| Third Sturgeon government | |
|---|---|
 9th Government of Scotland | |
| 2021 – 2023 | |
 Sturgeon's cabinet socially distanced outside Bute House, 2021 | |
| Date formed | 19 May 2021 |
| Date dissolved | 28 March 2023 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| First Minister's history | 2014–2023 |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney |
| No. of ministers | 27 |
| Total no. of members | 27 |
| Member parties |
|
| Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) cooperation and confidence and supply agreement between the SNP and the Greens 71 / 129 (55%)
Minority 64 / 129 (50%) (May–August 2021) |
| Opposition cabinet | Opposition Parties |
| Opposition party | |
| Opposition leader | Douglas Ross |
| History | |
| Election | 2021 Scottish Parliament election |
| Legislature term | 6th Scottish Parliament |
| Predecessor | Second Sturgeon government |
| Successor | First Yousaf government |
Nicola Sturgeon formed the third Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 6th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of First Minister on 18 May 2021 and announced the formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government on 19 May.
Sturgeon is the first First Minister to form a third government. Her cabinet, like her previous two, is 50/50 gender neutral. On 31 August 2021, the SNP and Scottish Greens entered a power-sharing arrangement which resulted in the appointment of two Green MSPs as junior ministers in the government, delivery of a shared policy platform, and Green support for the government on votes of confidence and supply.
Following Sturgeon’s decision to resign as Scottish First Minister and Leader of the SNP in February 2023, her government continued in a caretaker capacity until her successor, Humza Yousaf, was elected by the party at the end of the following month.
History
In the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won 64 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 18 May, defeating Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie by 64 votes to 31 and 4 respectively.
Long standing ministers Jeane Freeman, Michael Russell, Roseanna Cunningham and Aileen Campbell did not seek re-election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, with Fiona Hyslop and Fergus Ewing standing down from government. This left Sturgeon with many empty posts.
Shortly after being elected, Sturgeon re-appointed John Swinney as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and also appointed him the newly created Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery post. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes, Shirley-Anne Somerville and Michael Matheson all remained in government. Shona Robison and Keith Brown made a return to cabinet, having previously served in Sturgeon's governments. Only Mairi Gougeon and Angus Robertson were new to cabinet. The Scottish Parliament confirmed the appointment of ministers and junior ministers on 20 May.
In May 2021, both the Lord Advocate, James Wolffe, and Solicitor General for Scotland, Alison Di Rollo, announced their intention to step down as Scotland's top law officers. On 17 June, Sturgeon nominated Dorothy Bain QC to serve as Lord Advocate and Ruth Charteris QC to serve as Solicitor General. This is the first time in history both posts have been held by women.
On 20 August 2021, following two months of negotiations, the SNP and Scottish Greens announced a new power-sharing agreement. While not an official coalition, it would be the first time in both Scottish and UK history that Green politicians would be in government. The Greens hold two ministerial posts. The agreement will see both parties pledge for a second referendum on Scottish independence, an increase investment in active travel and public transport, enhancing tenants rights, a ten-year £500m Just Transition and establishing a National Care Service.
On 21 February 2023, Sturgeon chaired her final meeting of her third cabinet following her resignation the previous month. It was also Deputy First Minister John Swinney's final attendance to a Scottish Cabinet, having announced his retirement from government after serving under First Minister Alex Salmond and Sturgeon from 2007 until 2023. Swinney later became First Minister in May 2024 following the 2024 Scottish government crisis that led to the resignation of First Minister Yousaf.
Cabinet
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Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2004–2014) Salmond Ministry
Leader of the SNP (2014–2023) First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023) First Ministry Second Ministry
Third Ministry
UK General elections   |
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May 2021 – March 2023
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Changes
- Leslie Evans stood down as the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government in January 2022 and was replaced by John-Paul Marks.
List of junior ministers
May 2021 – March 2023
Changes
- Graeme Dey resigned as Minister for Transport and was replaced by Jenny Gilruth, the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. Gilruth was succeeded by Neil Gray who was appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine.
- Ash Regan resigned as Minister for Community Safety in October 2022. Elena Whitham was appointed as the new Minister for Community Safety in November 2022.
Scottish Law Officers
Law officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC | 
|
2021–2023 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Ruth Charteris KC | 
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2021–2023 |
Notes
- The following members also attend the Scottish Cabinet, however, some are not required to attend every meeting.
- The Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens also attend cabinet twice a year as part of the Bute House Agreement
References
- "Nicola Sturgeon re-elected as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- "SNP and Greens agree new power-sharing deal". BBC News. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- "DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT between THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT and THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP" (PDF). gov.scot. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2021.
- "Scottish election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon celebrates 'historic' SNP election win". BBC News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- Ross, Calum (19 May 2021). "Cabinet Reshuffle: Fergus Ewing and Fiona Hyslop leave top posts". Press and Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- "John Swinney to be minister for Covid recovery". BBC News. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- "Business Motion". The Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- "Scotland's lord advocate and solicitor general resign". BBC News. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- "Holyrood appoints women as Scotland's top lawyers for the first time". The National. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- "SNP-Greens deal pledges indyref2 within five years". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- Davidson, Peter (20 August 2021). "SNP and Greens negotiate deal to form power-sharing government at Holyrood". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "Co-operation deal between SNP and Greens to be revealed this week". The National. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "Scotland: SNP and Scottish Greens' power-sharing agreement is 'groundbreaking', Nicola Sturgeon says". Sky News. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "Scottish Greens enter government as deal done with SNP". STV News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "What does the SNP-Green deal mean for Scotland?". Largs and Millport Weekly News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- "Working Together to Build A Greener, Fairer, Independent Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- Meighan, Craig (21 March 2023). "Nicola Sturgeon chairs last ever cabinet meeting as First Minister". STV News. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- McCall, Chris (2 March 2023). "John Swinney to quit Scottish Government after almost 16 years". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- "Cabinet and Ministers". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- "SNP minister QUITS in protest over transgender law reform bid". The National. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- "SNP Minister Ash Regan resigns over Scottish Government gender recognition reforms". The Daily Record. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- "New Minister announced". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
 Scottish Parliaments and Governments | |
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| 1st Parliament (1999–2003) |
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| 2nd Parliament (2003–2007) |
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| 3rd Parliament (2007–2011) |
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| 4th Parliament (2011–2016) |
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| 5th Parliament (2016–2021) |
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| 6th Parliament (2021–2026) |
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| Nicola Sturgeon | ||
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