John Swinney formed the first Swinney government on 8 May 2024, following his appointment as First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. The government was approved by parliamentary vote thanks to the abstention of Scottish Green MSPs.
Swinney's government was announced on 8 May following his tenure as first minister beginning, and includes eleven cabinet secretaries, the majority of whom are women, with the youngest deputy first minister, Kate Forbes, being appointed by Swinney. The majority of members of the government were part of the cabinet under Swinney's predecessor, Humza Yousaf's second government.
Newly appointed cabinet secretaries who were not part of the previous government were appointed as cabinet secretary designates, pending approval by members of the Scottish Parliament and receiving approval by the incumbent monarch.
Swinney's first government dissolved on 20 May 2026 following the 2026 election to the 7th Scottish Parliament, which saw Swinney returning to office and forming a second government.
History On 29 April 2024, Humza Yousaf announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Scottish National Party, and as First Minister. Swinney announced his candidacy for the internal leadership contest, and was elected unopposed. 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.
The majority of Swinney's cabinet served in Humza Yousaf's government. 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.
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.
Approval and cabinet adjustments
The Scottish Parliament formally approved the appointments of Kate Forbes and Ivan McKee on 9 May 2024.
Prior to Swinney's appointment, it was announced in February 2024 that Màiri McAllan would be taking maternity leave. From 1 July 2024, McAllan began her maternity leave. Gillian Martin was appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and Alasdair Allan was appointed as Acting Minister for Climate Action.
In June 2025, Swinney conducted a minor reshuffle following McAllan's return from maternity leave. Martin was appointed to the position of Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and McAllan was given the new post of Cabinet Secretary for Housing. Dr Allan departed government as did Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan. Maree Todd was made Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport, filling the post which had been left vacant following the death of Christina McKelvie in March 2025. Tom Arthur replaced Todd as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing and his economy brief was absorbed by Richard Lochhead who went from Minister for Business to Minister for Business and Employment.
In September 2025, Jamie Hepburn resigned as Minister for Parliamentary Business following an altercation with Conservative MSP Douglas Ross in the parliamentary chamber. He was replaced by Graeme Dey, who also retained his role as Minister for Veterans. Ben Macpherson rejoined the government as Minister for Higher and Further Education (Dey's former role). Cabinet May 2024 – June 2025 Portfolio Portrait MinisterTerm First Minister John Swinney May 2024 – presentCabinet secretariesDeputy First MinisterKate Forbes May 2024 – presentCabinet Secretary for Economy and GaelicCabinet Secretary for Finance and Local GovernmentShona Robison March 2023 – present Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray February 2024 – presentCabinet Secretary for TransportFiona Hyslop February 2024 – presentCabinet Secretary for Net Zero and EnergyMàiri McAllan February 2024 – June 2025Cabinet Secretary for Education and SkillsJenny Gilruth March 2023 – presentCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and IslandsMairi Gougeon May 2021 – presentCabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson May 2021 – presentCabinet Secretary for Social JusticeShirley-Anne Somerville March 2023 – presentCabinet Secretary for Justice and Home AffairsAngela Constance March 2023 – presentAlso attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryJohn-Paul Marks2022–April 2025Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin April 2025-presentMinister for Parliamentary BusinessJamie Hepburn May 2024–presentLord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC2021–present
June 2025 – May 2026 Portfolio Portrait MinisterTerm First Minister John Swinney May 2024 – presentCabinet secretariesDeputy First MinisterKate Forbes May 2024 – presentCabinet Secretary for Economy and GaelicCabinet Secretary for Finance and Local GovernmentShona Robison March 2023 – present Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray February 2024 – presentCabinet Secretary for TransportFiona Hyslop February 2024 – present Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and EnergyGillian Martin June 2025 – present Cabinet Secretary for HousingMàiri McAllan June 2025 – presentCabinet Secretary for Education and SkillsJenny Gilruth March 2023 – presentCabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and IslandsMairi Gougeon May 2021 – presentCabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson May 2021 – presentCabinet Secretary for Social JusticeShirley-Anne Somerville March 2023 – presentCabinet Secretary for Justice and Home AffairsAngela Constance March 2023 – presentAlso attending cabinet meetings Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin April 2025 – present Minister for Parliamentary BusinessJamie Hepburn May 2024 – September 2025Graeme Dey September 2025 – presentLord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC2021 – present
List of junior ministers
May 2024 – June 2025 Junior ministersPostMinisterTermMinister for Parliamentary BusinessJamie Hepburn 2024–presentMinister for Employment and InvestmentTom Arthur 2024–2025Minister for Public FinanceIvan McKee 2024–presentMinister for Public Health and Women's HealthJenni Minto 2023–presentMinister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd 2023–2025Minister for Children, Young People and the PromiseNatalie Don 2023–presentMinister for Higher and Further Education Minister for VeteransGraeme Dey 2023–presentMinister for BusinessRichard Lochhead 2023–presentMinister for Climate ActionGillian Martin 2023–2025Minister for Drugs and Alcohol PolicyChristina McKelvie 2024-March 2025Minister for EqualitiesKaukab Stewart 2024–presentMinister for HousingPaul McLennan 2023–2025Minister for Victims and Community SafetySiobhian Brown 2023–presentMinister for Agriculture and ConnectivityJim Fairlie 2024-present
June – September 2025 Junior ministersPostMinisterTermMinister for Parliamentary BusinessJamie Hepburn 2024–presentMinister for Public FinanceIvan McKee 2024–presentMinister for Public Health and Women's HealthJenni Minto 2023–presentMinister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur 2025–presentMinister for Children, Young People and the PromiseNatalie Don-Innes 2023–presentMinister for Higher and Further Education Minister for VeteransGraeme Dey 2023–presentMinister for Business and EmploymentRichard Lochhead 2023–presentMinister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and SportMaree Todd 2025-presentMinister for EqualitiesKaukab Stewart 2024–presentMinister for Victims and Community SafetySiobhian Brown 2023–presentMinister for Agriculture and ConnectivityJim Fairlie 2024–present
September 2025 – May 2026
Junior ministersPostMinisterTermMinister for Parliamentary Business Minister for Veterans Graeme Dey 2025–presentMinister for Public FinanceIvan McKee 2024–presentMinister for Public Health and Women's HealthJenni Minto 2023–presentMinister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur 2025–presentMinister for Children, Young People and the PromiseNatalie Don-Innes 2023–presentMinister for Higher and Further Education Ben Macpherson 2025–presentMinister for Business and EmploymentRichard Lochhead 2023–presentMinister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and SportMaree Todd 2025-presentMinister for EqualitiesKaukab Stewart 2024–presentMinister for Victims and Community SafetySiobhian Brown 2023–presentMinister for Agriculture and ConnectivityJim Fairlie 2024-present
Scottish law officers Law officersPostNamePortraitTermLord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC2021–presentSolicitor General for ScotlandRuth Charteris KC2021–present
Notes
References