Second Swinney government

John Swinney formed the second Swinney government on 20 May 2026, following his reappointment as First Minister of Scotland after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.^[1][2]

Dateformed20 May 2026

Head of state

Charles III

First Minister

John Swinney

First Minister's history

MSP for Perthshire North (1999–present)
Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023)
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (2007–2016, 2022–2023)
Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery (2021–2023)
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (2016–2021)

Quick facts Date formed, People and organisations ...

Second Swinney government
13th Government of Scotland
2026–present
Swinney's cabinet outside Bute House, 2026
Date formed	20 May 2026
People and organisations
Head of state	Charles III
First Minister	John Swinney
First Minister's history	MSP for Perthshire North (1999–present) Deputy First Minister of Scotland (2014–2023) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (2007–2016, 2022–2023) Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery (2021–2023) Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (2016–2021)
Deputy First Minister	Jenny Gilruth
Member party	Scottish National Party
Status in legislature	Minority
Opposition cabinet	Opposition Parties
Opposition parties	Scottish Labour   Reform UK Scotland
Opposition leaders	Anas Sarwar & Malcolm Offord (2026) Jackie Bailie & Malcolm Offord (2026–present)
History
Election	2026 Scottish Parliament election
Legislature term	7th Scottish Parliament
Predecessor	First Swinney government

Close

The government was announced on 20 May 2026 following Swinney's formal swearing-in at the Court of Session. The new government featured a significantly streamlined cabinet, reduced from twelve cabinet secretaries to nine, with Swinney stating that the government would focus on "fiscal sustainability" and public sector reform.^[3]

Jenny Gilruth was appointed Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, replacing Kate Forbes, who departed government following the election. Former Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn entered government for the first time as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport.^[4] Several senior cabinet secretaries from the first Swinney government did not return for the second government, with former Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Finance Secretary Shona Robison, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon all standing down ahead of the 2026 election, while Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat in Edinburgh Central.

Several appointments were initially made on a designate basis pending approval by the Scottish Parliament and formal appointment by the monarch, including Ivan McKee, Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Kirsten Oswald, Alison Thewliss and Simita Kumar.^[5]