# Second Sturgeon government

Nicola Sturgeon formed the second Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 5th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of first minister on 17 May 2016. She was subsequently appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 May, and announced formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government.
The second Sturgeon government was an SNP minority government and despite the whipping and resignation of some MSPs, this was also returned by Labour and Conservative opposition MSPs. Like the previous, it consisted of 50/50 gender balance cabinet; 5 men and 5 women. As part of wide criticism of policies, the resignation of many members and in response to the Brexit negotiations, Sturgeon conducted a major cabinet reshuffle in 2018. Following the resignation of Derek Mackay as Finance Secretary in 2020, Sturgeon performed a minor reshuffle of her cabinet.
The government dissolved on 19 May 2021, following the 2021 election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, which returned the SNP on seat short of a majority and Sturgeon later forming a third government with a deal with the Scottish Greens, creating a pro-independence majority.

## History
### Formation of government

In the May 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won 63 of the 129 seats contested. Incumbent First Minister Nicola Sturgeon soon afterwards announced her intention to form a minority government. She was nominated for the post of first minister by a vote of the Scottish Parliament on 17 May, defeating Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie by 63 votes to 5, with 59 abstentions. Ahead of the formation of the new government, long-serving ministers Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead announced their resignations from the cabinet. Sturgeon recommended the appointment of James Wolffe as Lord Advocate and Alison Di Rollo as Solicitor General on 31 May 2016. Their recommendation was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on the same day.

### 2018 cabinet reshuffle

On the 26 June 2018, Sturgeon announced a cabinet reshuffle. Long standing ministers such as Shona Robison and Angela Constance announced their resignation due to personal circumstances, with Keith Brown resigning to take his role as SNP Depute Leader. Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People was promoted to cabinet-level with more social security powers handed to the Scottish Parliament.

### 2020 cabinet reshuffle

On the 6 February 2020, on the day of the Scottish Budget, Nicola Sturgeon accepted Derek MacKay's resignation following an article by the Sun newspaper of inappropriate messages sent to a 16-year-old boy. Kate Forbes, then Minister for Public Finance, delivered the Scottish Budget, with Sturgeon later promoting Forbes to Finance Secretary.

### Final months

Sturgeon accepted the resignation of Joe FitzPatrick, Minister of Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, following Scotland's record high drug deaths. Sturgeon appointed Mairi Gougeon to succeed FitzPatrick, with Angela Constance re-entering government to serve as Minister for Drug Policy.
In the latter half of Sturgeon's government, she and her government led the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Cabinets

* This article is part of a series aboutNicola Sturgeon
Political positions
Electoral history
MSP for Glasgow
MSP for Glasgow Southside
Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2004–2014)
Salmond Ministry
2004 deputy leadership election
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
Tobacco sale restrictions
Minimum unit pricing
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities
Independence referendum
Votes at 16
2014 Scottish independence referendum
Leader of the SNP (2014–2023)
2014 leadership election
First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023)
Premiership
International trips
First Ministry
Revenue Scotland
LBTT
SLfT
Community right to buy
Second Ministry
2016 election
Proposed second independence referendum
Brexit referendum
People's Vote
Social Security Scotland
Scottish National Investment Bank
Alex Salmond scandal
COVID-19 pandemic
Third Ministry
2021 election
Bute House Agreement
COP26
Ferry fiasco
Operation Branchform
Cost of living crisis
Bin worker strikes
ScotRail strikes
2023 proposed referendum
2022 Supreme Court referral
Gender reform bill
Resignation
2023 leadership election
UK General elections
2015
2017
2019 :
vte :

### May 2016 to June 2018

II Cabinet of Nicola Sturgeon :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet secretaries |||||
| First Minister | The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills | John Swinney MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution | Derek Mackay MSP | 2016–2020 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport | Shona Robison MSP | 2014–2018 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform | Roseanna Cunningham MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs | Fiona Hyslop MSP | 2011–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities | Angela Constance MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Justice | Michael Matheson MSP | 2014–2018 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work | Keith Brown MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity | Fergus Ewing MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||||
| Permanent Secretary | Leslie Evans | 2015–2022 |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business | Joe FitzPatrick MSP | 2014–2018 |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon James Wolffe QC | 2016–2021 |

### June 2018 to February 2020

II Cabinet of Nicola Sturgeon :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet secretaries |||||
| First Minister | The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills | John Swinney MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work | Derek Mackay MSP | 2016–2020 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport | Jeane Freeman MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform | Roseanna Cunningham MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs | Fiona Hyslop MSP | 2011–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government | Aileen Campbell MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Justice | Humza Yousaf MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy | Fergus Ewing MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People | Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP | 2021–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations | Michael Russell MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity | Michael Matheson MSP | 2018–2023 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||||
| Permanent Secretary | Leslie Evans | 2015–2022 |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business | Graeme Dey MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon James Wolffe QC | 2016–2021 |

### February 2020 to May 2021

II Cabinet of Nicola Sturgeon :
| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| Cabinet secretaries |||||
| First Minister | The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney MSP | 2014–2023 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills | John Swinney MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance | Kate Forbes MSP | 2020–2023 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport | Jeane Freeman MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform | Roseanna Cunningham MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture | Fiona Hyslop MSP | 2011–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government | Aileen Campbell MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Justice | Humza Yousaf MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism | Fergus Ewing MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People | Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs | Michael Russell MSP | 2020–2021 |
| Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity | Michael Matheson MSP | 2018–2023 |
| Also attending cabinet meetings |||||
| Permanent Secretary | Leslie Evans | 2015–2022 |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business | Graeme Dey MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon James Wolffe QC | 2016–2021 |

## Junior Ministers

Junior ministers :
| Post | Minister | Term |
| Minister for Childcare and Early Years | Maree Todd MSP | 2017–2021 |
| Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science | Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans | Joe FitzPatrick MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans | Graeme Dey MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands | Humza Yousaf MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands | Paul Wheelhouse MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills | Paul Wheelhouse MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills | Jamie Hepburn MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing | Aileen Campbell MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing | Joe FitzPatrick MSP | 2018–2020 |
| Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing | Mairi Gougeon MSP | 2020-2021 |
| Minister for Mental Health | Maureen Watt MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Mental Health | Clare Haughey MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Community Safety | Annabelle Ewing MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Community Safety | Ash Denham MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning | Kevin Stewart MSP | 2016–2021 |
| Minister for Social Security | Jeane Freeman OBE MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development | Alasdair Allan MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development | Ben Macpherson MSP | 2018–2020 |
| Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development | Jenny Gilruth MSP | 2020–2021 |
| Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe | Michael Russell MSP | 2016–2018 |
| Minister for Older People and Equalities | Christina McKelvie MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation | Ivan McKee MSP | 2018–2021 |
| Minister for Public Finance and Migration | Kate Forbes MSP | 2018–2020 |
| Minister for Public Finance and Migration | Ben Macpherson MSP | 2020–2021 |
| Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment | Ben Macpherson MSP | 2020–2021 |
| Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment | Mairi Gougeon MSP | 2018-2020 |
| Minister for Drug Policy | Angela Constance MSP | 2020–2021 |

## Scottish Law Officers

Law officers :
| Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
| Lord Advocate | James Wolffe QC | | 2016–2021 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Alison Di Rollo QC | | 2016–2021 |