Yousaf government

Humza Yousaf formed the Yousaf government on 29 March 2023 following his appointment as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. It followed the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on 15 February, triggering a leadership contest that Yousaf won.[1]

Yousaf government

10th Government of Scotland
2023
Yousaf's cabinet outside Bute House, 2023
Date formed29 March 2023
People and organisations
MonarchCharles III
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Deputy First MinisterShona Robison
Member parties
  •   Scottish National Party
  •   Scottish Greens
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
cooperation and confidence and supply agreement between the SNP and the Greens
71 / 129(55%)
Opposition cabinetOpposition Parties
Opposition party (largest opposition party)
Opposition leaderDouglas Ross
History
Election(s)2023 Scottish National Party leadership election
Legislature term(s)6th Scottish Parliament
PredecessorThird Sturgeon government

The Scottish Green Party voted to remain in government with the SNP, which saw Yousaf's administration continue with the Bute House agreement, a pro-independence majority government. His cabinet consists of six women and three men, the first majority women cabinet.

History

On 15 February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon announced her intention to resign the leadership of the SNP and as First Minister.[2] Yousaf declared his candidacy for the 2023 leadership election. He won the internal party contest to become leader on 27 March 2023.

On 28 March, Yousaf was nominated by the Scottish Parliament to become the next first minister and on the same day he announced Shona Robison as his deputy first minister.[3] Yousaf offered Kate Forbes, who he beaten in the leadership race, a demotion as rural affairs secretary, but she turned down this offer and left government.[4][5] Forbes' campaign manager in the election race and who served as the business minister under Sturgeon, Ivan McKee, also announced he would leave government.[6]

Yousaf was formally sworn into office as first minister on 29 March 2023 and announced the formation of a new government.[7] There was speculation Robison, who he announced the previous day as his deputy, was to take over the finance portfolio from Forbes, which was later confirmed as true.[8][9] Neil Gray, who was Yousaf's campaign manager, was appointed the wellbeing economy secretary, with responsibility for energy.[10] Michael Matheson succeeded Yousaf as health secretary, with Shirley-Anne Somerville succeeding Robison as the social justice secretary.[11]

Angus Robertson and Mairi Gourgeon remained in their respective roles as the constitution secretary and rural affairs secretary.[12][13]

Jenny Gilruth was promoted to cabinet as education secretary, along with Màiri McAllan as the net zero secretary.[14] Angela Constance, who previously served in the cabinets of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, returned to cabinet as the justice secretary.[15] She succeeded Keith Brown, the SNP's depute leader, who was removed from government.[16]

Yousaf appointed Jamie Hepburn the minister for independence, something the Scottish Conservatives criticised for being a “taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner”.[17][18][19]

In early April 2023, in response to Operation Branchform and the arrest of former SNP CEO Peter Murrell, Johnston Carmichael, the auditor for the SNP, publicly announced they had resigned.[20] Yousaf later confirmed that Johnston Carmichael had resigned around October 2022 but he was unaware of this until after winning the leadership campaign.[21]

SNP President Michael Russell claimed in April 2023 that the SNP was facing its biggest challenge in 50 years.[22] On 11th April 2023, Yousaf stated that Peter Murrell would not be suspended because he is "innocent until proven guilty".[23]

Cabinet

March 2023 to present

Cabinet of Humza Yousaf
Portfolio Portrait Minister Term
Cabinet secretaries
First Minister The Rt Hon

Humza Yousaf MSP

2023–present
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Finance 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Michael Matheson MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition Màiri McAllan MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP 2023–present
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP 2021–present
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson MSP 2021–present
Also attending cabinet meetings[24][lower-alpha 1]
Permanent Secretary John-Paul Marks 2022–present
Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business George Adam MSP 2021–present
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC 2021–present

List of junior ministers

March 2023 to present

Junior ministers

Post Minister Political Party Term
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Elena Whitham MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Independence Jamie Hepburn MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business George Adam MSP SNP 2021–present
Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance Tom Arthur MSP SNP 2021–present
Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning Joe FitzPatrick MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise Natalie Don MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Higher and Further Education

Minister for Veterans

Graeme Dey MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart MSP SNP 2023
Fiona Hyslop MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Richard Lochhead MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Energy Gillian Martin MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights Patrick Harvie MSP Scottish Green 2021–present
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP Scottish Green 2021–present
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development Christina McKelvie MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees Emma Roddick MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP SNP 2023–present
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown MSP SNP 2023–present


Scottish law officers

Law officers[25]

Post Name Portrait Term
Lord Advocate The Rt Hon. Dorothy Bain KC 2021–present
Solicitor General for Scotland Ruth Charteris KC 2021–present

Notes

  1. The Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens also attend cabinet twice a year as part of the Bute House Agreement

References

  1. Bland, Archie (28 March 2023). "Tuesday briefing: What Humza Yousaf's win means for Scotland, the SNP and independence". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. "Can Humza Yousaf unite the SNP?". BBC News. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. "Shona Robison to be Scottish deputy first minister". BBC News. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  4. Andrews, Kieran. "Kate Forbes quits SNP cabinet after rejecting demotion by Humza Yousaf". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  5. "Kate Forbes leaves Scottish government after rejecting demotion from new first minister Humza Yousaf". Sky News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  6. "Business minister Ivan McKee quits Scottish Government after 'smaller' job offer". The National. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  7. "Humza Yousaf confirmed as Scotland's new first minister". BBC News. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  8. Hutcheon, Paul (28 March 2023). "Shona Robison appointed Deputy First Minister by Humza Yousaf". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  9. "Shona Robison replaces Kate Forbes as finance secretary in new cabinet". BBC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  10. Tonner, Judith (30 March 2023). "Two Lanarkshire MSPs appointed to cabinet roles in new Scottish Government". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. "Yousaf appoints 'ambitious' cabinet". BBC News. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. Boothman, Kieran Andrews, John. "Who is in Humza Yousaf's new cabinet? His top team revealed". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 30 March 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "Mairi Gougeon to remain as Scotland's rural minister after reshuffle". www.farminguk.com. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. Meighan, Craig (29 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf unveils cabinet after being sworn in as First Minister". STV News. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  15. "Angela Constance becomes new justice secretary". Scottish Legal News. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. Hutcheon, Paul (29 March 2023). "Keith Brown sacked as Justice Secretary by new First Minister Humza Yousaf". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  17. Bussey, Katrine. "Yousaf's independence minister is a taxpayer-funded campaigner, say Tories". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  18. "Humza Yousaf refuses to apologise for appointing minister for independence at FMQs". The National. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. McCall, Chris (30 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf defends appointing dedicated minister for Scottish independence". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  20. Carrell, Severin (7 April 2023). "SNP auditor's resignation adds to party's crisis amid finances investigation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  21. Meighan, Craig (11 April 2023). "SNP auditors quit six months ago and Humza Yousaf had no idea". STV News. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  22. "SNP facing biggest and most challenging crisis in 50 years, says president". HeraldScotland. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  23. "Ex-SNP chief will not be suspended from party - FM". BBC News. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  24. "Cabinet and Ministers". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  25. "Law Officer appointments - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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