# McLeish government

Henry McLeish formed the McLeish government on 27 October 2000 following his appointment as the First Minister of Scotland. It followed the death of Donald Dewar on 11 October 2000 during the 1st Scottish Parliament. It was a continuation of the Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition that had been formed following the first election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
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## Cabinet
### October 2000 to November 2001

Cabinet of Henry McLeish :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term | Party |
| Cabinet ministers ||||||
| First Minister | The Rt Hon Henry McLeish MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Deputy First Minister | Jim Wallace QC MSP | 1999–2005 | Lib Dem |
| Minister for Justice | Jim Wallace QC MSP | 1999–2003 | Lib Dem |
| Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Jack McConnell MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning | Wendy Alexander MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Sam Galbraith MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Finance and Local Government | Angus Mackay MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Health and Community Care | Susan Deacon MSP | 1999–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Rural Development | Ross Finnie MSP | 1999–2000 | Lib Dem |
| Minister for Social Justice | Jackie Baillie MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour |
| Minister for Transport | Sarah Boyack MSP | 1999–2001 | Labour |
| Also attending cabinet meetings ||||||
| Permanent Secretary | Muir Russell | 1999–2003 | Independent |
| Minister for Parliament | Tom McCabe MSP | 1999–2001 | Labour |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon Colin Boyd QC | 2000–2006 | Labour |

#### Changes

* Sam Galbraith resigned from his post of Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture on 20 March 2001. Following his resignation, the environment portfolio was combined with that of rural development, planning was added to the transport portfolio, and the sport and culture portfolio was given Deputy Minister Allan Wilson without a promotion to minister. In addition, a new post of Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning in line with the expanded transport portfolio. This post was filled by Lewis Macdonald.

## List of ministers
### October 2000 to November 2001

Junior ministers :
| Post | Minister | Term | Party |
| Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Nicol Stephen MSP | 2000–2001 | Liberal Democrats |
| Deputy Minister for Social Justice | Margaret Curran MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning and Gaelic | Alasdair Morrison MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Highlands and Islands and Gaelic | Alasdair Morrison MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport | Allan Wilson MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government | Peter Peacock MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care | Malcolm Chisholm MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Justice | Iain Gray MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Parliament | Tavish Scott MSP | 2000–2001 | Liberal Democrat |
| Deputy Minister for Parliament | Euan Robson MSP | 2000–2001 | Liberal Democrats |
| Deputy Minister for Rural Development | Rhona Brankin MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning | Lewis Macdonald MSP | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Neil Davidson QC | 2000–2001 | Labour Party |

#### Changes

Tavish Scott resigned from his post of Deputy Minister for Parliament on 9 March 2001. He was replaced by Euan Robson.