Playing Haggis: First Ministers of the Scottish Executive
1999–2001: Jack McConnell (Labour) †
1999 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), David McLetchie (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats)
2001: Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats) [Interim]
2001–2007: Donald Dewar (Labour)
2003 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), Alex Fergusson (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Robin Harper (Scottish Green), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Billy McNeill (Pensioners and Senior Citizens)
2007–2010: Alex Salmond (Scottish National) [Resigned]
2007 (Minority) Def. Donald Dewar (Labour), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Alex Johnstone (Conservative), Robin Harper/Rosie Kane (Red-Green Alliance), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Stuart Hill (Shetland and Orkney Sovereignty) [Abstentionist]
2010–2011: Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National)
2011–20??: Henry McLeish (Labour)
2011 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National), Murdo Fraser (Reform), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Rosie Kane/Patrick Harvie (Red-Green Alliance), Jackson Carlaw (‘Continuity’ Conservative)
2015 (Majority) Def. Murdo Fraser (Reform), Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Patrick Harvie/Jean Urquhart (Red-Green Alliance)
2019 (Minority) Def. Rachel Hamilton (Reform), Derek MacKay (Scottish National), Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats), Maggie Chapman/Ross Greer (Red-Green Alliance), Brian Monteith (BritEx Alliance)
Donald Dewar was a key figure in Labour’s devolution plans, but was struck by heart problems in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament’s creation. He would step aside from his leadership roles and clear the way for Jack McConnell to become the inaugural first minister. While McConnell’s term was important for setting precedents, it would be cut short when he died with his family in a car accident. These tragic circumstances would guarantee McConnell’s legacy as a champion – and effective martyr – of Scottish devolution.
Dewar, now recovered, would take over and immediately run into a host of problems. He had to deal with a squabbling cabinet, an exam results fiasco, defending Blair’s Iraq war, and a national expenses scandal which implicated many Scottish Labour grandees. Throughout all of this Dewar himself was less energetic and more guarded following his health scare and contrasted poorly with his (relatively) youthful predecessor. It was easy for the opposition to portray him as a careerist elitist emblematic of Labour’s malaise, and when he eventually lost office he went unloved by the public and his contributions to devolution forgotten.
It was now the SNP’s turn, and while they did fine at first rumours began to circulate that female staffers were to not work alone with the convivial first minister. This culminated in Salmond stepping down before he was charged with several counts of sexual assault. As Salmond’s trial filled headlines the SNP tried to distance itself but to little avail following 20 years under his leadership. Even after the inevitable defeat in 2011 problems continued, as Salmond was cleared of the most serious charges and returned furious at those he believed hung him out to dry. This kicked-off a civil war in the previously tight-knit SNP and led to their continued decline. Perhaps those most angry with Salmond are the die-hard Scottish nationalists who blame him for setting back the cause of Scottish independence by decades.
Nicola Sturgeon would inherit Bute House under difficult circumstances. She led the charge in disowning Salmond and swore she knew nothing of his personal activities, but after several years as his deputy found it impossible to escape his shadow. The SNP’s campaign in 2011 was a valiant effort that saw them retain most of their seats, but it still marked the end of Sturgeon’s political career. With only a handful of months in office and no time to implement any of her own designs for government she is mostly known today for being Scotland’s shortest serving first minister.
When Labour took back power at Calton Hill their leader was familiar yet unexpected. Henry McLeish largely succeeded in on a feeling of it being ‘his turn’ after he was runner-up to both McConnell and Dewar. He managed to hold until he was rewarded with the enormous gift of the Salmond allegations. His first term was marked by dull competence and railing against tory austerity at Westminster, but this turned out to be exactly what the voters wanted after political scandal and economic downturn. With the Lib Dems plummeting nationally and SNP and Conservative infighting still ongoing, McLeish won a majority in 2015 that ought to have been impossible under proportional representation. As Labour had just suffered a second defeat at Westminster, this made McLeish the most successful and admired Labour politician in the country, and he used this position to call for more devolved powers and promised to ‘stand up for Scotland’ in a way Dewar never could.
Following the BritEx referendum, McLeish has led the way in campaigning against Scotland “being dragged out of the EU against its wishes”. He won the support of most Scots (and many more down south) in doing everything he could to block or delay BritEx, even mooting Scottish independence. Now into his seventies, it was planned for McLeish to step down this year until the pandemic hit. His serious leadership, early warnings, and more stringent steps compared to the cavalier UK government have again led his approval ratings to soar. For leading the Scottish Parliament though the period when it came into its own, and becoming something of a national icon in the process, Henry McLeish is likely to go down as the most popular and consequential first minister Scotland may ever see.
1999–2001: Jack McConnell (Labour) †
1999 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), David McLetchie (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats)
2001: Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats) [Interim]
2001–2007: Donald Dewar (Labour)
2003 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Alex Salmond (Scottish National), Alex Fergusson (Conservative), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Robin Harper (Scottish Green), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Billy McNeill (Pensioners and Senior Citizens)
2007–2010: Alex Salmond (Scottish National) [Resigned]
2007 (Minority) Def. Donald Dewar (Labour), Jim Wallace (Liberal Democrats), Alex Johnstone (Conservative), Robin Harper/Rosie Kane (Red-Green Alliance), Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist), Stuart Hill (Shetland and Orkney Sovereignty) [Abstentionist]
2010–2011: Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National)
2011–20??: Henry McLeish (Labour)
2011 (Coalition with Liberal Democrats) Def. Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National), Murdo Fraser (Reform), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Rosie Kane/Patrick Harvie (Red-Green Alliance), Jackson Carlaw (‘Continuity’ Conservative)
2015 (Majority) Def. Murdo Fraser (Reform), Roseanna Cunningham (Scottish National), Tavish Scott (Liberal Democrats), Patrick Harvie/Jean Urquhart (Red-Green Alliance)
2019 (Minority) Def. Rachel Hamilton (Reform), Derek MacKay (Scottish National), Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats), Maggie Chapman/Ross Greer (Red-Green Alliance), Brian Monteith (BritEx Alliance)
Donald Dewar was a key figure in Labour’s devolution plans, but was struck by heart problems in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament’s creation. He would step aside from his leadership roles and clear the way for Jack McConnell to become the inaugural first minister. While McConnell’s term was important for setting precedents, it would be cut short when he died with his family in a car accident. These tragic circumstances would guarantee McConnell’s legacy as a champion – and effective martyr – of Scottish devolution.
Dewar, now recovered, would take over and immediately run into a host of problems. He had to deal with a squabbling cabinet, an exam results fiasco, defending Blair’s Iraq war, and a national expenses scandal which implicated many Scottish Labour grandees. Throughout all of this Dewar himself was less energetic and more guarded following his health scare and contrasted poorly with his (relatively) youthful predecessor. It was easy for the opposition to portray him as a careerist elitist emblematic of Labour’s malaise, and when he eventually lost office he went unloved by the public and his contributions to devolution forgotten.
It was now the SNP’s turn, and while they did fine at first rumours began to circulate that female staffers were to not work alone with the convivial first minister. This culminated in Salmond stepping down before he was charged with several counts of sexual assault. As Salmond’s trial filled headlines the SNP tried to distance itself but to little avail following 20 years under his leadership. Even after the inevitable defeat in 2011 problems continued, as Salmond was cleared of the most serious charges and returned furious at those he believed hung him out to dry. This kicked-off a civil war in the previously tight-knit SNP and led to their continued decline. Perhaps those most angry with Salmond are the die-hard Scottish nationalists who blame him for setting back the cause of Scottish independence by decades.
Nicola Sturgeon would inherit Bute House under difficult circumstances. She led the charge in disowning Salmond and swore she knew nothing of his personal activities, but after several years as his deputy found it impossible to escape his shadow. The SNP’s campaign in 2011 was a valiant effort that saw them retain most of their seats, but it still marked the end of Sturgeon’s political career. With only a handful of months in office and no time to implement any of her own designs for government she is mostly known today for being Scotland’s shortest serving first minister.
When Labour took back power at Calton Hill their leader was familiar yet unexpected. Henry McLeish largely succeeded in on a feeling of it being ‘his turn’ after he was runner-up to both McConnell and Dewar. He managed to hold until he was rewarded with the enormous gift of the Salmond allegations. His first term was marked by dull competence and railing against tory austerity at Westminster, but this turned out to be exactly what the voters wanted after political scandal and economic downturn. With the Lib Dems plummeting nationally and SNP and Conservative infighting still ongoing, McLeish won a majority in 2015 that ought to have been impossible under proportional representation. As Labour had just suffered a second defeat at Westminster, this made McLeish the most successful and admired Labour politician in the country, and he used this position to call for more devolved powers and promised to ‘stand up for Scotland’ in a way Dewar never could.
Following the BritEx referendum, McLeish has led the way in campaigning against Scotland “being dragged out of the EU against its wishes”. He won the support of most Scots (and many more down south) in doing everything he could to block or delay BritEx, even mooting Scottish independence. Now into his seventies, it was planned for McLeish to step down this year until the pandemic hit. His serious leadership, early warnings, and more stringent steps compared to the cavalier UK government have again led his approval ratings to soar. For leading the Scottish Parliament though the period when it came into its own, and becoming something of a national icon in the process, Henry McLeish is likely to go down as the most popular and consequential first minister Scotland may ever see.
