Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

Scotland
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar
since 20 May 2021
Scottish Government
Scottish Cabinet
Style
  • Cabinet Secretary
    (within parliament)
  • Constitution Secretary
    (informal)
  • Scottish Constitution Secretary
    (outwith Scotland)
Member of
Reports to
SeatEdinburgh
AppointerFirst Minister
(following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder
Formation1 November 2000
Salary£126,452 per annum (2024)[1]
(including £72,196 MSP salary)
Websitewww.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Bhun-reachd), is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The incumbent Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is Angus Robertson, who assumed office in May 2021.

The Cabinet Secretary was supported by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development until May 2024.

History

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The Europe and External Affairs brief was instituted in 2000 and combined with Education as the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs which was a Cabinet position in the McLeish Government. After 2001 the Europe and External Affairs Brief was abolished as a ministerial position. From 1999 to 2001, the Culture brief was a junior post in the Scottish Government as Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport. It was made into a Cabinet position as Minister for Culture and Sport in the First McConnell government from 2001 to 2003. The Second McConnell government from 2003 to 2007 combined the Culture and Sport brief with Tourism to form a Cabinet post in the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Culture was combined with External Affairs and Europe, to form a junior ministerial position, of Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture in the Salmond government following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. In February 2009 the role was expanded to deal with constitutional issues this additional role was later removed in December 2009 following the publication of the National Conversation.[2] After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the office-holder returned to the Cabinet with the junior ministerial post being transformed into the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs.[3] After the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the post was retitled Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

In February 2020 the existing Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop took on additional responsibilities for economic matters from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (that role becoming the Cabinet Secretary for Finance), whilst responsibility for external affairs was transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, with that post being renamed Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs. Tourism moved to the Rural Economy brief.[4] On 19 May 2021 the position ceased to exist with the re-establishment of the roles of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, and a separate Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

Responsibilities

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The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture:[5]

List of office holders

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Cabinet position

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Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture
Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Jack McConnell 1 November 2000 22 November 2001 Labour Party Henry McLeish Sam Galbraith 1 November 2000 20 March 2001 Labour Party Henry McLeish
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
Mike Watson 28 November 2001 28 November 2002 Labour Party Jack McConnell
Elaine Murray 28 November 2002 21 May 2003 Labour Party
Frank McAveety 21 May 2003 4 October 2004 Labour Party
Patricia Ferguson 4 October 2004 19 February 2007 Labour Party
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs
Fiona Hyslop 19 May 2011 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs
Fiona Hyslop 21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Fiona Hyslop 18 May 2016 17 February 2020 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Role reshuffled with Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy and Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
Fiona Hyslop 17 February 2020 19 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Role reshuffled and merged with Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Angus Robertson 20 May 2021 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Humza Yousaf
John Swinney

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Demoted minister backs successor". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  3. ^ Black, Andrew (20 May 2011). "At-a-glance: Scottish government cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Cabinet Appointments". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture". Scottish Government. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
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