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The First Meenister o Scotland (Scots Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba, Inglis: First Minister of Scotland) is the heid o the Scots Govrenment. The post wis estaiblisht in 1999 alangside the Scots Pairlament an the praisent First Meenister is John Swinney, he haes haudit the post syne 8 Mey 2024.[1]
The First Meenister is chuised bi a vote o the Scots Pairlament an than appyntit bi the ringin Monarch o the Unitit Kinrik.
The first body tae haud the poseetion o First Meenister wis Donald Dewar, aften cried the Faither o the Naition, or forbie the faither o devolved govrenment. Whan he wis Secretar o State for Scotland, Dewar's acts an wirks wis instrumental in gettin the referrendum that led tae devolution in Scotland. He haudit the office he helpit tae create for a short time til it endit sudden-like whan he dee'd o a brain haemorrhage in 2000.[2]
Henry McLeish teuk his place; he serred in the poseetion for a gey short time, haen tae demit efter a scaundal anent his finances while a Wastmeenster CP. McLeish denee'd ony wrangdaein, claimin it wis a "muddle, rather than a fiddle", but muckle pressure wis brocht tae bear on him an he felt he haed nae chyce ither nor demittin; he did in 2001.
McLeish's job wis taen ower bi Jack McConnell, wha haed stuiden unsuccessfu agin McLeish for heidship o the Scots Labour Pairty. This made McConnell First Meenister fae then till 2007. McConnell said his kin of chiefship wad be chairacterised bi the Scots Executive ettlin tae "do less, but do it better".
Alex Salmond wis First Meenister fae 2007 tae 2014 as the heid o a coalition government atween the Scots National Pairty (SNP) an the Scots Greens in a minorite govrenment. In 2012 he led the SNP tae become the first pairty tae win a majority o seats in the Scots Pairlament, this wis also the year whan the Scots Executive wis renemmed tae the Scots Govrenment. In 2014 Nicola Sturgeon teuk ower as heid o the SNP and First Meenister an wis reelectit in 2017. In 2023, Sturgeon demittit an wis replaced wi Humza Yousaf, wha wis the first Asian an Muslim Scot tae hauld the post.[3] Yousaf demittit in Mey 2024 efter the collapse o the Bute House Greeance wi the Green Pairty an wis succeedit bi John Swinney.
The First Meenister is Keeper o the Great Seal o Scotland, an thair place in the order o precedence in Scotland is determinit bi that office.[4]
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Bute House in Embro's Charlotte Square is the offeecial hame o the First Meenister.
- Donald Dewar (1999-2000) Labour
- Henry McLeish (2000-2001) Labour
- Jack McConnell (2001-2007) Labour
- Alex Salmond (2007-2014) SNP
- Nicola Sturgeon (2014-2023) SNP
- Humza Yousaf (2023-2024) SNP
- John Swinney (2024-present) SNP
- Jim Wallace (1999-2005) Leeberal Democrat
- Nicol Stephen (2005-2007) Leeberal Democrat
- Nicola Sturgeon (2007-2014) SNP
- John Swinney (2014-2023) SNP
- Shona Robison (2023-2024) SNP
- Kate Forbes (2024-present) SNP
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