First Minister forms new Scottish Government

First Minister John Swinney has appointed Scottish Ministers, following the completion of a new Cabinet.

The Scottish Government now consists of eight Cabinet Secretaries, including the Deputy First Minister, and eleven Ministers.

Seven new Ministers have joined the Scottish Government, including six who enter government for the first time. This includes Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Kirsten Oswald, Alison Thewliss and Simita Kumar.

Newly appointed Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy Stephen Gethins will report directly to the First Minister. The First Minister will hold direct responsibility for independence and the constitution.

Newly appointed Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad will support both the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, and the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform.

The full Scottish Government ministerial team consists of:

First Minister, John Swinney

Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy, Stephen Gethins
Minister for Parliamentary Business & Veterans, Jamie Hepburn

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Jenny Gilruth

Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad (reporting jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform)

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, Ivan McKee

Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad (reporting jointly to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government)

Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Neil Gray

Minister for Victims & Community Safety, Kirsten Oswald

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, Angela Constance

Minister for Community Care, Alison Thewliss
Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol & Drugs, Maree Todd

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, Gillian Martin

Minister for Agriculture, Marine & the Islands, Jim Fairlie

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan

Minister for Children, Young People, & The Promise, Siobhian Brown
Minister for Innovation, Technology & Tertiary Education, Ben Macpherson

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, Shirley-Anne Somerville

Minister for Equalities & International Development, Simita Kumar

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn

Minister for Business & Fair Work, Tom Arthur

Background

First Minister appoints Cabinet to deliver for Scotland - gov.scot

Individuals who are newly appointed to Cabinet will be Cabinet Secretaries-designate until their appointment is formally agreed to by Parliament and approved by His Majesty King Charles III. 

Individuals who are newly appointed as Ministers will be Minister-designate until their appointment is formally agreed to by Parliament and approved by His Majesty King Charles III. 

Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government is down from 28 in 2024. The new streamlined ministerial team has been reduced to 20, including the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Parliament will be asked to approve the new Cabinet and Ministerial appointments on Thursday. 

The First Minister will announce the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland in due course.

Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, has left the Scottish Government with the First Minister thanking her for service to the people of Scotland.