First Minister of Scotland

First Minister of Scotland is the leader of the government of Scotland. The First Minister is usually the person who is the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Scottish Parliament.

The current First Minister of Scotland is John Swinney of the Scottish National Party, since 8th May 2024. The first was Donald Dewar, who died in office in 2000. The official residence of First Minister is Bute House in Edinburgh, Scotland.

 List of First Ministers of Scotland 
Political parties

Status

Legend

  Portrait Name Term of office Party Election Government Deputy Monarch  Took office Left office Tenure 1 150x150px Donald Dewar  17 May 1999 11 October 2000†  Labour 1999(1st) Dewar Jim Wallace 120x120pxElizabeth II(1952–2022) (—) 149x149px Jim Wallace 11 October 2000 27 October 2000  Liberal Democrat —(1st) Caretaker Vacant  2 147x147px Henry McLeish 27 October 2000 8 November 2001  Labour —(1st) McLeish Jim Wallace  (—) 147x147px Jim Wallace 8 November 2001 27 November 2001  Liberal Democrat —(1st) Caretaker Vacant  3 148x148px Jack McConnell 27 November 2001 16 May 2007  Labour —(1st) McConnell I Jim Wallace 2003(2nd) McConnell IINicol Stephen 4 157x157px Alex Salmond 17 May 2007 18 November 2014  SNP 2007(3rd) Salmond I Nicola Sturgeon  2011(4th) Salmond II 5 frameless|147x147px Nicola Sturgeon 20 November 2014 28 March 2023  SNP —(4th) Sturgeon I John Swinney  2016(5th) Sturgeon II 2021(6th) Sturgeon III 127x127pxCharles III(2022–present) 6frameless|147x147px Humza Yousaf 29 March 2023 7 May 2024  SNP —(6th) Yousaf I Shona Robison Yousaf II 7 frameless|147x147px  John Swinney  8 May 2024  Incumbent     SNP  —(6th)  Swinney  Kate Forbes 

 Caretaker First Ministers of Scotland 
 Jim Wallace (Scottish Liberal Democrats) - 11 October 2000 – 27 October 2000
 Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats) – 8 November 2001 – 27 November 2001

 Deputy First Ministers of Scotland 
 Jim Wallace (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 19 May 1999 – 23 June 2005
 Nicol Stephen (Scottish Liberal Democrats) – 27 June 2005 – 17 May 2007
 Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National Party) – 17 May 2007 – 19 November 2014
 John Swinney (Scottish National Party) – 21 November 2014 – 29 March 2023
 Shona Robison (Scottish National Party) – 29 March 2023 – 8 May 2024
 Kate Forbes (Scottish National Party) – 8 May 2024 – present

 Residence 
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The official residence of the First Minister is Bute House. It is located in Edinburgh.

Notes

References


Category:1999 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:1990s establishments in Scotland