Swinney government

Swinney government
Swinney government
; 12th Government of Scotland
	Swinney's cabinet outside Bute House, 2024
Date formed	8 May 2024
People and organisations
Monarch	Charles III
First Minister	John Swinney
Deputy First Minister	Kate Forbes
Member parties	Scottish National Party;
Status in legislature	Minority; 62 / 129 (48%)
Opposition cabinet	Opposition Parties
Opposition party	Scottish Conservative;
Opposition leader	Douglas Ross (until September 2024) ; Russell Findlay (September 2024–present)
History
Legislature term	6th Scottish Parliament
Predecessor	Second Yousaf government

John Swinney formed the Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session.^[1]

The government was approved by parliamentary vote thanks to the abstention of Green MPs.^[2]

History

On 29 April 2024, Humza Yousaf announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Scottish National Party, and as First Minister.^[3] Swinney announced his candidacy for the internal leadership contest, and was elected unopposed.^[4] 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.^[5]^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

The Scottish Parliament formally approved the appointments of Kate Forbes and Ivan McKee on 9 May 2024.^[10]^[11]

Prior to Swinney's appointment, it was announced in February 2024 that Màiri McAllan would be taking maternity leave.^[12] 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.^[13]

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^[a]
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care	Neil Gray MSP	February 2024 – present^[b]
Cabinet Secretary for Transport	Fiona Hyslop MSP	February 2024 – present
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy	Màiri McAllan MSP	February 2024 – present^[c]^[d]
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^[e]	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^[14]
Post	Name	Portrait	Term
Lord Advocate	The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC		2021–present
Solicitor General for Scotland	Ruth Charteris KC		2021–present

Notes

^ Robison previously held the Finance portfolio since March 2023 but gained the additional portfolio of Local Government in May 2024
^ Portfolio was titled Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care from 8 February 2024 to 8 May 2024
^ McAllan had additional responsibility for the Economy from 8 February 2024 until this was shuffled to Kate Forbes on 8 May 2024
^ McAllan is currently on maternity leave, with Gillian Martin filling the role in an acting capacity
^ Currently also Acting Cabinet Secretary for New Zero and Energy whilst incumbent Màiri McAllan is on maternity leave

References

^ Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-07). "John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
^ "John Swinney confirmed as Scotland's first minister".
^ "SNP leader Humza Yousaf resigns as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
^ Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-06). "John Swinney declares 'new chapter' as he becomes SNP leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
^ "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
^ "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
^ "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
^ "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
^ "Appointment of a Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
^ "Appointment of a Junior Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
^ Kendix, Lauren Gilmour, Max (2024-06-27). "I'll be back, says Mairi McAllan as she announces pregnancy". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Màiri McAllan maternity cover". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
^ "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2021-06-19.

[14] Robison previously held the Finance portfolio since March 2023 but gained the additional portfolio of Local Government in May 2024

[15] Portfolio was titled Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care from 8 February 2024 to 8 May 2024

[16] McAllan had additional responsibility for the Economy from 8 February 2024 until this was shuffled to Kate Forbes on 8 May 2024

[17] McAllan is currently on maternity leave, with Gillian Martin filling the role in an acting capacity

[18] Currently also Acting Cabinet Secretary for New Zero and Energy whilst incumbent Màiri McAllan is on maternity leave

[1] Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-07). "John Swinney to become Scottish first minister after vote by MSPs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)

[2] "John Swinney confirmed as Scotland's first minister".

[3] "SNP leader Humza Yousaf resigns as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-05-08.

[4] Brooks, Libby; correspondent, Libby Brooks Scotland (2024-05-06). "John Swinney declares 'new chapter' as he becomes SNP leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-08. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)

[:1-5] "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.

[6] "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.

[7] "Deputy First Minister stands down". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.

[8] "New Scottish Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-08.

[9] "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

[10] "Appointment of a Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

[11] "Appointment of a Junior Scottish Minister". www.parliament.scot. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

[12] Kendix, Lauren Gilmour, Max (2024-06-27). "I'll be back, says Mairi McAllan as she announces pregnancy". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[13] "Màiri McAllan maternity cover". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2024-06-27.

[19] "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2021-06-19.

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