Third Sturgeon government | |
|---|---|
 9thGovernment of Scotland | |
| 2021 – 2023 | |
 Sturgeon's cabinetsocially distanced outsideBute 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 | MSP forGlasgow Southside (2007–present) Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2007–2014) Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (2012–2014) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (2007–2012) |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney |
| No. of ministers | 27 |
| Totalno. of members | 27 |
| Member parties |
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| Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) cooperation andconfidence 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 |
| Budgets | 2022 Scottish budget 2023 Scottish budget |
| Predecessor | Second Sturgeon government |
| Successor | First Yousaf government |
Nicola Sturgeon formed thethird Sturgeon government following herScottish National Party's victory in the2021 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the6th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post ofFirst Minister on 18 May 2021 and announced the formation of a newScottish National Partyminority government on 19 May.[1]
Sturgeon is the first First Minister to form a third government. Her cabinet, like her previous two, was 50/50 gender neutral. On 31 August 2021, the SNP andScottish Greens entered theBute House Agreement, a power-sharing arrangement which resulted in the appointment of two GreenMSPs as junior ministers in the government, delivery of a shared policy platform, and Green support for the government onvotes of confidence andsupply.[2][3]
Following Sturgeon’s decision to resign as Scottish First Minister andLeader of the SNP in February 2023, her government continued in acaretaker capacity until her successor,Humza Yousaf,was elected by the party at the end of the following month.
In theMay 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won 64 of the 129 seats contested,[4] and the 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 theScottish Parliament on 18 May, defeatingScottish Conservative leaderDouglas Ross andScottish Liberal Democrat leaderWillie Rennie by 64 votes to 31 and 4 respectively.
Long standing ministersJeane Freeman,Michael Russell,Roseanna Cunningham andAileen Campbell did not seek re-election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, withFiona Hyslop andFergus Ewing standing down from government.[5] This left Sturgeon with many empty posts.[citation needed]
Shortly after being elected, Sturgeon re-appointedJohn Swinney asdeputy first minister and also appointed him to the newly createdCabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery post.[6]Humza Yousaf,Kate Forbes,Shirley-Anne Somerville andMichael Matheson all remained in government.Shona Robison andKeith Brown made a return to cabinet, having served in Sturgeon's previous governments. OnlyMairi Gougeon andAngus Robertson were new to cabinet. TheScottish Parliament confirmed the appointment of ministers and junior ministers on 20 May.[7]
In May 2021, both theLord Advocate,James Wolffe, andSolicitor General for Scotland,Alison Di Rollo, announced their intention to step down as Scotland's top law officers.[8] On 17 June, Sturgeon nominatedDorothy Bain to serve asLord Advocate andRuth Charteris to serve asSolicitor General. This is the first time in history both posts have been held by women.[9]
On 20 August 2021, following two months of negotiations, the SNP andScottish Greens announced a power-sharing agreement, theBute House Agreement.[10][11] While not anofficial coalition, it would be the first time in both Scottish and UK history that Green politicians would be in government.[12][13] The Greens held two ministerial posts.[14] The agreement will see both parties pledge for a second referendum onScottish independence, an increase investment in active travel and public transport, enhancing tenants rights, a ten-year £500mJust Transition and establishing a National Care Service.[15][16][needs update]
On 21 February 2023, Sturgeon chaired her final meeting of her third cabinet following her resignation the previous month.[17] It was also Swinney's final attendance to a Scottish Cabinet, having announced his retirement from government after serving underFirst Minister Alex Salmond and Sturgeon from 2007 until 2023.[18] Swinney later became First Minister in May 2024 following the2024 Scottish government crisis that led to Yousaf's resignation.
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Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2004–2014)
First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023)
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Law officers[23] | |||
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| Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
| Lord Advocate | The Rt Hon.Dorothy BainKC |  | 2021–2023 |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Ruth CharterisKC |  | 2021–2023 |
| 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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| Premiership |  | |
| Deptuy Premiership | ||
| Electoral history | ||
| Family |
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| Related | ||
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