410:
53:
934:
1174:
821:
33:
1081:
44:
533:
1057:
2071:
612:
436:
24:
334:
709:
1605:
1695:
1700:
110:'s devolved government. The First Minister is responsible for the exercise of functions by the Cabinet of the Scottish Government; policy development and coordination; relationships with the rest of the
1675:
1690:
1598:
724:
1670:
409:
1680:
1860:
842:
349:
2105:
1591:
949:
1189:
180:
The parties shown are those to which the first ministers belonged to at the time they held office, and the constituencies shown are those they represented while in office.
2110:
1736:
1726:
1685:
1096:
1370:
1731:
548:
1553:
1433:
1769:
1261:
2095:
1716:
2025:
164:
Sturgeon is the longest-serving First
Minister, having surpassed Salmond on 25 May 2022. Salmond in turn spent a total of 7 and a half years in the role.
1523:
836:
628:
452:
158:
154:
150:
1493:
1463:
772:
619:
596:
443:
403:
1916:
2051:
1305:
2100:
1968:
157:
which was first elected in 2007 as a minority government, and re-elected in 2011, where they formed the first majority government in the
1837:
1806:
1801:
1337:
933:
2009:
1876:
1762:
1615:
1027:
1002:
903:
871:
779:
377:
295:
115:
2046:
1787:
1173:
52:
1921:
32:
1360:
1080:
954:
300:
123:
1402:
1254:
820:
43:
1973:
729:
1827:
1755:
1256:
553:
134:
1425:
1194:
1101:
847:
790:
1257:
1252:
1942:
1832:
1253:
1013:
799:
766:
757:
679:
652:
590:
503:
476:
397:
201:
99:
1255:
1038:
982:
914:
1259:
1947:
1153:
882:
532:
1258:
1654:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1229:
1214:
1158:
1134:
1129:
1119:
1043:
1032:
1018:
1007:
987:
972:
919:
908:
887:
876:
866:
784:
382:
210:
1545:
1515:
1485:
1455:
2056:
192:
2004:
2030:
1822:
1778:
119:
103:
1295:
1224:
666:
581:
1056:
1911:
1906:
1901:
1583:
333:
23:
1327:
1881:
490:
388:
2075:
1994:
1978:
1291:
1138:
1047:
940:
894:
795:
762:
747:
673:
586:
571:
497:
393:
372:
172:
is the shortest-serving First
Minister, having served in the role for 1 year and 12 days.
142:
72:
1963:
715:
111:
708:
2089:
1144:
807:
539:
169:
1926:
1365:
1332:
1300:
1180:
1087:
993:
827:
415:
354:
340:
165:
146:
138:
130:
86:
79:
65:
1392:
1999:
1236:
1062:
435:
1397:
1361:"Stunning SNP election victory throws spotlight on Scottish independence"
107:
611:
1747:
1751:
1587:
1251:
82:
was the youngest and first minority ethnic first minister.
1578:
75:
was the first female and longest serving first minister
114:, Europe and the wider world. The First Minister is a
1969:
Ministry of
Justice – Devolution Directorate-General
2039:
2018:
1987:
1956:
1935:
1894:
1869:
1853:
1846:
1815:
1794:
1709:
1663:
1622:
1426:"Sturgeon sets new record for longest term as FM"
1717:Presiding officers and deputy presiding officers
68:was the first ever first minister of Scotland.
1763:
1599:
8:
89:is the current and seventh since devolution.
2106:Lists of members of the Scottish Parliament
1974:Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
1116:
969:
863:
744:
168:was the first person to hold the position.
1850:
1770:
1756:
1748:
1606:
1592:
1584:
1172:
1079:
932:
2111:Lists of government ministers of Scotland
135:Government of the 6th Scottish Parliament
122:before being officially appointed by the
258:
1964:Cabinet Office - Devolution Secretariat
1283:
242:Indicates appointed without an election
1393:"Scottish election: SNP wins election"
2052:Proposed United Kingdom Confederation
281:
7:
1405:from the original on 12 January 2018
1373:from the original on 5 December 2013
1247:Timeline of Scottish first ministers
2096:Lists of prime ministers by country
2040:Proposed alternatives to devolution
1655:6th Parliament (2021–present)
176:List of First Ministers of Scotland
2010:Constitution of the United Kingdom
1616:members of the Scottish Parliament
1496:from the original on 26 March 2023
1466:from the original on 26 March 2023
1308:from the original on 23 March 2017
309:
228:indicates caretaker First Minister
14:
1943:Scottish Affairs Select Committee
1526:from the original on 20 July 2022
1340:from the original on 2 April 2016
116:Member of the Scottish Parliament
2069:
2047:Federalism in the United Kingdom
1788:Devolution in the United Kingdom
1650:5th Parliament (2016–2021)
1645:4th Parliament (2011–2016)
1640:3rd Parliament (2007–2011)
1635:2nd Parliament (2003–2007)
1630:1st Parliament (1999–2003)
1436:from the original on 25 May 2022
1055:
819:
707:
610:
531:
434:
408:
332:
51:
42:
31:
22:
1870:Scottish parliament commissions
1556:from the original on 7 May 2024
1359:Carrell, Severin (6 May 2011).
1211:
649:
603:
568:
473:
427:
369:
248:Indicates acting first minister
118:(MSP), and is nominated by the
262:
129:The current first minister is
1:
1424:Duffy, Judith (25 May 2022).
149:, led the governments of the
1579:Scottish Government web site
1516:"Biography: Nicola Sturgeon"
967:8 years, 128 days
861:7 years, 185 days
742:5 years, 170 days
2101:First ministers of Scotland
1336:. London. 15 January 2008.
1296:"SNP wins historic victory"
367:1 year, 147 days
2127:
1114:1 year, 39 days
566:1 year, 12 days
407:
202:Scottish Liberal Democrats
137:, as did his predecessors
100:First Minister of Scotland
2065:
1957:UK Government departments
1854:UK Parliament commissions
1785:
1546:"Biography: Humza Yousaf"
1328:"Scottish elections 2007"
1148:
1143:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1110:
1107:
1085:
1078:
1073:
1054:
1037:
1026:
997:
992:
971:
966:
963:
960:
938:
931:
926:
898:
893:
865:
860:
857:
854:
825:
818:
813:
789:
778:
771:
746:
741:
738:
735:
713:
706:
701:
308:
299:
294:
291:
284:
278:
269:
266:
261:
1948:Scottish Grand Committee
1696:Scottish Socialist Party
254:Indicates died in office
155:4th Scottish Parliaments
1737:Regional member changes
1701:Scottish National Party
211:Scottish National Party
159:5th Scottish Parliament
1895:Devolution legislation
2057:Scottish independence
1861:Kilbrandon Commission
725:Motherwell and Wishaw
224: Background and
193:Scottish Labour Party
102:is the leader of the
2076:Scotland portal
1823:Scottish parliament
1779:Scottish devolution
1490:www.parliament.scot
1460:www.parliament.scot
120:Scottish Parliament
104:Scottish Government
2031:Further devolution
843:Aberdeenshire East
350:Glasgow Anniesland
2083:
2082:
1890:
1889:
1877:Calman Commission
1745:
1744:
1691:Liberal Democrats
1244:
1243:
1233:
1162:
1141:
1069:
1050:
1022:
990:
961:20 November 2014
950:Glasgow Southside
922:
891:
858:18 November 2014
802:
769:
736:27 November 2001
690:
684:
593:
514:
508:
422:
400:
364:11 October 2000†
184:Political parties
2118:
2074:
2073:
2072:
1917:Devolved matters
1882:Smith Commission
1851:
1772:
1765:
1758:
1749:
1608:
1601:
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1585:
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1542:
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1505:
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1501:
1482:
1476:
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1471:
1452:
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1443:
1441:
1421:
1415:
1414:
1412:
1410:
1389:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1378:
1356:
1350:
1349:
1347:
1345:
1324:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1313:
1292:Wintour, Patrick
1288:
1228:
1198:
1190:Perthshire North
1176:
1157:
1133:
1105:
1083:
1067:
1059:
1042:
1017:
986:
958:
936:
918:
886:
852:
823:
794:
761:
733:
711:
686:
672:
654:Liberal Democrat
641:27 November 2001
631:
614:
585:
563:8 November 2001
560:27 October 2000
557:
535:
510:
496:
478:Liberal Democrat
455:
438:
420:
412:
392:
358:
336:
311:
306:
289:
276:
264:
259:
229:
223:
208:
199:
190:
133:, who leads the
55:
46:
35:
26:
2126:
2125:
2121:
2120:
2119:
2117:
2116:
2115:
2086:
2085:
2084:
2079:
2070:
2068:
2061:
2035:
2014:
1995:Barnett formula
1983:
1979:Scotland Office
1952:
1931:
1886:
1865:
1842:
1816:devolved bodies
1811:
1790:
1781:
1776:
1746:
1741:
1722:First ministers
1705:
1659:
1618:
1612:
1575:
1570:
1569:
1559:
1557:
1544:
1543:
1539:
1529:
1527:
1514:
1513:
1509:
1499:
1497:
1484:
1483:
1479:
1469:
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1454:
1453:
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1439:
1437:
1423:
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1418:
1408:
1406:
1391:
1390:
1386:
1376:
1374:
1358:
1357:
1353:
1343:
1341:
1326:
1325:
1321:
1311:
1309:
1290:
1289:
1285:
1280:
1275:
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1264:
1262:
1260:
1249:
1227:
1220:
1192:
1187:
1185:
1184:
1156:
1132:
1125:
1099:
1094:
1092:
1091:
1066:
1060:
1041:
1030:
1016:
1005:
985:
978:
952:
947:
945:
944:
941:Nicola Sturgeon
917:
906:
895:Nicola Sturgeon
885:
874:
846:
840:
834:
832:
831:
793:
782:
760:
753:
727:
722:
720:
719:
685:
671:
661:
636:8 November 2001
626:
624:
623:
584:
577:
551:
546:
544:
543:
509:
495:
485:
465:27 October 2000
460:11 October 2000
450:
448:
447:
419:
413:
391:
380:
352:
347:
345:
344:
304:
303:
287:
286:
279:Term of office
274:
272:
271:
257:
221:
220:
213:
206:
204:
197:
195:
188:
178:
145:. Before that,
143:Nicola Sturgeon
96:
95:
94:
93:
92:
73:Nicola Sturgeon
58:
57:
56:
48:
47:
38:
37:
36:
28:
27:
12:
11:
5:
2124:
2122:
2114:
2113:
2108:
2103:
2098:
2088:
2087:
2081:
2080:
2066:
2063:
2062:
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2059:
2054:
2049:
2043:
2041:
2037:
2036:
2034:
2033:
2028:
2022:
2020:
2016:
2015:
2013:
2012:
2007:
2002:
1997:
1991:
1989:
1985:
1984:
1982:
1981:
1976:
1971:
1966:
1960:
1958:
1954:
1953:
1951:
1950:
1945:
1939:
1937:
1933:
1932:
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1929:
1924:
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1909:
1904:
1898:
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1892:
1891:
1888:
1887:
1885:
1884:
1879:
1873:
1871:
1867:
1866:
1864:
1863:
1857:
1855:
1848:
1844:
1843:
1841:
1840:
1835:
1833:first minister
1830:
1825:
1819:
1817:
1813:
1812:
1810:
1809:
1804:
1798:
1796:
1792:
1791:
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1611:
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1603:
1596:
1588:
1582:
1581:
1574:
1573:External links
1571:
1568:
1567:
1537:
1507:
1486:"Alex Salmond"
1477:
1456:"Donald Dewar"
1447:
1416:
1401:. 6 May 2011.
1384:
1351:
1319:
1294:(4 May 2007).
1282:
1281:
1279:
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1269:
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1250:
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1222:
1217:
1212:
1210:
1209:133 days
1207:
1202:
1199:
1177:
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1164:
1163:
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1149:
1147:
1142:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1109:
1108:29 March 2023
1106:
1097:Glasgow Pollok
1084:
1077:
1071:
1070:
1068:(2022–present)
1052:
1051:
1036:
1024:
1023:
1011:
999:
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996:
991:
980:
975:
970:
968:
965:
964:28 March 2023
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804:
803:
788:
776:
775:
770:
755:
750:
745:
743:
740:
737:
734:
716:Jack McConnell
712:
705:
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664:
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112:United Kingdom
91:
90:
85:Bottom right:
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59:
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41:
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39:
30:
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2123:
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2032:
2029:
2027:
2024:
2023:
2021:
2017:
2011:
2008:
2006:
2003:
2001:
1998:
1996:
1993:
1992:
1990:
1986:
1980:
1977:
1975:
1972:
1970:
1967:
1965:
1962:
1961:
1959:
1955:
1949:
1946:
1944:
1941:
1940:
1938:
1934:
1928:
1925:
1923:
1920:
1918:
1915:
1913:
1910:
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1905:
1903:
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1878:
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1145:Shona Robison
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1103:
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1009:
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1001:
1000:
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989:
984:
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956:
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943:
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916:
913:
910:
905:
902:
901:
896:
889:
884:
881:
878:
873:
870:
868:
851:
850:
844:
839:(until 2011)
838:
830:
829:
822:
816:
812:
809:
808:Nicol Stephen
806:
805:
801:
797:
792:
786:
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764:
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749:
732:
731:
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1732:By-elections
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1671:Conservative
1558:. Retrieved
1550:www.gov.scot
1549:
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1520:www.gov.scot
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1430:The National
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1366:The Guardian
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1333:The Guardian
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1310:. Retrieved
1301:The Guardian
1299:
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1193:
1181:John Swinney
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1088:Humza Yousaf
1086:
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1039:Sturgeon III
994:John Swinney
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739:16 May 2007
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288:(parliament)
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80:Humza Yousaf
66:Donald Dewar
15:
2000:Block grant
1847:Commissions
1795:Referendums
1681:Independent
1377:15 December
1344:15 December
1312:15 December
1237:Kate Forbes
1201:8 May 2024
1195:Premiership
1186:(born 1964)
1111:7 May 2024
1102:Premiership
1093:(born 1985)
1063:Charles III
1014:Sturgeon II
955:Premiership
946:(born 1970)
849:Premiership
845:(from 2011)
833:(born 1954)
773:Jim Wallace
758:McConnell I
730:Premiership
721:(born 1960)
688:(caretaker)
625:(born 1954)
620:Jim Wallace
597:Jim Wallace
554:Premiership
545:(born 1948)
512:(caretaker)
449:(born 1954)
444:Jim Wallace
421:(1952–2022)
404:Jim Wallace
355:Premiership
346:(1937–2000)
292:Government
71:Top right:
2090:Categories
1936:Committees
1623:By session
1369:. London.
1304:. London.
1268:References
1232:(minority)
1161:(minority)
1021:(minority)
983:Sturgeon I
915:Salmond II
890:(minority)
64:Top left:
1614:Lists of
1278:Citations
1205:Incumbent
1154:Yousaf II
883:Salmond I
267:Portrait
2026:Devo-max
2019:Proposed
2005:Taxation
1664:By party
1554:Archived
1530:26 March
1524:Archived
1500:26 March
1494:Archived
1470:26 March
1464:Archived
1434:Archived
1403:Archived
1398:BBC News
1371:Archived
1338:Archived
1306:Archived
1188:MSP for
1130:Yousaf I
1095:MSP for
948:MSP for
841:MSP for
835:MSP for
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627:MSP for
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451:MSP for
348:MSP for
285:Election
108:Scotland
1409:20 June
1225:Swinney
668:McLeish
582:McLeish
322:Tenure
305:(reign)
301:Monarch
226:italics
124:monarch
1988:Budget
1922:(Acts)
1838:(list)
1828:(list)
1686:Labour
1676:Greens
1440:25 May
1221:(6th)
1126:(6th)
979:(4th)
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1710:Other
1560:7 May
1273:Notes
1139:Green
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662:(1st)
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486:(1st)
389:Dewar
141:and
1912:2016
1907:2012
1902:1998
1807:1997
1802:1979
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1411:2018
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1028:2021
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872:2007
780:2003
378:1999
310:Ref.
270:Name
153:and
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1230:SNP
1215:SNP
1159:SNP
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1120:SNP
1044:SNP
1033:6th
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1008:5th
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867:SNP
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