First Ministers of Scotland

First Ministers Of Scotland

The First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba; Scots: Heid Meinister o Scotland) is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. 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 and responsibility for constitutional affairs, as they relate to devolution and the Scottish Government.

The First Minister is a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and nominated by the Scottish Parliament before being officially appointed by the monarch. Members of the 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 his or her actions and the actions of the wider government.

Alex Salmond, of the Scottish National Party (SNP) is the current First Minister of Scotland. He was elected as the Parliament's nominee for First Minister on 16 May 2007 and was sworn in at the Court of Session the following day. On 7 November 2012 Mr Salmond became the longest serving First Minister of Scotland having served for 2002 days, 1 more day than his predecessor Jack McConnell held the post.