This article is about the office. For the current holder, see Humza Yousaf. For a list of Scottish first ministers, see List of first ministers of Scotland.
First Minister of Scotland
Scottish Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba
Royal Coat of Arms used by the Monarch in Scotland
Flag of Scotland
Incumbent Humza Yousaf since 29 March 2023
Office of the First Minister Scottish Government Scottish Cabinet Scottish Parliament
Style
First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal[1] (formal) First Minister (informal) The Right Honourable (UK and Commonwealth) His/Her Excellency[2] (international)
Status
Head of government and Minister of the Crown[3]
Member of
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Cabinet
Privy Council
British-Irish Council
PM and Heads of Devolved Governments Council
Reports to
Scottish Parliament
Residence
Bute House
Seat
St Andrew's House, Edinburgh
Nominator
Scottish Parliament
Appointer
The Monarch
Term length
At His Majesty's pleasure (following nomination by the Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder
Donald Dewar
Formation
17 May 1999 (24 years ago) (1999-05-17)
Deputy
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
Salary
£165,678 per annum (2023)[a][5] (including £67,662 MSP salary)
Website
firstminister.gov.scot
This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the
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The first minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba[ˈpʰrʲiəvˈvinɪʃtʲɛrnəˈhal̪ˠapə]), formally the First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal,[6] is the head of the Scottish Government and is the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. The first minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Scotland in an official capacity, at home and abroad.[7]
The first minister is nominated by the Scottish Parliament by fellow MSPs, and is formally appointed by the monarch. Members of the Scottish Cabinet and junior ministers of the Scottish Government as well as the Scottish law officers, are appointed by the first minister. As head of the Scottish Government, the first minister is directly accountable to the Scottish Parliament for their actions and the actions of the wider government and cabinet.
The office is held by Humza Yousaf of the Scottish National Party since 29 March 2023, following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon. Yousaf was elected as the nominee by the Scottish Parliament on 28 March 2023.[8] The following day Yousaf took the oath of office to the King, received the Scottish seal and was formally appointed by Charles III.[9][10][11] Yousaf resigned from his position on 29 April 2024 after he faced an imminent motion of no confidence; he will remain in post until a successor is elected.[12]
^"The Keeper". insideros.blog. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^"Nicola Sturgeon named as global advocate for UN gender equality campaign". BelfastTelegraph. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020. UN under-secretary-general Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "It is my honour to announce today her excellency Ms Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, as an inaugural HeForShe global advocate for gender equality.
^"The role and powers of the Prime Minister". Parliament.uk. UK Parliament. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
^"Five things about Scottish politicians' tax returns". BBC News Online. 7 February 2023.
^"MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 5 April 2023.
^"The Keeper - The Great Seal of Scotland". insideros.blog. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
^"About the Scottish Government > Who runs government > First Minister". Scottish Government. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
^"Humza Yousaf elected Scotland's first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^Barker, Dan (28 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf to be sworn in as First Minister". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^"Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland's first minister at Court of Session in Edinburgh". Sky News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^"Scotland Act 1998".
^"How big a threat to Humza Yousaf is a no-confidence vote?". BBC News. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
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