Nicola Sturgeon formed the second Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 5th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of first minister on 17 May 2016. She was subsequently appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 May, and announced formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government.
The second Sturgeon government was an SNP minority government and despite the whipping and resignation of some MSPs, this was also returned by Labour and Conservative opposition MSPs. Like the previous, it consisted of 50/50 gender balance cabinet; 5 men and 5 women. As part of wide criticism of policies, the resignation of many members and in response to the Brexit negotiations, Sturgeon conducted a major cabinet reshuffle in 2018. Following the resignation of Derek Mackay as Finance Secretary in 2020, Sturgeon performed a minor reshuffle of her cabinet.
The government dissolved on 19 May 2021, following the 2021 election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, which returned the SNP on seat short of a majority and Sturgeon later forming a third government with a deal with the Scottish Greens, creating a pro-independence majority.
History
Formation of government
In the May 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) won 63 of the 129 seats contested. Incumbent First Minister Nicola Sturgeon soon afterwards announced her intention to form a minority government. She was nominated for the post of first minister by a vote of the Scottish Parliament on 17 May, defeating Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie by 63 votes to 5, with 59 abstentions. Ahead of the formation of the new government, long-serving ministers Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead announced their resignations from the cabinet. Sturgeon recommended the appointment of James Wolffe as Lord Advocate and Alison Di Rollo as Solicitor General on 31 May 2016. Their recommendation was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on the same day.
2018 cabinet reshuffle On the 26 June 2018, Sturgeon announced a cabinet reshuffle. Long standing ministers such as Shona Robison and Angela Constance announced their resignation due to personal circumstances, with Keith Brown resigning to take his role as SNP Depute Leader. Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People was promoted to cabinet-level with more social security powers handed to the Scottish Parliament.
2020 cabinet reshuffle On the 6 February 2020, on the day of the Scottish Budget, Nicola Sturgeon accepted Derek MacKay's resignation following an article by the Sun newspaper of inappropriate messages sent to a 16-year-old boy. Kate Forbes, then Minister for Public Finance, delivered the Scottish Budget, with Sturgeon later promoting Forbes to Finance Secretary.
Final months Sturgeon accepted the resignation of Joe FitzPatrick, Minister of Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, following Scotland's record high drug deaths. Sturgeon appointed Mairi Gougeon to succeed FitzPatrick, with Angela Constance re-entering government to serve as Minister for Drug Policy.
In the latter half of Sturgeon's government, she and her government led the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cabinets
May 2016 to June 2018 +II Cabinet of Nicola SturgeonPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermRef.Cabinet secretariesFirst MinisterNicola Sturgeon 2014–2023Deputy First MinisterJohn Swinney 2014–2023Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the ConstitutionDerek Mackay 2016–2020Cabinet Secretary for Health and SportShona Robison 2014–2018Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land ReformRoseanna Cunningham 2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External AffairsFiona Hyslop 2011–2021Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and EqualitiesAngela Constance 2016–2018Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson 2014–2018Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair WorkKeith Brown 2016–2018Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and ConnectivityFergus Ewing 2016–2021Also attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryLeslie Evans 2015–2022Minister for Parliamentary BusinessJoe FitzPatrick 2014–2018Lord Advocate James Wolffe 2016–2021
June 2018 to February 2020 +II Cabinet of Nicola SturgeonPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermRef.Cabinet secretariesFirst MinisterNicola Sturgeon 2014–2023Deputy First MinisterJohn Swinney 2014–2023Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair WorkDerek Mackay 2016–2020Cabinet Secretary for Health and SportJeane Freeman 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land ReformRoseanna Cunningham 2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External AffairsFiona Hyslop 2011–2021Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local GovernmentAileen Campbell 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for JusticeHumza Yousaf 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for Rural EconomyFergus Ewing 2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older PeopleShirley-Anne Somerville 2021–2021Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional RelationsMichael Russell 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and ConnectivityMichael Matheson 2018–2023Also attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryLeslie Evans 2015–2022Minister for Parliamentary BusinessGraeme Dey 2018–2021Lord Advocate James Wolffe 2016–2021
February 2020 to May 2021 +II Cabinet of Nicola SturgeonPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermRef.Cabinet secretariesFirst MinisterNicola Sturgeon 2014–2023Deputy First MinisterJohn Swinney 2014–2023Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for FinanceKate Forbes 2020–2023Cabinet Secretary for Health and SportJeane Freeman 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land ReformRoseanna Cunningham 2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and CultureFiona Hyslop 2011–2021Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local GovernmentAileen Campbell 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for JusticeHumza Yousaf 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and TourismFergus Ewing 2016–2021Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older PeopleShirley-Anne Somerville 2018–2021Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External AffairsMichael Russell 2020–2021Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and ConnectivityMichael Matheson 2018–2023Also attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryLeslie Evans 2015–2022Minister for Parliamentary BusinessGraeme Dey 2018–2021Lord Advocate James Wolffe 2016–2021
Junior Ministers Junior ministersPostMinisterTermMinister for Childcare and Early YearsMaree Todd 2017–2021 Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and ScienceShirley-Anne Somerville 2016–2018Minister for Parliamentary Business and VeteransJoe FitzPatrick 2016–2018Graeme Dey 2018–2021Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the IslandsHumza Yousaf 2016–2018Paul Wheelhouse 2018–2021Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills2016–2018Jamie Hepburn 2018–2021Minister for Public Health, Sport and WellbeingAileen Campbell 2016–2018Joe FitzPatrick 2018–2020Mairi Gougeon 2020-2021Minister for Mental HealthMaureen Watt 2016–2018Clare Haughey 2018–2021Minister for Community SafetyAnnabelle Ewing 2016–2018Ash Denham 2018–2021Minister for Local Government, Housing and PlanningKevin Stewart 2016–2021Minister for Social SecurityJeane Freeman 2016–2018Minister for Europe, Migration and International DevelopmentAlasdair Allan 2016–2018 Ben Macpherson 2018–2020Jenny Gilruth 2020–2021Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in EuropeMichael Russell 2016–2018Minister for Older People and EqualitiesChristina McKelvie 2018–2021Minister for Trade, Investment and InnovationIvan McKee 2018–2021 Minister for Public Finance and MigrationKate Forbes 2018–2020Ben Macpherson 2020–2021Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural EnvironmentMairi Gougeon 2018-2020Minister for Drug PolicyAngela Constance 2020–2021
Scottish Law Officers Law officersPost Name Portrait Term Lord AdvocateJames Wolffe 2016–2021Solicitor General for ScotlandAlison Di Rollo 2016–2021
See also
Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon
Notes
References