The Leader of the Scottish National Party is the head of the
SNP. The incumbent is
Nicola Sturgeon who was elected unopposed in November 2014, succeeding
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond (; born 31 December 1954) is a Scottish politician and economist who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure on the Scottish nationalist movement, he has served as leader ...
as party leader and
First Minister of Scotland.
History
The post was officially created on 7 April 1934 with the foundation of the SNP. The role was titled Chairman of the Scottish National Party from 1934 until 1969, with the first chairman,
Alexander MacEwen
Sir Alexander Malcolm MacEwen (10 January 1875 – 29 June 1941) was a Scottish politician and solicitor who served as the inaugural leader of the Scottish National Party ( SNP) from 1934 to 1936.
Early life
Alexander Malcolm MacEwen was bor ...
, appointed to the office in 1934. In 1969 the title of chairman was replaced with that of National Convener, with
William Wolfe
William Cuthbertson Wolfe (22 February 1924 – 18 March 2010) was a Scottish accountant, manufacturer and Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He was the National Convenor (leader) of the SNP from 1969 to 1979, playing a central role in ...
the first person elected as National Convener. The post gained its current title of ''Leader'' at the SNP spring conference on 24 April 2004.
Role
Currently, the leader
Nicola Sturgeon, the
First Minister
A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...
and Leader of the
Scottish National Party, is responsible for the overall growth. They usually advocate for
Scottish independence and
Pro Europeanism.
Keith Brown is the
Depute Leader of the
Scottish National Party; however, he is not the
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
The Deputy First Minister of Scotland ( gd, Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba; sco, Heid Meinister Depute o Scotland) is the second highest ranking minister of the Government of Scotland, behind the First Minister of Scotland. The post-hold ...
.
Stephen Flynn is the Leader of the
Scottish National Party in Westminster, along with
Mhairi Black
Mhairi Black (; or /vaɾʲɪ/ in Scottish Gaelic born 12 September 1994) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician, serving as the party's deputy leader in the House of Commons since December 2022. She has been a Member of Parliament (MP) ...
, who is Deputy Leader.
Leaders of the Scottish National Party (1934–present)
Living former party leaders
There are two living former party leaders:
References
Lists of leaders of political parties
Scottish National Party politicians
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