Key facts
- Style
- First Minister , (informal), The Right Honourable , (UK and Commonwealth) , His Excellency , (international)
- Status
- Head of government
- Member of
- Scottish Parliament Scottish Cabinet Privy Council British-Irish Council PM and Heads of Devolved Governments Council Council of the Nations and Regions
- Reports to
- Scottish Parliament
- Residence
- Bute House
- Seat
- St Andrew's House
- Nominator
- Scottish Parliament
- Appointer
- The monarch
- Term length
- At His Majesty's pleasure , (following nomination by the Scottish Parliament )
- Inaugural holder
- Donald Dewar
- Formation
- 17 May 1999 , (27 years ago) ( 1999-05-17 )
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Article
The first minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba) is the head of government of Scotland and the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, one of the great officers of state in the country. The first minister leads the Scottish Government, the executive branch of the devolved government.
The first minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development, and presentation of the Scottish Government's policies. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Scotland in an official capacity, at home and abroad, as part of the Scottish Government's approach to international relations. The first minister is nominated by the Scottish Parliament by members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), and is formally appointed by the monarch.