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_High_Middle_Ages" title="Scotland in the High Middle Ages">High Middle Ages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Davidian_Revolution" title="Davidian Revolution">Davidian Revolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wars_of_Scottish_Independence" title="Wars of Scottish Independence">Wars of Independence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_Late_Middle_Ages" title="Scotland in the Late Middle Ages">Late Middle Ages</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Renaissance_in_Scotland" title="Renaissance in Scotland">Renaissance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_early_modern_period" title="Scotland in the early modern period">Early modern</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Reformation" title="Scottish Reformation">Reformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_colonization_of_the_Americas" title="Scottish colonization of the Americas">Colonisation of the Americas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glorious_Revolution_in_Scotland" title="Glorious Revolution in Scotland">Glorious Revolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Treaty_of_Union" title="Treaty of Union">Treaty of Union</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Acts_of_Union_1707" title="Acts of Union 1707">1707 Acts of Union</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jacobitism" title="Jacobitism">Jacobitism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Enlightenment" title="Scottish Enlightenment">Enlightenment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lowland_Clearances" title="Lowland Clearances">Lowland Clearances</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Highland_Clearances" title="Highland Clearances">Highland Clearances</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Industrial_Revolution_in_Scotland" title="Industrial Revolution in Scotland">Industrial Revolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romanticism_in_Scotland" title="Romanticism in Scotland">Romanticism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_in_the_modern_era" title="Scotland in the modern era">Modern</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Geography_of_Scotland" title="Geography of Scotland">Geography</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglo-Scottish_border" title="Anglo-Scottish border">Anglo-Scottish border</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Belt" title="Central Belt">Central Belt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Climate_of_Scotland" title="Climate of Scotland">Climate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservation_in_Scotland" title="Conservation in Scotland">Conservation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fauna_of_Scotland" title="Fauna of Scotland">Fauna</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flora_of_Scotland" title="Flora of Scotland">Flora</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Geology_of_Scotland" title="Geology of Scotland">Geology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Highlands" title="Scottish Highlands">Highlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Scotland" title="List of islands of Scotland">Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_lochs_of_Scotland" title="List of lochs of Scotland">Lochs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Lowlands" title="Scottish Lowlands">Lowlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mountains_and_hills_of_Scotland" title="Mountains and hills of Scotland">Mountains and hills</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_highest_mountains_in_Scotland" title="List of highest mountains in Scotland">Highest</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Scotland" title="Protected areas of Scotland">Protected areas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_in_Scotland" title="List of waterfalls in Scotland">Waterfalls</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_valleys_of_Scotland" title="List of valleys of Scotland">Glens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ecoregions_in_Scotland" title="List of ecoregions in Scotland">Ecoregions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_biosphere_reserves_in_Scotland" title="List of biosphere reserves in Scotland">Biosphere reserves</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Environment_of_Scotland" title="Environment of Scotland">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Municipalities_of_Scotland" title="Municipalities of Scotland">Municipalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Munro_mountains" title="List of Munro mountains">Munro</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland" title="Politics of Scotland">Politics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Government_of_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Government of Scotland">Government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland" title="Politics of Scotland">Politics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Government</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_governments" title="List of Scottish governments">List of governments</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_relations_of_Scotland" title="International relations of Scotland">International relations</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_devolution" title="Scottish devolution">Devolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland" title="Elections in Scotland">Elections</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Scotland" title="Electoral system of Scotland">Electoral system</a></li></ul></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">First Minister</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keeper_of_the_Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland">Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deputy_First_Minister_of_Scotland" title="Deputy First Minister of Scotland">Deputy First Minister</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Great_Seal_of_Scotland" title="Great Seal of Scotland">Great Seal of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Human_rights_in_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Human rights in Scotland">Human rights</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="LGBT rights in Scotland">LGBT rights</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_independence" title="Scottish independence">Independence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Local_government_in_Scotland" title="Local government in Scotland">Local government</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_local_government_in_Scotland" title="History of local government in Scotland">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cities_of_Scotland" title="Cities of Scotland">Cities</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armed_forces_in_Scotland" title="Armed forces in Scotland">Armed forces</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Military_history_of_Scotland" title="Military history of Scotland">Military history</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_monarchs" title="List of Scottish monarchs">Monarchs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_MPs_for_constituencies_in_Scotland" title="Lists of MPs for constituencies in Scotland">Members of Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Parliament" title="Scottish Parliament">Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament" title="Member of the Scottish Parliament">Member of the Scottish Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Scotland" title="List of political parties in Scotland">Political parties</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_republicanism" title="Scottish republicanism">Republicanism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotland_Office" title="Scotland Office">Scotland Office</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Secretary_of_State_for_Scotland" title="Secretary of State for Scotland">Secretary of State</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_nationalism" title="Scottish nationalism">Nationalism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unionism_in_Scotland" title="Unionism in Scotland">Unionism</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Scots_law" title="Scots law">Law</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advocate_General_for_Scotland" title="Advocate General for Scotland">Advocate General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Courts_of_Scotland" title="Courts of Scotland">Courts</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_courts_in_Scotland" title="List of courts in Scotland">List</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supreme_Courts_of_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Supreme Courts of Scotland">Supreme Courts of Scotland</a> (<a href="/wiki/Court_of_Session" title="Court of Session">Court of Session</a>, <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_Justiciary" title="High Court of Justiciary">High Court of Justiciary</a>, <a href="/wiki/Office_of_the_Accountant_of_Court" title="Office of the Accountant of Court">Office of the Accountant of Court</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crown_Office_and_Procurator_Fiscal_Service" title="Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service">Crown Office</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lord_Advocate" title="Lord Advocate">Lord Advocate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lord_President_of_the_Court_of_Session" title="Lord President of the Court of Session">Lord President</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Procurator_fiscal" title="Procurator fiscal">Procurator fiscal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solicitor_General_for_Scotland" title="Solicitor General for Scotland">Solicitor General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sheriff_principal" title="Sheriff principal">Sheriff principal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/College_of_Justice" title="College of Justice">College of Justice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scots_property_law" title="Scots property law">Scots property law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udal_law" title="Udal law">Udal law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prison_population_of_Scotland" title="Prison population of Scotland">Prison population</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Police_Scotland" title="Police Scotland">Police Scotland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Economy_of_Scotland" title="Economy of Scotland">Economy</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Agriculture_in_Scotland" title="Agriculture in Scotland">Agriculture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bank_of_Scotland" title="Bank of Scotland">Bank of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charities_in_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Charities in Scotland">Charities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_companies_of_Scotland" title="List of companies of Scotland">Companies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fishing_industry_in_Scotland" title="Fishing industry in Scotland">Fishing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Forestry_in_Scotland" title="Forestry in Scotland">Forestry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harris_Tweed" class="mw-redirect" title="Harris Tweed">Harris Tweed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Housing_in_Scotland" title="Housing in Scotland">Housing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_of_Scotland" title="Media of Scotland">Media</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oil_industry_in_Scotland" title="Oil industry in Scotland">Oil industry</a> (<a href="/wiki/North_Sea_oil" title="North Sea oil">North Sea oil</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Scotland" title="List of power stations in Scotland">Power stations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Scotland" title="Renewable energy in Scotland">Renewable energy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Bank_of_Scotland" title="Royal Bank of Scotland">Royal Bank of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tourism_in_Scotland" title="Tourism in Scotland">Tourism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transport_in_Scotland" title="Transport in Scotland">Transport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scotch_whisky" title="Scotch whisky">Whisky</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silicon_Glen" title="Silicon Glen">Silicon Glen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unemployment_in_Scotland" title="Unemployment in Scotland">Unemployment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_relations_of_Scotland" title="International relations of Scotland">International trade</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Category:Society_of_Scotland" title="Category:Society of Scotland">Society</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Culture_of_Scotland" title="Culture of Scotland">Culture</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Architecture_of_Scotland" title="Architecture of Scotland">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_art" title="Scottish art">Art</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_clan" title="Scottish clan">Clans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_cuisine" title="Scottish cuisine">Cuisine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Education_in_Scotland" title="Education in Scotland">Education</a> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Curriculum_for_Excellence" title="Curriculum for Excellence">Curriculum for Excellence</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_schools_in_Scotland" title="Lists of schools in Scotland">Schools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_further_education_colleges_in_Scotland" title="List of further education colleges in Scotland">Colleges</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universities_in_Scotland" title="Universities in Scotland">Universities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Qualifications_Authority" title="Scottish Qualifications Authority">Scottish Qualifications Authority</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Education_Scotland" title="Education Scotland">Education Scotland</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hogmanay" title="Hogmanay">Hogmanay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_national_identity" title="Scottish national identity">Identity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_inventions_and_discoveries" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish inventions and discoveries">Inventions and discoveries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_literature" title="Scottish literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Scotland" title="List of museums in Scotland">Museums</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Music_of_Scotland" title="Music of Scotland">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_oldest_buildings_in_Scotland" title="List of oldest buildings in Scotland">Oldest buildings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theatre_of_Scotland" title="Theatre of Scotland">Performing arts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_philosophy" title="Scottish philosophy">Philosophy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_toponymy" title="Scottish toponymy">Placenames</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prostitution_in_Scotland" title="Prostitution in Scotland">Prostitution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_National_M%C3%B2d" title="Royal National Mòd">Royal National Mòd</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sport_in_Scotland" title="Sport in Scotland">Sport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_surnames" title="Scottish surnames">Surnames</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_symbols_of_Scotland" title="National symbols of Scotland">Symbols</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/National_anthem_of_Scotland" title="National anthem of Scotland">anthem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_Scotland" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal coat of arms of Scotland">coat of arms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_flags" title="List of Scottish flags">flags</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Flag_of_Scotland" title="Flag of Scotland">national flag</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tartan" title="Tartan">tartan</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Regimental_tartan" title="Regimental tartan">regimental</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unicorn#Scotland" title="Unicorn">unicorn</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Scotland" title="List of World Heritage Sites in Scotland">World Heritage Sites</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Festivals_in_Scotland" title="Festivals in Scotland">Festivals</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Comedy_in_Scotland" title="Comedy in Scotland">Comedy</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Demographics_of_Scotland" title="Demographics of Scotland">Demographics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Scotland" title="Languages of Scotland">Languages</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Highland_English" title="Highland English">Highland English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_English" title="Scottish English">Scottish English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic" title="Scottish Gaelic">Scottish Gaelic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scots_language" title="Scots language">Scots</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/British_Sign_Language" title="British Sign Language">British Sign Language</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_people" title="Scottish people">People</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_Scots" title="List of Scots">list</a>)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_actors" title="List of Scottish actors">Actors</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_artists" title="List of Scottish artists">Artists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_inventions_and_discoveries" class="mw-redirect" title="Scottish inventions and discoveries">Inventors</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_musicians" title="List of Scottish musicians">Musicians</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_scientists" title="List of Scottish scientists">Scientists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Scottish_writers" title="List of Scottish writers">Writers</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Religion_in_Scotland" title="Religion in Scotland">Religion</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BC%C3%AD_Faith_in_Scotland" title="Baháʼí Faith in Scotland">Baháʼí Faith</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddhism_in_Scotland" title="Buddhism in Scotland">Buddhism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Christianity_in_Scotland" title="Category:Christianity in Scotland">Christianity</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christmas_in_Scotland" title="Christmas in Scotland">Christmas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Scotland" title="Church of Scotland">Church of Scotland</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/General_Assembly_of_the_Church_of_Scotland" title="General Assembly of the Church of Scotland">General Assembly</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_moderators_of_the_General_Assembly_of_the_Church_of_Scotland" title="List of moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland">Moderators</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Scotland" title="Catholic Church in Scotland">Roman Catholicism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Episcopal_Church" title="Scottish Episcopal Church">Scottish Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Union_of_Scotland" title="Baptist Union of Scotland">Baptist Union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_Church_of_Scotland_(since_1900)" title="Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)">Free Church of Scotland</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_in_Scotland" title="Hinduism in Scotland">Hinduism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Islam_in_Scotland" title="Islam in Scotland">Islam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Scotland" title="History of the Jews in Scotland">Judaism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sikhism_in_Scotland" title="Sikhism in Scotland">Sikhism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ethnic_minorities_in_Scotland" title="Ethnic minorities in Scotland">Ethnic minorities</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="font-weight:bold;"><div><div style="margin-bottom:-0.4em;"><ul><li><span class="nobold"><a href="/wiki/Outline_of_Scotland" title="Outline of Scotland">Outline</a></span></li></ul></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Scotland" title="Category:Scotland">Category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portal:Scotland" title="Portal:Scotland">Portal</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="First_Ministers_of_Scotland" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#bfd7ff;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Scottish_First_Ministers" title="Template:Scottish First Ministers"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Scottish_First_Ministers" title="Template talk:Scottish First Ministers"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Scottish_First_Ministers" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Scottish First Ministers"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="First_Ministers_of_Scotland" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">First Ministers of Scotland</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">First Ministers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Donald_Dewar" title="Donald Dewar">Donald Dewar</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jim_Wallace" class="mw-redirect" title="Jim Wallace">Jim Wallace</a></span> (<i>acting</i>; 11–27 October 2000)</li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Henry_McLeish" title="Henry McLeish">Henry McLeish</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jim_Wallace" class="mw-redirect" title="Jim Wallace">Jim Wallace</a></span> (<i>acting</i>; 8–27 November 2001)</li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Jack_McConnell" title="Jack McConnell">Jack McConnell</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Alex_Salmond" title="Alex Salmond">Alex Salmond</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Nicola_Sturgeon" title="Nicola Sturgeon">Nicola Sturgeon</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/Humza_Yousaf" title="Humza Yousaf">Humza Yousaf</a></span></li> <li><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a></span></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Premierships</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Donald_Dewar" class="mw-redirect" title="Premiership of Donald Dewar">Dewar</a> (1999–2000)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Henry_McLeish" title="Premiership of Henry McLeish">McLeish</a> (2000–2001)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Jack_McConnell" title="Premiership of Jack McConnell">McConnell</a> (2001–2007</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Alex_Salmond" title="Premiership of Alex Salmond">Salmond</a> (2007–2014)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Nicola_Sturgeon" title="Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon">Sturgeon</a> (2014–2023)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_Humza_Yousaf" title="Premiership of Humza Yousaf">Yousaf</a> (2023–2024)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Premiership_of_John_Swinney" title="Premiership of John Swinney">Swinney</a> (2024–)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2" style="background:#bfd7ff;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:First_ministers_of_Scotland" title="Category:First ministers of Scotland">Category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland" title="Politics of Scotland">Politics of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_first_ministers_of_Scotland" title="List of first ministers of Scotland">List of first ministers of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_first_ministers_of_Scotland_by_education" title="List of first ministers of Scotland by education">List of first ministers of Scotland by education</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Template:List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Template talk:List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Special:EditPage/Template:List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="List_of_current_heads_of_government_in_the_United_Kingdom" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Government of the United Kingdom">His Majesty's Government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Majority_government" title="Majority government">Majority</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" title="Labour Party (UK)">Labour</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Prime Minister of the United Kingdom">Prime Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b><a href="/wiki/Keir_Starmer" title="Keir Starmer">Keir Starmer</a></b> (<a href="/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)" title="Labour Party (UK)">Labour</a>)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Northern_Ireland_Executive" title="Northern Ireland Executive">Northern Ireland Executive</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Consociationalism" title="Consociationalism">Power-sharing</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Democratic_Unionist_Party" title="Democratic Unionist Party">DUP</a> / <a href="/wiki/Sinn_F%C3%A9in" title="Sinn Féin">Sinn Féin</a> / <a href="/wiki/Social_Democratic_and_Labour_Party" title="Social Democratic and Labour Party">SDLP</a> / <a href="/wiki/Ulster_Unionist_Party" title="Ulster Unionist Party">UUP</a> / <a href="/wiki/Alliance_Party_of_Northern_Ireland" title="Alliance Party of Northern Ireland">APNI</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/First_Minister_and_deputy_First_Minister_of_Northern_Ireland" class="mw-redirect" title="First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland">First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b><a href="/wiki/Michelle_O%27Neill" title="Michelle O'Neill">Michelle O'Neill</a></b> (<a href="/wiki/Sinn_F%C3%A9in" title="Sinn Féin">Sinn Féin</a>)</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/First_Minister_and_deputy_First_Minister_of_Northern_Ireland" class="mw-redirect" title="First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland">Deputy First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b><a href="/wiki/Emma_Little-Pengelly" title="Emma Little-Pengelly">Emma Little-Pengelly</a></b> (<a href="/wiki/Democratic_Unionist_Party" title="Democratic Unionist Party">DUP</a>)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Government" title="Scottish Government">Scottish Government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Minority_government" title="Minority government">Minority</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Scottish_National_Party" title="Scottish National Party">Scottish National Party</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b><a href="/wiki/John_Swinney" title="John Swinney">John Swinney</a></b> (<a href="/wiki/Scottish_National_Party" title="Scottish National Party">SNP</a>)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Welsh_Government" title="Welsh Government">Welsh Government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Minority_government" title="Minority government">Minority</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Welsh_Labour" title="Welsh Labour">Labour</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/First_Minister_of_Wales" title="First Minister of Wales">First Minister</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><b><a href="/wiki/Eluned_Morgan,_Baroness_Morgan_of_Ely" class="mw-redirect" title="Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely">Eluned Morgan</a></b> (<a href="/wiki/Welsh_Labour" title="Welsh Labour">Labour</a>)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="/wiki/Template:BOT_and_Crown_Dependency_heads_of_governments" title="Template:BOT and Crown Dependency heads of governments">Heads of governments of British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" 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