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
John Swinney
since 8 May 2024
Office of the First Minister
Scottish Government
Scottish Cabinet
Scottish Parliament
StyleFirst Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal[1]
(formal)
First Minister
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(UK and Commonwealth)
His/Her Excellency[2]
(international)
StatusHead of government and Minister of the Crown[3]
Member of
Reports toScottish Parliament
ResidenceBute House
SeatSt Andrew's House, Edinburgh
NominatorScottish Parliament
AppointerThe Monarch
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
(following nomination by the Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holderDonald Dewar
Formation17 May 1999 (1999-05-17)
DeputyDeputy First Minister of Scotland
Salary£165,678 per annum (2023)[a][5]
(including £67,662 MSP salary)
Websitefirstminister.gov.scot Edit this at Wikidata

The first minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba [ˈpʰrʲiəv ˈvinɪʃtʲɛr ˈhal̪ˠapə]), formally the First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal,[6] is the head of the Scottish Government and 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 the Scottish Government's policies. 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 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), and is formally appointed by the British monarch. 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.

The office is currently held by John Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North and the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). Swinney was elected first minister by the Scottish Parliament on 7 May 2024, and was sworn in on the following day.[8]

  1. ^ "The Keeper". insideros.blog. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon named as global advocate for UN gender equality campaign". BelfastTelegraph. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020. 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.
  3. ^ "The role and powers of the Prime Minister". Parliament.uk. UK Parliament. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Five things about Scottish politicians' tax returns". BBC News Online. 7 February 2023.
  5. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 5 April 2023.
  6. ^ "The Keeper - The Great Seal of Scotland". insideros.blog. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ "About the Scottish Government > Who runs government > First Minister". Scottish Government. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  8. ^ "John Swinney officially sworn in as Scotland's seventh First Minister". STV News. 8 May 2024.


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