# Swinney government

* This article is part of a series aboutJohn Swinney
Political positions
MP for North Tayside
MSP for Perthshire North
Cabinet positions (2007–2023)
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
Finance Secretary
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland
Leader of the SNP (2024–present)
2024 leadership election
First Minister of Scotland (2024–present)
Premiership
Ministry
Operation Branchform
Michael Matheson iPad scandal
Proposed second independence referendum
2024 UK general election
Next Scottish Parliament election :
vte :
John Swinney formed the Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. The government was approved by parliamentary vote thanks to the abstention of Scottish Green MSPs.
Swinney's government was announced on 8 May following his tenure as first minister beginning, and includes eleven cabinet secretaries, the majority of whom are women, with the youngest deputy first minister, Kate Forbes, being appointed by Swinney. The majority of members of the government were part of the cabinet under Swinney's predecessor, Humza Yousaf's second administration.
Newly appointed cabinet secretaries who were not part of the previous administration were appointed as cabinet secretary designates, pending approval by members of the Scottish Parliament and receiving approval by the incumbent monarch.

## History

On 29 April 2024, Humza Yousaf announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Scottish National Party, and as First Minister. Swinney announced his candidacy for the internal leadership contest, and was elected unopposed. Shona Robison resigned as Deputy First Minister on 8 May in favour of Kate Forbes, but was re-appointed as Swinney's Finance Secretary with additional responsibility for local government.
The majority of Swinney's cabinet was previously part of Humza Yousaf's previous governments. The only addition to the cabinet was Kate Forbes replacing Shona Robison as Deputy First Minister of Scotland, and taking part of Màiri McAllan's responsibility for economy into her portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. Robison was, however, re-appointed by Swinney as Finance Secretary with additional responsibility for local government, with McAllan appointed as the reduced portfolio of Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy.
Additionally, only one new junior minister joined Swinney's government, former minister Ivan McKee, with the number of junior ministerial posts being reduced from 16 to 14. The portfolio of Minister for Employment and Investment was created, with Tom Arthur appointed to the role. The ministers for independence and culture were abolished, with their incumbents Jamie Hepburn and Kaukab Stewart moved to other positions. Joe FitzPatrick's local government position was abolished, and he therefore departed government along with Equalities Minister Emma Roddick and Parliamentary Business Minister George Adam.

## Approval and cabinet adjustments

The Scottish Parliament formally approved the appointments of Kate Forbes and Ivan McKee on 9 May 2024.
Prior to Swinney's appointment, it was announced in February 2024 that Màiri McAllan would be taking maternity leave. From 1 July 2024, McAllan will begin her maternity leave, where Gillian Martin will be appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and Alasdair Allan will be appointed as Acting Minister for Climate Action.

## Cabinet
### May 2024 – present

| Portfolio | Minister | Term |
| First Minister | The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP | May 2024 – present |
| Cabinet secretaries ||||
| Deputy First Minister | Kate Forbes MSP | May 2024 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic | Kate Forbes MSP | May 2024 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government | Shona Robison MSP | March 2023 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | Neil Gray MSP | February 2024 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Transport | Fiona Hyslop MSP | February 2024 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy | Màiri McAllan MSP | February 2024 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills | Jenny Gilruth MSP | March 2023 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands | Mairi Gougeon MSP | May 2021 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture | The Rt Hon Angus Robertson MSP | May 2021 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice | Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP | March 2023 – present |
| Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs | Angela Constance MSP | March 2023 – present |
| Also attending cabinet meetings ||||
| Permanent Secretary | John-Paul Marks | 2022–present |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business | Jamie Hepburn MSP | May 2024–present |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC | 2021–present |

## List of junior ministers
### May 2024 to present

Junior ministers :
| Post | Minister | Term |
| Minister for Parliamentary Business | Jamie Hepburn MSP | 2024–present |
| Minister for Employment and Investment | Tom Arthur MSP | 2024–present |
| Minister for Public Finance | Ivan McKee MSP | 2024–present |
| Minister for Public Health and Women's Health | Jenni Minto MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport | Maree Todd MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise | Natalie Don MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Higher and Further Education Minister for Veterans | Graeme Dey MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Business | Richard Lochhead MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Climate Action | Gillian Martin MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy | Christina McKelvie MSP | 2024-present |
| Minister for Equalities | Kaukab Stewart MSP | 2024–present |
| Minister for Housing | Paul McLennan MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Victims and Community Safety | Siobhian Brown MSP | 2023–present |
| Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity | Jim Fairlie MSP | 2024-present |

## Scottish law officers

Law officers :
| Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC | | 2021–present |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Ruth Charteris KC | | 2021–present |