First Minister of Scotland

First Minister of Scotland
Scottish Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba
Royal Coat of Arms used by the Monarch in Scotland
Flag of Scotland
Incumbent Humza Yousaf since 29 March 2023
Office of the First Minister Scottish Government Scottish Cabinet Scottish Parliament
Style	First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal[1] (formal) First Minister (informal) The Right Honourable (UK and Commonwealth) His/Her Excellency[2] (international)
Status	Head of government and Minister of the Crown[3]
Member of	Scottish Parliament Scottish Cabinet Privy Council British-Irish Council PM and Heads of Devolved Governments Council
Reports to	Scottish Parliament
Residence	Bute House
Seat	St Andrew's House, Edinburgh
Nominator	Scottish Parliament
Appointer	The Monarch
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure (following nomination by the Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder	Donald Dewar
Formation	17 May 1999 (24 years ago) (1999-05-17)
Deputy	Deputy First Minister of Scotland
Salary	£165,678 per annum (2023)[a][5] (including £67,662 MSP salary)
Website	firstminister.gov.scot

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The first minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba [ˈpʰrʲiəv ˈvinɪʃtʲɛr nə ˈhal̪ˠapə]), formally the First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal,^[6] is the head of the Scottish Government and is the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. The first minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Scotland in an official capacity, at home and abroad.^[7]

The first minister is nominated by the Scottish Parliament by fellow MSPs, and is formally appointed by the monarch. Members of the Scottish Cabinet and junior ministers of the Scottish Government as well as the Scottish law officers, are appointed by the first minister. As head of the Scottish Government, the first minister is directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament for their actions and the actions of the wider government and cabinet.

The office is held by Humza Yousaf of the Scottish National Party since 29 March 2023, following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon. Yousaf was elected as the nominee by the Scottish Parliament on 28 March 2023.^[8] The following day Yousaf took the oath of office to the King, received the Scottish seal and was formally appointed by Charles III.^[9][10][11] Yousaf resigned from his position on 29 April 2024 after he faced an imminent motion of no confidence.^[12]

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