Government_of_the_5th_Scottish_Parliament
Second Sturgeon government
Scottish Government following the May 2016 Scottish Parliament general election
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.[1] She was subsequently appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 May, and announced formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government.[2]
Second Sturgeon government | |
|---|---|
 8th government of Scotland | |
| 2016–2021 | |
First Minister Sturgeon's original cabinet at Bute House, 2016 | |
| Date formed | 18 May 2016 |
| Date dissolved | 20 May 2021 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| First Minister's history | 2014–2023 |
| Deputy First Minister | John Swinney |
| Total no. of members | 26 (including First Minister) |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Minority 63 / 129 (49%) |
| Opposition party | |
| Opposition leader | Ruth Davidson (2016-18) Jackson Carlaw (2018-19) Ruth Davidson (2019) Jackson Carlaw (2019-20) Ruth Davidson (2020–21) |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2016 general election |
| Outgoing election | 2021 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 5th Scottish Parliament |
| Predecessor | First Sturgeon government |
| Successor | Third Sturgeon government |
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The second Sturgeon government was an SNP minority administration 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 20 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 administration with a deal with the Scottish Greens, creating a pro-independence majority.
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.[1] Ahead of the formation of the new government, long-serving ministers Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead announced their resignations from the cabinet.[3] 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.[4]
2018 cabinet reshuffle
On the 26 June 2018, Sturgeon announced a cabinet reshuffle.[5] 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.[6] 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 administration, she and her government led the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2016 to June 2018
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June 2018 to February 2020
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February 2020 to May 2021
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Law officers[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Post | Name | Portrait | Term |
| Lord Advocate | James Wolffe QC | 2016–2021 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Alison Di Rollo QC | 2016–2021 | |
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- "Nicola Sturgeon wins Scottish first minister vote". BBC News. BBC. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- "Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary". BBC News. BBC. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead step down from Holyrood cabinet". BBC News. BBC. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "Law Officer appointments". news.scotland.gov.uk. Scottish Government. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- Carrell, Severin (26 June 2018). "Nicola Sturgeon carries out major reshuffle of Scottish cabinet". The Guardian.
- Carrell, Severin (6 February 2020). "Derek Mackay's resignation may derail SNP's policy agenda". The Guardian.
- "New Scottish Cabinet unveiled". news.scotland.gov.uk. Scottish Government. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "Ministers & Law Officers". parliament.scot. Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- "First Minister". 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Deputy First Minister". 23 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution". 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport". 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform". 7 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs". 23 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities". 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Justice". 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work". 26 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity". 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Permanent Secretary". 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Minister for Parliamentary Business". 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Lord Advocate". 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- "Scottish cabinet reshuffle unveiled". BBC News. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- "Kate Forbes appointed new Scottish finance secretary". BBC News. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- "First Minister completes ministerial team". news.scotland.gov.uk. Scottish Government. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.