First Salmond government

The first Salmond government, which was sworn in on 17 May 2007 at the start of the 3rd Scottish Parliament, was an SNP minority government. Having won the largest number of seats in the general election (47 of 129) the SNP sought to form a coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats. When those talks failed, the SNP chose to form a one-party minority government. The SNP and Scottish Greens signed an agreement where the Greens supported SNP ministerial appointments, but did not offer support for any confidence or budget votes ("confidence and supply").[1] SNP leader, Alex Salmond was elected First Minister on 16 May 2007; he was officially sworn in and his slate of ministerial appointments were ratified by the Scottish Parliament the following day.

This article is part of
a series about
Alex Salmond
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Second Term

First Minister of Scotland
Premiership

Post Premiership
Alex Salmond scandal

UK General elections

First Salmond government

5th government of Scotland
2007–2011
Date formed17 May 2007
Date dissolved19 May 2011
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterAlex Salmond
First Minister's history2007–2014
Deputy First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Total no. of members16
Member parties
  •   Scottish National Party
Status in legislatureMinority
47 / 129 (36%)
Opposition party  Scottish Labour Party
Opposition leaderJack McConnell (2007)
Cathy Jamieson (2007)
Wendy Alexander (2007-08)
Cathy Jamieson (2008)
Iain Gray (2008-11)
History
Election(s)2007 general election
Outgoing election2011 general election
Legislature term(s)3rd Scottish Parliament
PredecessorSecond McConnell government
SuccessorSecond Salmond government

History

Due to the agreement signed with the Greens, Salmond's investiture vote was successful despite only having 47 of 129 seats in the Parliament. The vote was 49–46, with the SNP and Greens voting in favour and the 46 Scottish Labour MSPs voting against, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats abstaining.[2]

On 16 May 2007, a few hours after Salmond was sworn in by parliament, he announced his intention to form a government composed of five cabinet secretaries and ten junior ministers.[3] Furthermore, the Lord Advocate lost her seat in the cabinet.[4]

A cabinet reshuffle took place in February 2009.[5]

Cabinet

May 2007 to February 2009
First cabinet of Alex Salmond[6]
Portfolio Portrait Minister Term
Cabinet secretaries
First Minister The Rt Hon

Alex Salmond MSP

 2007–2014
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP 2007–2014
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing 2007–2012
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP 2007–2016
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop MSP 2007–2009
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP 2007–2014
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead MSP 2007–2016
Also attending cabinet meetings
Permanent Secretary John Elvidge 2003–2010
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford MSP 2007–2011
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Elish Angiolini QC 2006–2011

February 2009 to May 2011
Second cabinet of Alex Salmond[6]
Portfolio Portrait Minister Term
Cabinet secretaries
First Minister The Rt Hon

Alex Salmond MSP

 2007–2014
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP 2007–2014
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing 2007–2012
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP 2007–2016
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell MSP 2009–2011
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP 2007–2014
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead MSP 2007–2016
Also attending cabinet meetings
Permanent Secretary Peter Housden 2010–2015
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford MSP 2007–2011
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Elish Angiolini QC 2006–2011

Changes

Junior Ministers

Junior ministers[6]

Post Minister Term
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford MSP2007–2011
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani MSP2007–2009
Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution Mike Russell MSP 2009
Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop MSP2009–2011
Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Jim Mather MSP2007–2011
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson MSP2007–2010
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Keith Brown MSP2010–2011
Minister for Schools and Skills Maureen Watt MSP2007–2009
Keith Brown MSP2009–2010
Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning
Angela Constance MSP2010–2011
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram MSP2007–2011
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison MSP2007–2009
Minister for Public Health and Sport 2009–2011
Minister for Communities and Sport Stewart Maxwell MSP2007–2009
Minister for Housing and Communities Alex Neil MSP2009–2011
Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing MSP2007–2011
Minister for Environment Mike Russell MSP2007–2009
Roseanna Cunningham MSP2009–2010
Minister for Environment and Climate Change 2010–2011

Scottish Law Officers

Law officers[6]

PostNameTerm
Lord Advocate The Right Hon. Elish Angiolini QC2007–2011
Solicitor General for Scotland The Right Hon. Frank Mulholland QC2007–2011

References
  1. "SNP and Greens sign working deal". BBC News. BBC. 11 May 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. "Salmond elected as first minister". BBC News. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. "Salmond announces his new cabinet". BBC News. 16 May 2007.
  4. "Legal official loses Cabinet seat". BBC News. 22 May 2007.
  5. "Cabinet and ministers at-a-glance - A guide to who's who in the Scottish government". BBC News. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  6. "Scottish Ministers, Law Officers and Parliamentary Liaison Officers by Cabinet: Session 3" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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