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The Scottish Government

Scottish Election

Scottish Election

The Scottish Parliamentary Election was held on 7 May 2026.  The next government will now be formed.

The new Ministerial team will be confirmed shortly after the Parliament selects its nominee for First Minister, who is then formally appointed by the King.

Bank holidays

Bank holidays

Find out the dates of upcoming Scottish bank holidays.

Cost of living support

Cost of living support

People in Scotland are being affected by the most severe economic crisis in a generation. Find out what help is available.

Consultations

Topics

Look for a policy using keywords or filtering by available topic areas.

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News

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About government

First Minister

John Swinney

As head of the Scottish Government, the First Minister is responsible for the overall development, implementation and presentation of the administration's policies and for promoting and representing Scotland at home and overseas.

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How government works

The Scottish Government is made up of:

1First Minister 11Cabinet Secretaries 11Other Ministers
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