First Sturgeon government explained

Cabinet Name:First Sturgeon government
Cabinet Number:7th
Cabinet Type:government
Flag:Flag of Scotland.svg
Flag Border:true
Jurisdiction:Scotland
Incumbent:2014–2016
Date Formed:20 November 2014
Date Dissolved:18 May 2016
Government Head Title:First Minister
Government Head:Nicola Sturgeon
Government Head History:2014–2023
Deputy Government Head:John Swinney
State Head Title:Monarch
State Head:Elizabeth II
Total Number:25
Opposition Leader:Jackie Baillie (2014)
Kezia Dugdale (2014-15)
Iain Gray (2015)
Kezia Dugdale (2015-16)
Last Election:2016 Scottish Parliament election
Legislature Term:4th Scottish Parliament
Previous:Second Salmond government
Successor:Second Sturgeon government

Nicola Sturgeon formed the first Sturgeon government on 20 November 2014, following the resignation of previous SNP First Minister, Alex Salmond. Sturgeon, who had been Deputy First Minister under Salmond, was elected to succeed him by the SNP majority in the Scottish Parliament on 19 November 2014, before being officially sworn in in front of senior judges at the Court of Session the next day.

Sturgeon's cabinet dissolved on 18 May 2016 following the 2016 election to the 5th Scottish parliament, which saw Sturgeon returning to office and forming a second government.

History

Following the defeat of the campaign for Scottish independence in a 2014 referendum, then First Minister Alex Salmond, who had arranged the referendum, announced that he would resign as Scottish National Party leader and first minister after a new leader was chosen.[1] Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took the leadership unopposed at the SNP's annual conference on 14 November 2014. This also effectively made her First Minister-designate, given the SNP's outright majority in the Scottish Parliament. She was elected to succeed Salmond as First Minister by the Scottish Parliament on 19 November, and formally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on the next day.[2]

On 21 November 2014 Sturgeon's first cabinet was announced. It was formed of ten people: Sturgeon and nine cabinet secretaries. It was gender-balanced with five men and five women.[3] There were thirteen junior ministerial positions outwith the cabinet.[4]

Cabinet

November 2014 to May 2016

I Cabinet of Nicola Sturgeon[5] !Portfolio!Portrait!Minister!Term!Ref.
Cabinet secretaries
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon 2014–2023
Deputy First MinisterJohn Swinney 2014–2023[6]
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution & Economy2007–2016
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities2014–2016[7]
Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills & TrainingRoseanna Cunningham 2014–2016[8]
Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong LearningAngela Constance 2014–2016[9]
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing & SportShona Robison 2014–2016[10]
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights2014–2016[11]
Cabinet Secretary for Justice2014–2016[12]
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and EnvironmentRichard Lochhead 2014–2016[13]
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External AffairsFiona Hyslop 2014–2016[14]
Also attending cabinet meetings
Permanent SecretaryLeslie Evans2015–2022[15] [16]
Minister for Parliamentary BusinessGeorge Adam 2014–2016
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC2011–2016[17]

Changes

Junior Ministers

Junior ministers
PostMinisterTerm
Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism2014–2016
Minister for Parliamentary Business2014–2016
Minister for Transport and Islands2014–2016
Minister for Youth and Women's Employment2014–2016
Minister for Children and Young People2014–2016
Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages2014–2016
Minister for Public Health2014–2016
Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health2014–2016
Minister for Local Government and Community EmpowermentMarco Biagi MSP 2014–2016
Minister for Housing and Welfare2014–2016
Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs2014–2016
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform2014–2016
Minister for Europe and International Development2014–2016

Scottish Law Officers

Law officers
Post NamePortraitTerm
Lord AdvocateThe Right Hon.Frank Mulholland QC2011–2016
Solicitor General for ScotlandLesley Thomson QC2011–2016

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Alex Salmond's resignation could give Nicola Sturgeon her day of destiny . Libby . Brooks . . 19 September 2014 . 18 January 2016.
  2. News: The transition from Alex Salmond to Nicola Sturgeon . Glenn . Campbell . BBC News . 13 November 2014 . 18 January 2016.
  3. News: Nicola Sturgeon announces Scottish cabinet with equal gender balance . Libby . Brooks . The Guardian. 22 November 2014 . 22 May 2016.
  4. News: Nicola Sturgeon reshuffle brings gender balance . David . Maddox . Tom . Peterkin . The Scotsman . 22 November 2014 . 22 May 2016.
  5. Web site: Ministers & Law Officers . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194356/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/ministers-and-law-officers.aspx . 5 September 2015 . 18 January 2016 . www.scottish.parliament.uk . Scottish Parliament.
  6. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Deputy First Minister . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203174343/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Deputy-First-Minister . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  7. Web site: 2014-11-29 . Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070534/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-Infrastructure-Investment-Cities . 2014-11-29 . 2022-10-07 .
  8. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203213915/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-Work-Skills-Training . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  9. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203224022/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Education-and-Lifelong-Learn . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  10. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing & Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203205610/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Health-and-Wellbeing . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  11. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities & Pensioners' Rights . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203195956/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-Justice-Communities-Pensioners . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  12. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Cabinet Secretary for Justice . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203175636/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Justice . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  13. Web site: 2014-11-29 . Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food & Environment . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129072159/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Rural-Environment . 2014-11-29 . 2022-10-07 .
  14. Web site: 2014-11-29 . Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129072201/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Culture-and-External-Affairs . 2014-11-29 . 2022-10-07 .
  15. Web site: 2014-09-12 . Permanent Secretary . https://web.archive.org/web/20140912023935/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/strategic-board/Permanent-Secretary . 2014-09-12 . 2022-10-07 .
  16. Web site: Permanent Secretary's appointment and salary including any bonuses: FOI release . 2022-10-07 . www.gov.scot . en.
  17. Web site: 2014-12-03 . Lord Advocate . https://web.archive.org/web/20141203192041/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Ministers/Lord-Advocate . 2014-12-03 . 2022-10-07 .
  18. Web site: 2020-06-24 . Nicola Sturgeon appoints Leslie Evans as new Scottish government permanent secretary . 2022-10-07 . Civil Service World . en.