The secretary of state for Scotland (; ), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State for Scotland serves as the custodian of the Scottish devolution settlement as outlined in the Scotland Act 1998, and represent Scottish interests within the UK Government as well as advocate for UK Government policies in Scotland. The secretary of state for Scotland is additionally responsible for partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as relations between the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish Parliament. Much of the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibility transferred to the office of the First Minister of Scotland, first minister of Scotland upon the establishment of a new Scottish Executive, since renamed the Scottish Government, and a new devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999 following the Scotland Act 1998. The office holder works alongside the other Scotland Office#Ministers, Scotland Office ministers. The secretary of state for Scotland is supported by their deputy, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland. The incumbent is Ian Murray (Scottish politician), Ian Murray, following his appointment by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July 2024. The corresponding shadow minister is the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, shadow secretary of state for Scotland.

Overview

History of office

Acts of Union, 1707

The post was first created after the Acts of Union 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain from the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. It was abolished in 1746, following the Jacobite rising of 1745. Scottish affairs thereafter were managed by the Lord Advocate, lord advocate until 1827, when responsibility passed to the Home Office. In 1885 the post of secretary for Scotland was re-created, with the incumbent usually a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet. In 1926 this post was upgraded to a full Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state appointment.

Devolution, 1999

After the History of Scottish devolution, 1999 Scottish devolution, the powers of the Scottish Office were divided, with most transferred to the Scottish Government or to other British government departments, leaving only a limited role for the Scotland Office. From June 2003 to October 2008, the holder of the office of secretary of state for Scotland also held another Cabinet post concurrently, leading to claims that the Scottish role was seen as a part-time ministry.

Functions

Reduced responsibility

With the advent of legislative devolution for Scotland in 1999, the role of secretary of state for Scotland was diminished. Most of the functions vested in the office since administrative devolution in the 19th century were transferred to the newly established Scottish Ministers upon the opening of the Scottish Parliament, or to other UK government ministers. Most of the functions and powers of the secretary of state for Scotland transferred to the First Minister of Scotland, first minister of Scotland as the head of the Scottish Government. Donald Dewar served as the first first minister of Scotland between 1999–2000, having previously served as the secretary of state for Scotland between 1997–1999. However, the secretary of state does represent Scotland in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom on matters that are not devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and also holds Scotland Questions on the first Wednesday of every month between 11:30 am and 12 noon, when any member of Parliament can ask a question on any matter relating to Scotland. However, devolved issues are not usually raised by MPs, as these are decided solely by Scottish Government policy, and influenced, discussed and voted on by members of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Moreover, the secretary of state for Scotland cannot introduce any bill or legislation in the UK Parliament relating to a devolved matter under the convention that the UK Government will not introduce legislation on devolved areas without the agreement of the Scottish Parliament. The secretary of state is also the group leader of the Scottish MPs from the government party.

Scottish Government collaboration

The office mainly acts as a go-between for the UK and Scottish Governments and Parliaments. However, due to the secretary's position as a minister in the British government, the convention of Cabinet collective responsibility applies, and as such the post is usually viewed as being a partisan one to promote the UK government's decision-making in Scotland, as adherence to the convention precludes doing anything else. With the rise of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in both the Scottish Parliament and the British Parliament and the resultant interest in Scottish Independence, the secretary of state's role has also subsequently increased in prominence. The Scotland Office itself has received a cumulative increase in budget of 20% from 2013 to 2017, with a 14.4% increase in 2015/16 alone.

Responsibilities

The UK government's website lists the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibilities as being: * The secretary of state for Scotland is the UK Government Cabinet Minister representing Scotland. * They act as the custodian of the Scottish devolution settlement. * They represent Scottish interests within the UK Government * They advocate for the UK Government’s policies in Scotland. * They also promote partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as relations between the UK and Scottish Parliaments. This seeming lack of responsibility has in recent years seen calls from opposition MPs for the scrapping of the role and the Scotland Office. Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales, Wales into one secretary of state for the Union, in a department into which Rodney Brazier has suggested adding a minister of state for England with responsibility for Local government in England, English local government. More broadly, the UK Government advocates that all UK Government cabinet ministers with responsibility for a territorial secretary of state position are responsible for: * the smooth running of the devolution settlements and act as the lynchpin of the relationship between the devolved government and HM Government * handling legislation as it affects the territory * representing the territory’s interests in cabinet and cabinet committees * responding to parliamentary interests in territorial affairs * transmitting the block grant to the devolved administration * supporting collaboration between HM Government and the devolved administration * promoting the interests of the territory

List of Scottish secretaries

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1707–1746)

:''John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine, Earl of Mar had served as Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland), Secretary of State of the independent Scotland from 1705. Following the Acts of Union 1707, he remained in office.'' The post of secretary of state for Scotland existed after the Acts of Union 1707, Union of the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England in 1707 till the Jacobite rising of 1745. After the rising, responsibility for Scotland lay primarily with the office of the Home Secretary, home secretary, usually exercised by the Lord Advocate, lord advocate. {, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=2 , Secretary of State ! colspan=2 , Term of office , - , John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946

John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946

, John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine
Earl of Mar ,

1707 ,
1709 , - , James 2nd dukeofqueensberry

, James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, James Douglas
2nd Duke of Queensberry ,
1709 ,
1711 , - , John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946

, John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine
Earl of Mar ,
1713 ,
1714 , - , James Graham 1682-1742

, James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose, James Graham
1st Duke of Montrose ,
1714 ,
1715 , - , , John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe, John Ker
1st Duke of Roxburghe ,
1716 ,
1725 , - , - , , John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale, John Hay
4th Marquess of Tweeddale , {{Small, 25 February
1742 , {{Small, 3 January
1746 Office thereafter vacant.

Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926)

{{Infobox UK legislation , short_title = Secretary for Scotland Act 1885 , type = Act , parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom , long_title = An Act for appointing a Secretary for Scotland and Vice-President of the Scotch Education Department. , year = 1885 , citation = 48 & 49 Vict. c. 61 , introduced_commons = , introduced_lords = , territorial_extent = , royal_assent = 14 August 1885 , commencement = , expiry_date = , repeal_date = , amends = , replaces = , amendments = , repealing_legislation = , related_legislation = , status = amended , legislation_history = , theyworkforyou = , millbankhansard = , original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/48-49/61/contents/enacted , revised_text = , use_new_UK-LEG = , UK-LEG_title = Secretary for Scotland Act 1885 , collapsed = yes The secretary for Scotland was chief Political minister, minister in charge of the Scottish Office in the United Kingdom government. The Scottish Office was created with the post of secretary for Scotland by the {{visible anchor, Secretary for Scotland Act 1885. From 1892 the secretary for Scotland sat in Cabinet (government), cabinet. The post was upgraded to full secretary of state rank as the secretary of state for Scotland in 1926. From 1885 to 1999, secretaries for Scotland and secretaries of state for Scotland also ''ex officio'' held the post of Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. From 1999, the position of keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland has been held by the First Minister of Scotland, first minister of Scotland. {, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 , Secretary of State ! colspan=2 , Term of office ! Party ! colspan=2 , Ministry , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , , Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox
{{Small, 6th Duke of Richmond
Duke of Lennox in the peerage of Scotland , {{Small, 17 August
1885 , {{Small, 28 January
1886 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , First Salisbury ministry, Salisbury I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , , Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, George Trevelyan
{{Small, MP for Hawick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency), Hawick Burghs , {{Small, 8 February
1886 , {{Small, March
1886 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Third Gladstone ministry, Gladstone III , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , , John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie, John Ramsay
{{Small, 13th Earl of Dalhousie , {{Small, 5 April
1886 , {{Small, 20 July
1886 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Arthur-James-Balfour-1st-Earl-of-Balfour

Arthur-James-Balfour-1st-Earl-of-Balfour

, Arthur Balfour
{{Small, MP for Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency), Manchester East , {{Small, 5 August
1886 , {{Small, 11 March
1887 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Second Salisbury ministry, Salisbury II , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Lord Lotian

, Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian, Schomberg Kerr
{{Small, 9th Marquess of Lothian , {{Small, 11 March
1887 , {{Small, 11 August
1892 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, George Trevelyan
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Bridgeton (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Bridgeton , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 18 August
1892 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 21 June
1895 , rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1892–1895, Gladstone IV , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1892–1895, Rosebery , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 ,

, rowspan=2 , Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Alexander Bruce
{{Small, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 29 June
1895 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 9 October
1903
, rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:#ddd" , , Unionist government, 1895–1905, Salisbury
{{Small, (III & IV)
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Unionist Party, Lib.U.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=3 , Unionist government, 1895–1905, Balfour
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Unionist Party, Lib.U.'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Lord Dunedin

, Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin, Andrew Murray
{{Small, MP for Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency), Buteshire , {{Small, 9 October
1903 , {{Small, 2 February
1905 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Hopetoun

, John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, John Hope
{{Small, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow , {{Small, 2 February
1905 , {{Small, 4 December
1905 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland, John Sinclair
{{Small, 1st Baron PentlandMP for Forfar (UK Parliament constituency), Forfar until 1909; created Baron Pentland 1909 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 10 December
1905 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 February
1912 , rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1905–1915, Campbell-Bannerman , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1905–1915, Asquith
{{Small, (I–III) , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Thomas Mackinnon Wood

, rowspan=2 , Thomas McKinnon Wood
{{Small, MP for Glasgow St Rollox (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow St Rollox , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 February
1912 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 9 July
1916 , rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=2 , Asquith coalition ministry, Asquith Coalition
{{Small, (''Liberal Party (UK), Lib.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Labour Party (UK), Lab.'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , Harold J

, Harold Tennant
{{Small, MP for Berwickshire (UK Parliament constituency), Berwickshire , {{Small, 9 July
1916 , {{Small, 5 December
1916 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , , Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness, Robert Munro
{{Small, MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Roxburgh and Selkirk MP for Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency), Wick Burghs until 1918; MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Roxburgh and Selkirk thereafter , {{Small, 10 December
1916 , {{Small, 19 October
1922 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , style="background-color:#ddd" , , Lloyd George ministry, Lloyd George
{{Small, (I & II)
(''Liberal Party (UK), Lib.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Labour Party (UK), Lab.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Independent (politician)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar, Ronald Munro Ferguson
{{Small, 1st Viscount Novar , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 24 October
1922 , rowspan=2 , {{Small, 22 January
1924 , rowspan=2 , Independent (politician), Independent , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Conservative government, 1922–1924, Law , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Conservative government, 1922–1924, Baldwin I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Cropped photograph of William Adamson

, William Adamson
{{Small, MP for West Fife (UK Parliament constituency), West Fife , {{Small, 22 January
1924 , {{Small, 3 November
1924 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , First MacDonald ministry, MacDonald I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , ,

, Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, John Gilmour
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Pollok , {{Small, 6 November
1924 , {{Small, 26 July
1926{{Inconsistent, date=6 September 2020, reason=Table below states he was Secretary of State for Scotland from 15 July. , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Second Baldwin ministry, Baldwin II

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1926–)

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 , Secretary of State ! colspan=2 , Term of office ! Party ! colspan=2 , Ministry , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , ,

, Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, John Gilmour
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Pollok , 26 July
1926
{{Inconsistent, date=6 September 2020, reason=Table above states he was Secretary for Scotland until 26 July. , 4 June
1929 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Second Baldwin ministry, Baldwin II , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Cropped photograph of William Adamson

, William Adamson
{{Small, MP for West Fife (UK Parliament constituency), West Fife , 7 June
1929 , 24 August
1931 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Second MacDonald ministry, MacDonald II , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso, Archibald Sinclair
{{Small, MP for Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency), Caithness and Sutherland , rowspan=2 , 25 August
1931 , rowspan=2 , 28 September
1932 , rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal , style="background-color:#ddd" , , National Government (1931), National I
{{Small, (''National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.–Liberal Party (UK), Lib.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=2 , National Government (1931–1935), National II
{{Small, (''National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.–Liberal Party (UK), Lib.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , Godfrey Collins
{{Small, MP for Greenock (UK Parliament constituency), Greenock , rowspan=2 , 28 September
1932 , rowspan=2 , 29 October
1936 , rowspan=2 , National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=2 , National Government (1935–1937), National III
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , , rowspan=2 , Walter Elliott MP

, rowspan=2 , Walter Elliot (Scottish politician), Walter Elliot
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Kelvingrove , rowspan=2 , 29 October
1936 , rowspan=2 , 6 May
1938 , rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=2 , National Government (1937–1939), National IV
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'') , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir, John Colville
{{Small, MP for Midlothian and Peebles Northern (UK Parliament constituency), Midlothian and Peebles Northern , rowspan=2 , 6 May
1938 , rowspan=2 , 10 May
1940 , rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:#ddd" , , Chamberlain war ministry, Chamberlain War
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" , , BrownErnest

, Ernest Brown (British politician), Ernest Brown
{{Small, MP for Leith (UK Parliament constituency), Leith , 14 May
1940 , 8 February
1941 , National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National , rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=2 , Churchill war ministry, Churchill War
{{Small, (''All parties'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , ,

, Tom Johnston (Scottish politician), Thomas Johnston
{{Small, MP for West Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency), West Stirlingshire , 8 February
1941 , 23 May
1945 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" , , , Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery, Harry Primrose
6th Earl of Rosebery , 25 May
1945 , 26 July
1945 , National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National , style="background-color:#ddd" , , Churchill caretaker ministry, Churchill Caretaker
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), N.Lib.'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , No image

, Joseph Westwood
{{Small, MP for Stirling and Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Stirling and Falkirk , 3 August
1945 , 7 October
1947 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=3 , Attlee ministry, Attlee
{{Small, (I & II) , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , No image

, Arthur Woodburn
{{Small, MP for Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency), Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire , 7 October
1947 , 28 February
1950 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , ,

, Hector McNeil
{{Small, MP for Greenock (UK Parliament constituency), Greenock , 28 February
1950 , 26 October
1951 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , , rowspan=2 , , rowspan=2 , James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn, James Stuart
{{Small, MP for Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency), Moray and Nairn , rowspan=2 , 30 October
1951 , rowspan=2 , 13 January
1957 , rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Third Churchill ministry, Churchill III , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Eden ministry, Eden , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , ,

, John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel, John Maclay
{{Small, MP for West Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency), West Renfrewshire , 13 January
1957 , Night of the Long Knives (1962), 13 July
1962 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Conservative government, 1957–1964, Macmillan
{{Small, (I & II) , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" , , rowspan=2 ,

, rowspan=2 , Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas, Michael Noble
{{Small, MP for Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency), Argyllshire , rowspan=2 , Night of the Long Knives (1962), 13 July
1962 , rowspan=2 , 16 October
1964 , rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Conservative government, 1957–1964, Douglas-Home , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , ,

, Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock, Willie Ross{{Cite web, url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-william-ross/index.html , title=Mr William Ross , website=Hansard, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) , access-date=24 September 2017
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock , 18 October
1964 , 19 June
1970 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Labour government, 1964–1970, Wilson
{{Small, (I & II) , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , ,

, Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy, Gordon Campbell
{{Small, MP for Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency), Moray and Nairn , 20 June
1970 , 4 March
1974 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Heath ministry, Heath , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , ,

, Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock, Willie Ross
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock , 5 March
1974 , 8 April
1976 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Labour government, 1974–1979, Wilson
{{Small, (III & IV) , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Bruce Millan
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Craigton (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Craigton , 8 April
1976 , 4 May
1979 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Labour government, 1974–1979, Callaghan , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 ,

, rowspan=2 , George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, George Younger
{{Small, MP for Ayr (UK Parliament constituency), Ayr , rowspan=2 , 5 May
1979 , rowspan=2 , 11 January
1986 , rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , First Thatcher ministry, Thatcher I , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Second Thatcher ministry, Thatcher II , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 ,

, rowspan=2 , Malcolm Rifkind
{{Small, MP for Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh Pentlands , rowspan=2 , 11 January
1986 , rowspan=2 , 28 November
1990 , rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Third Thatcher ministry, Thatcher III , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Official portrait of Lord Lang of Monkton 2020 crop 2

Official portrait of Lord Lang of Monkton 2020 crop 2

, rowspan=2 , Ian Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton, Ian Lang
{{Small, MP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency), Galloway and Upper Nithsdale , rowspan=2 , 28 November
1990 , rowspan=2 , 5 July
1995 , rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , First Major ministry, Major I , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Second Major ministry, Major II , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , , Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean, Michael Forsyth
{{Small, MP for Stirling (UK Parliament constituency), Stirling , 5 July
1995 , 2 May
1997 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Donald Dewar First Minister

, Donald Dewar
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Anniesland (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Anniesland , 2 May
1997 , Dewar government, 17 May
1999 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , First Blair ministry, Blair I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, John Reid
{{Small, MP for Hamilton North and Bellshill (UK Parliament constituency), Hamilton North and Bellshill , Dewar government, 17 May
1999 , 25 January
2001 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Helen Liddell
{{Small, MP for Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency), Airdrie and Shotts , 25 January
2001 , 13 June
2003 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Second Blair ministry, Blair II , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , AlistairDarlingABr cropped

, rowspan=2 , Alistair Darling{{Efn, name="auto", Concurrently served as Secretary of State for Transport
{{Small, MP for Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South West{{Efn, MP for Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh Central until 2005; MP for Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South West thereafter
, rowspan=2 , 13 June
2003 , rowspan=2 , 2006 British cabinet reshuffle, 5 May
2006 , rowspan=2 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Third Blair ministry, Blair III , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Douglas Alexander{{Efn, name="auto"
{{Small, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (UK Parliament constituency), Paisley and Renfrewshire South , 2006 British cabinet reshuffle, 5 May
2006 , 28 June
2007 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Des Browne{{Efn, Concurrently served as Secretary of State for Defence
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock and Loudoun , 28 June
2007 , 3 October
2008 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , rowspan=2 , Brown ministry, Brown , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Jim Murphy
{{Small, MP for East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency), East Renfrewshire , 3 October
2008 , 11 May
2010 , Labour Party (UK), Labour , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" , , Danny alexander hi

, Danny Alexander
{{Small, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency), Inverness, Nairn,
Badenoch and Strathspey , 12 May
2010 , 29 May
2010 , Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat , rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" , , rowspan=3 , Cameron–Clegg coalition, Cameron–Clegg
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Democrats (UK), L.D.'') , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" , , , Michael Moore (Scottish politician), Michael Moore
{{Small, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk , 29 May
2010 , 7 October
2013 , Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" , , , Alistair Carmichael
{{Small, MP for Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency), Orkney and Shetland , 7 October
2013 , 8 May
2015 , Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=3 , , rowspan=3 , David Mundell
{{Small, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency), Dumfriesshire,
Clydesdale and Tweeddale , rowspan=3 , 11 May
2015 , rowspan=3 , 24 July
2019 , rowspan=3 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Second Cameron ministry, Cameron II , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , First May ministry, May I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Second May ministry, May II , - style="height:1em" , rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , rowspan=4 , , rowspan=4 , Alister Jack{{Cite web, url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-alister-jack/4619 , title=Mr Alistair Jack MP , publisher=UK Parliament , access-date=24 July 2019
{{Small, MP for Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency), Dumfries and Galloway , rowspan=4 , 24 July
2019 , rowspan=4 , 5 July
2024 , rowspan=4 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , First Johnson ministry, Johnson I , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Second Johnson ministry, Johnson II , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Truss ministry, Truss , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" , , Sunak ministry, Sunak , - style="height:1em" , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , , Ian Murray (Scottish politician), Ian Murray
{{Small, MP for Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South , 5 July
2024
, ''Incumbent'' , Labour Party (UK), Labour , style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" , , Starmer ministry, Starmer

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline, ImageSize=width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal AlignBars = late PlotArea = width:90% left:10 top:10 bottom:80 Legend = columns:1 left:120 top:50 columnwidth:175 Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1885 till:31/12/{{#time:Y, +1 year TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Colors = id:conservative value:rgb(0,0.53,0.86) legend: Conservative_and_Unionist_Party id:liberal value:rgb(1,0.84,0) legend: Liberal_Party id:labour value:rgb(0.86,0.08,0.18) legend: Labour_Party id:unionist value:rgb(0.333,0.333,1) legend: Unionist_Party id:natliberal value:rgb(0,0.83,0.90) legend: National_Liberal_Party id:libdem value:rgb(0.98,0.651,0.102) legend: Liberal_Democrats id:independent value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) legend: Independent_or_no_party id:liteline value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9) id:line value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:10 start:1890 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:5 start:1885 TextData = pos:(20,55) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:"Political parties:" BarData = bar:Gordon-Lennox bar:Trevelyan bar:Ramsay bar:Balfour bar:Kerr bar:Bruce bar:Murray bar:Hope bar:JSinclair bar:McKinnon_Wood bar:Tennant bar:Munro bar:Munro_Ferguson bar:Adamson bar:Gilmour bar:ASinclair bar:Collins bar:Elliot bar:Colville bar:Brown bar:Johnston bar:Primrose bar:Westwood bar:Woodburn bar:McNeil bar:Stuart bar:Maclay bar:Noble bar:Ross bar:Campbell bar:Millan bar:Younger bar:Rifkind bar:Lang bar:Forsyth bar:Dewar bar:Reid bar:Liddell bar:Darling bar:Alexander bar:Browne bar:Murphy bar:DAlexander bar:Moore bar:Carmichael bar:Mundell bar:Jack bar:Murray1 PlotData= width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till bar:Gordon-Lennox from: 17/08/1885 till: 28/01/1886 color:Conservative text:"Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox" bar:Trevelyan from: 08/02/1886 till: 01/03/1886 color:Liberal from: 18/08/1892 till: 21/06/1895 color:Liberal text:"Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, George Trevelyan" bar:Ramsay from: 05/04/1886 till: 20/07/1886 color:Liberal text:"John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie, John Ramsay" bar:Balfour from: 05/08/1886 till: 11/03/1887 color:Conservative text:"Arthur Balfour" bar:Kerr from: 11/03/1887 till: 11/08/1892 color:Conservative text:"Schomberg Kerr" bar:Bruce from: 29/06/1895 till: 09/10/1903 color:Conservative text:"Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Alexander Bruce" bar:Murray from: 09/10/1903 till: 02/02/1905 color:Conservative text:"Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin, Andrew Murray" bar:Hope from: 02/02/1905 till: 04/12/1905 color:Conservative text:"John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, John Hope" bar:JSinclair from: 10/12/1905 till: 13/02/1912 color:Liberal text:"John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland, John Sinclair" bar:McKinnon_Wood from: 13/02/1912 till: 09/07/1916 color:Liberal text:"Thomas McKinnon Wood" bar:Tennant from: 09/07/1916 till: 05/12/1916 color:Liberal text:"Harold Tennant" bar:Munro from: 10/12/1916 till: 19/10/1922 color:Liberal text:"Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness, Robert Munro" bar:Munro_Ferguson from: 24/10/1922 till: 22/01/1924 color:Independent text:"Ronald Munro Ferguson bar:Adamson from: 22/01/1924 till: 03/11/1924 color:Labour from: 07/06/1929 till: 24/08/1931 color:Labour text:"William Adamson" bar:Gilmour from: 06/11/1924 till: 04/06/1929 color:Unionist text:"Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, John Gilmour" bar:ASinclair from: 25/08/1931 till: 28/09/1932 color:Liberal text:"Archibald Sinclair" bar:Collins from: 28/09/1932 till: 29/10/1936 color:NatLiberal text:"Godfrey Collins" bar:Elliot from: 29/10/1936 till: 06/05/1938 color:Unionist text:"Walter Elliot (Scottish politician), Walter Elliot" bar:Colville from: 06/05/1938 till: 10/05/1940 color:Unionist text:"John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir, John Colville" bar:Brown from: 14/05/1940 till: 08/02/1941 color:NatLiberal text:"Ernest Brown (British politician), Ernest Brown" bar:Johnston from: 08/02/1941 till: 23/05/1945 color:Labour text:"Tom Johnston (British politician), Thomas Johnston" bar:Primrose from: 25/05/1945 till: 26/07/1945 color:NatLiberal text:"Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery, Harry Primrose" bar:Westwood from: 03/08/1945 till: 07/10/1947 color:Labour text:"Joseph Westwood" bar:Woodburn from: 07/10/1947 till: 28/02/1950 color:Labour text:"Arthur Woodburn" bar:McNeil from: 28/02/1950 till: 26/10/1951 color:Labour text:"Hector McNeil" bar:Stuart from: 30/10/1951 till: 13/01/1957 color:Unionist text:"James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn, James Stuart" bar:Maclay from: 13/01/1957 till: 13/07/1962 color:Unionist text:"John Maclay" bar:Noble from: 13/07/1962 till: 16/10/1964 color:Unionist text:"Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas, Michael Noble" bar:Ross from: 18/10/1964 till: 19/06/1970 color:Labour from: 05/03/1974 till: 08/04/1976 color:Labour text:"Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock, Willie Ross" bar:Campbell from: 19/06/1970 till: 04/03/1974 color:Conservative text:"Gordon Campbell" bar:Millan from: 08/04/1976 till: 04/05/1979 color:Labour text:"Bruce Millan" bar:Younger from: 05/05/1979 till: 11/01/1986 color:Conservative text:"George Younger" bar:Rifkind from: 11/01/1986 till: 28/11/1990 color:Conservative text:"Malcom Rifkind" bar:Lang from: 28/11/1990 till: 05/07/1995 color:Conservative text:"Ian Lang" bar:Forsyth from: 05/07/1995 till: 02/05/1997 color:Conservative text:"Michael Forsyth" bar:Dewar from: 02/05/1997 till: 17/05/1999 color:Labour text:"Donald Dewar" bar:Reid from: 17/05/1999 till: 25/01/2001 color:Labour text:"John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, John Reid" bar:Liddell from: 25/01/2001 till: 13/06/2003 color:Labour text:"Helen Liddell" bar:Darling from: 13/06/2003 till: 05/05/2006 color:Labour text:"Alistair Darling" bar:Alexander from: 05/05/2006 till: 28/06/2007 color:Labour text:"Douglas Alexander" bar:Browne from: 28/06/2007 till: 03/10/2008 color:Labour text:"Des Browne" bar:Murphy from: 03/10/2008 till: 11/05/2010 color:Labour text:"Jim Murphy" bar:DAlexander from: 12/05/2010 till: 29/05/2010 color:LibDem text:"Danny Alexander" bar:Moore from: 29/05/2010 till: 07/10/2013 color:LibDem text:"Michael Moore" bar:Carmichael from: 07/10/2013 till: 08/05/2015 color:LibDem text:"Alistair Carmichael" bar:Mundell from: 08/05/2015 till: 24/07/2019 color:Conservative text:"David Mundell" bar:Jack from: 24/07/2019 till: 04/07/2024 color:Conservative text:"Alister Jack" bar:Murray1 from: 05/07/2024 till: $today color:Labour text:"Ian Murray (Scottish politician), Ian Murray"

Notes

{{Notelist

Notes

{{reflist, group=nb

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website of the Scotland Office
{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom {{Scotland Office {{Scotland topics {{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For Scotland Lists of government ministers of Scotland, Scotland Political office-holders in Scotland Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom Secretaries for Scotland, Government ministers of the United Kingdom 1705 establishments in the British Empire Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom

Overview

History of office

Acts of Union, 1707

Devolution, 1999

Functions

Reduced responsibility

Scottish Government collaboration

Responsibilities

List of Scottish secretaries

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1707–1746)

Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926)

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1926–)

Timeline

Notes

See also

Notes

References

External links