John Swinney formed the second Swinney government on 20 May 2026, following his reappointment as First Minister of Scotland after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
The government was announced on 20 May 2026 following Swinney's formal swearing-in at the Court of Session. The new government featured a significantly streamlined cabinet, reduced from twelve cabinet secretaries to nine, with Swinney stating that the government would focus on "fiscal sustainability" and public sector reform.
Jenny Gilruth was appointed Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, replacing Kate Forbes, who departed government following the election. Former Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn entered government for the first time as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport. Several senior cabinet secretaries from the first Swinney government did not return for the second government, with former Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Finance Secretary Shona Robison, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon all standing down ahead of the 2026 election, while Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat in Edinburgh Central.
Several appointments were initially made on a designate basis pending approval by the Scottish Parliament and formal appointment by the monarch, including Ivan McKee, Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Kirsten Oswald, Alison Thewliss and Simita Kumar.
Cabinet PortfolioPortraitMinisterTermFirst Minister John Swinney 8 May 2024–presentCabinet secretariesDeputy First MinisterJenny Gilruth 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for Finance and Local GovernmentCabinet Secretary for Health and CareAngela Constance 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and Tourism Stephen Flynn 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural AffairsGillian Martin 11 July 2025–presentCabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and GaelicMàiri McAllan 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for Public Service ReformIvan McKee 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for Social Justice and HousingShirley-Anne Somerville 20 May 2026–presentCabinet Secretary for JusticeNeil Gray 20 May 2026–presentAlso attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryJoe Griffin7 April 2025–presentMinister for Parliamentary Business & VeteransJamie Hepburn20 May 2026–presentLord AdvocateThe Rt Hon. Ruth Charteris KC19 June 2026–present
List of Junior Ministers Junior ministersPostMinisterTermMinister for Parliamentary Business & VeteransJamie Hepburn 2026–presentMinister for Europe, External Affairs and EnergyStephen Gethins 2026–presentMinister for Public FinanceHannah Mary Goodlad 2026–presentMinister for Victims and Community SafetyKirsten Oswald 2026–presentMinister for Community CareAlison Thewliss 2026–presentMinister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol & DrugsMaree Todd 2025–presentMinister for Agriculture, Marine and the IslandsJim Fairlie 2024–presentMinister for Children, Young People and the PromiseSiobhian Brown 2026–present Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary EducationBen Macpherson 2025–2026Alyn Smith 2026–presentMinister for Equalities and International DevelopmentSimita Kumar 2026–presentMinister for Business and Fair WorkTom Arthur 2026–present
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