Scottish Secretary

The secretary of state for Scotland ( gd, Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba; sco, Secretar o State fir Scotland), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

The office holder works alongside the other Scotland Office#Ministers, Scotland Office ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, shadow secretary of state for Scotland.

The incumbent is Alister Jack, following his appointment by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2019 and who was reappointed by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

History

Prior to devolution (before 1999)

The post was first created after the Acts of Union 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain from the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. It was abolished in 1746, following the Jacobite rising of 1745. Scottish affairs thereafter were managed by the Lord Advocate until 1827, when responsibility passed to the Home Office. In 1885 the post of Secretary for Scotland was re-created, with the incumbent usually a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet. In 1926 this post was upgraded to a full Secretary of State (United Kingdom), Secretary of State appointment.

After devolution (since 1999)

After the History of Scottish devolution, 1999 Scottish devolution, the powers of the Scottish Office were divided, with most transferred to the Scottish Government or to other British government departments, leaving only a limited role for the Scotland Office. From June 2003 and October 2008, the holder of the office of Secretary of State for Scotland from 13 June 2003 through to 3 October 2008 also held another Cabinet post concurrently, leading to claims that the Scottish role was seen as a part-time ministry.

The current secretary of state for Scotland is Alister Jack, who was appointed by Boris Johnson, replacing David Mundell. He was later reappointed by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

Responsibilities

With the advent of legislative devolution for Scotland in 1999, the role of Secretary of State for Scotland was diminished. Most of the functions vested in the office since administrative devolution in the 19th century were transferred to the newly established Scottish Ministers upon the opening of the Scottish Parliament, or to other UK government ministers. However, the Secretary of State does represent Scotland in the Cabinet on matters that are not devolved to Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood and also holds Scotland Questions on the first Wednesday of every month between 11:30 am and 12 noon, when any Member of Parliament can ask a question on any matter relating to Scotland. However, devolved issues are not usually raised by MPs. The Secretary of State is also the group leader of the Scottish MPs from the government party.

As a result of this, the office mainly acts as a go-between for the UK and Scottish Governments and Parliaments. However, due to the Secretary's position as a minister in the British government, the convention of Cabinet collective responsibility applies, and as such the post is usually viewed as being a partisan one to promote the UK government's decision-making in Scotland, as adherence to the convention precludes doing anything else.

With the rise of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in both the Scottish Parliament and the British Parliament and the resultant interest in Scottish Independence, the Secretary of State's role has also subsequently increased in prominence. The Scotland Office itself has received a cumulative increase in budget of 20% from 2013 to 2017, with a 14.4% increase in 2015/16 alone.

The UK government's website lists the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibilities as being:

The main role of the Scottish Secretary is to promote and protect the devolution settlement.

Other responsibilities include promoting partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and relations between the 2 Parliaments.

This seeming lack of responsibility has in recent years seen calls from opposition MPs for the scrapping of the role and the Scotland Office. Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales, Wales into one Secretary of State for the Union, in a department into which Rodney Brazier has suggested adding a Minister of State for England with responsibility for Local government in England, English local government.

List of Scottish secretaries

Secretaries of State for Scotland (1707–1746)

:''John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine, Earl of Mar had served as Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland), Secretary of State of the independent Scotland from 1705. Following the Acts of Union 1707, he remained in office.''

The post of secretary of state for Scotland existed after the Acts of Union 1707, Union of the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England in 1707 till the Jacobite rising of 1745. After the rising, responsibility for Scotland lay primarily with the office of the Home Secretary, usually exercised by the Lord Advocate.

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=2 , Secretary of State
! colspan=2 , Term of office

, -
,
, John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine
Earl of Mar
,

1707
,
1709

, -
,
, James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, James Douglas
2nd Duke of Queensberry
,
1709
,
1711

, -
,
, John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), John Erskine
Earl of Mar
,
1713
,
1714

, -
,
, James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose, James Graham
1st Duke of Montrose
,
1714
,
1715

, -
,
, John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe, John Ker
1st Duke of Roxburghe
,
1716
,
1725

, -

, -
,
, John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale, John Hay
4th Marquess of Tweeddale
, {{Small, 16 February
1742
, {{Small, 3 January
1746

Office thereafter vacant.

Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926)

The Secretary for Scotland was chief Political minister, minister in charge of the Scottish Office in the United Kingdom government. The Scotland Office was created in 1885 with the post of Secretary for Scotland. From 1892 the Secretary for Scotland sat in Cabinet (government), cabinet. The post was upgraded to full Secretary of State rank as the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1926.

From 1885 to 1999, Secretaries for Scotland and Secretaries of State for Scotland also ''ex officio'' held the post of Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. From 1999, the position of Keeper of the Great Seal has been held by the First Minister of Scotland.

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 , Secretary of State
! colspan=2 , Term of office
! Party
! colspan=2 , Ministry

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox
{{Small, 6th Duke of Richmond
Duke of Lennox in the peerage of Scotland
, {{Small, 17 August
1885
, {{Small, 28 January
1886
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, First Salisbury ministry, Salisbury I

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
,
, Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, George Trevelyan
{{Small, MP for Hawick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency), Hawick Burghs
, {{Small, 8 February
1886
, {{Small, March
1886
, Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Third Gladstone ministry, Gladstone III

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
,
, John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie, John Ramsay
{{Small, 13th Earl of Dalhousie
, {{Small, 5 April
1886
, {{Small, 20 July
1886
, Liberal Party (UK), Liberal

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Arthur Balfour, Arthur Balfour
{{Small, MP for Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency), Manchester East
, {{Small, 5 August
1886
, {{Small, 11 March
1887
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Second Salisbury ministry, Salisbury II

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian, Schomberg Kerr
{{Small, 9th Marquess of Lothian
, {{Small, 11 March
1887
, {{Small, 11 August
1892
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet, George Trevelyan
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Bridgeton (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Bridgeton
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 18 August
1892
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 21 June
1895
, rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1892–1895, Gladstone IV
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1892–1895, Rosebery

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Alexander Bruce
{{Small, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 29 June
1895
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 9 October
1903

, rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, Unionist government, 1895–1905, Salisbury
{{Small, (III & IV)
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Unionist Party, Lib.U.'')
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=3 , Unionist government, 1895–1905, Balfour
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Unionist Party, Lib.U.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin, Andrew Murray
{{Small, MP for Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency), Buteshire
, {{Small, 9 October
1903
, {{Small, 2 February
1905
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, John Hope
{{Small, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow
, {{Small, 2 February
1905
, {{Small, 4 December
1905
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland, John Sinclair
{{Small, 1st Baron PentlandMP for Forfar (UK Parliament constituency), Forfar
until 1909; created Baron Pentland 1909
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 10 December
1905
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 February
1912
, rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1905–1915, Campbell-Bannerman
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK) , Liberal government, 1905–1915, Asquith
{{Small, (I–III)

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Thomas McKinnon Wood, Thomas McKinnon Wood
{{Small, MP for Glasgow St Rollox (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow St Rollox
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 February
1912
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 9 July
1916
, rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=2 , Asquith coalition ministry, Asquith Coalition
{{Small, (''Liberal Party (UK), Lib.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Labour Party (UK), Lab.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
,
, Harold Tennant, Harold Tennant
{{Small, MP for Berwickshire (UK Parliament constituency), Berwickshire
, {{Small, 9 July
1916
, {{Small, 5 December
1916
, Liberal Party (UK), Liberal

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
,
, Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness, Robert Munro
{{Small, MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Roxburgh and Selkirk MP for Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency), Wick Burghs until 1918; MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Roxburgh and Selkirk thereafter
, {{Small, 10 December
1916
, {{Small, 19 October
1922
, Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, Lloyd George ministry, Lloyd George
{{Small, (I & II)
(''Liberal Party (UK), Lib.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Labour Party (UK), Lab.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Independent (politician)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar, Ronald Munro Ferguson
{{Small, 1st Viscount Novar
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 24 October
1922
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 22 January
1924
, rowspan=2 , Independent (politician), Independent
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Conservative government, 1922–1924, Law
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Conservative government, 1922–1924, Baldwin I

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, William Adamson, William Adamson
{{Small, MP for West Fife (UK Parliament constituency), West Fife
, {{Small, 22 January
1924
, {{Small, 3 November
1924
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, First MacDonald ministry, MacDonald I

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
,
, Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, John Gilmour
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Pollok
, {{Small, 6 November
1924
, {{Small, 26 July
1926{{Inconsistent, date=6 September 2020, reason=Table below states he was Secretary of State for Scotland from 15 July.
, Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Second Baldwin ministry, Baldwin II

Secretaries of State for Scotland (1926–present)

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 , Secretary of State
! colspan=2 , Term of office
! Party
! colspan=2 , Ministry

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
,
, Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, John Gilmour
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Pollok
, {{Small, 26 July
1926
{{Inconsistent, date=6 September 2020, reason=Table above states he was Secretary for Scotland until 26 July.
, {{Small, 4 June
1929
, Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Second Baldwin ministry, Baldwin II

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, William Adamson
{{Small, MP for West Fife (UK Parliament constituency), West Fife
, {{Small, 7 June
1929
, {{Small, 24 August
1931
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, Second MacDonald ministry, MacDonald II

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso, Archibald Sinclair
{{Small, MP for Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency), Caithness and Sutherland
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 25 August
1931
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 28 September
1932
, rowspan=2 , Liberal Party (UK), Liberal
, style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, National Government (1931), National I
{{Small, (''National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.–Liberal Party (UK), Lib.'')
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=2 , National Government (1931–1935), National II
{{Small, (''National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.–Liberal Party (UK), Lib.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Godfrey Collins
{{Small, MP for Greenock (UK Parliament constituency), Greenock
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 28 September
1932
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 29 October
1936
, rowspan=2 , National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=2 , National Government (1935–1937), National III
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Walter Elliot (Scottish politician), Walter Elliot
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Kelvingrove
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 29 October
1936
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 6 May
1938
, rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=2 , National Government (1937–1939), National IV
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir, John Colville
{{Small, MP for Midlothian and Peebles Northern (UK Parliament constituency), Midlothian and Peebles Northern
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 6 May
1938
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 10 May
1940
, rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, Chamberlain war ministry, Chamberlain War
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Labour Organisation, N.Lab.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Lib.N.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" ,
,
, Ernest Brown (British politician), Ernest Brown
{{Small, MP for Leith (UK Parliament constituency), Leith
, {{Small, 14 May
1940
, {{Small, 8 February
1941
, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=2 , Churchill war ministry, Churchill War
{{Small, (''All parties'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Tom Johnston (Scottish politician), Thomas Johnston
{{Small, MP for West Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency), West Stirlingshire
, {{Small, 8 February
1941
, {{Small, 23 May
1945
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)" ,
,
, Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery, Harry Primrose
6th Earl of Rosebery
, {{Small, 25 May
1945
, {{Small, 26 July
1945
, National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), Liberal National
, style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, Churchill caretaker ministry, Churchill Caretaker
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–National Liberal Party (UK, 1931), N.Lib.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Joseph Westwood
{{Small, MP for Stirling and Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Stirling and Falkirk
, {{Small, 3 August
1945
, {{Small, 7 October
1947
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=3 , Attlee ministry, Attlee
{{Small, (I & II)

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Arthur Woodburn
{{Small, MP for Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency), Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire
, {{Small, 7 October
1947
, {{Small, 28 February
1950
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Hector McNeil
{{Small, MP for Greenock (UK Parliament constituency), Greenock
, {{Small, 28 February
1950
, {{Small, 26 October
1951
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn, James Stuart
{{Small, MP for Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency), Moray and Nairn
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 30 October
1951
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 January
1957
, rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Third Churchill ministry, Churchill III
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Eden ministry, Eden

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
,
, John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel, John Maclay
{{Small, MP for West Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency), West Renfrewshire
, {{Small, 13 January
1957
, Night of the Long Knives (1962), {{Small, 13 July
1962
, Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Conservative government, 1957–1964, Macmillan
{{Small, (I & II)

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Unionist Party (Scotland)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas, Michael Noble
{{Small, MP for Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency), Argyllshire
, rowspan=2 , Night of the Long Knives (1962), {{Small, 13 July
1962
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 16 October
1964
, rowspan=2 , Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Conservative government, 1957–1964, Douglas-Home

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock, Willie Ross{{Cite web, url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-william-ross/ , title=Mr William Ross , website=Hansard 1803–2005 , publisher=UK Parliament , access-date=24 September 2017
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock
, {{Small, 18 October
1964
, {{Small, 19 June
1970
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, Labour government, 1964–1970, Wilson
{{Small, (I & II)

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy, Gordon Campbell
{{Small, MP for Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency), Moray and Nairn
, {{Small, 20 June
1970
, {{Small, 4 March
1974
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Heath ministry, Heath

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock, Willie Ross
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock
, {{Small, 5 March
1974
, {{Small, 8 April
1976
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, Labour government, 1974–1979, Wilson
{{Small, (III & IV)

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Bruce Millan
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Craigton (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Craigton
, {{Small, 8 April
1976
, {{Small, 4 May
1979
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, Labour government, 1974–1979, Callaghan

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, George Younger
{{Small, MP for Ayr (UK Parliament constituency), Ayr
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 5 May
1979
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 11 January
1986
, rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, First Thatcher ministry, Thatcher I
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Second Thatcher ministry, Thatcher II

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Malcolm Rifkind
{{Small, MP for Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh Pentlands
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 11 January
1986
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 28 November
1990
, rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Third Thatcher ministry, Thatcher III

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Ian Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton, Ian Lang
{{Small, MP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency), Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 28 November
1990
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 5 July
1995
, rowspan=2 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, First Major ministry, Major I
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Second Major ministry, Major II

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
,
, Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean, Michael Forsyth
{{Small, MP for Stirling (UK Parliament constituency), Stirling
, {{Small, 5 July
1995
, {{Small, 2 May
1997
, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Donald Dewar
{{Small, MP for Glasgow Anniesland (UK Parliament constituency), Glasgow Anniesland
, {{Small, 2 May
1997
, {{Small, 17 May
1999
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , First Blair ministry, Blair I

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, John Reid
{{Small, MP for Hamilton North and Bellshill (UK Parliament constituency), Hamilton North and Bellshill
, {{Small, 17 May
1999
, {{Small, 25 January
2001
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Helen Liddell
{{Small, MP for Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency), Airdrie and Shotts
, {{Small, 25 January
2001
, {{Small, 13 June
2003
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Second Blair ministry, Blair II

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 ,
, rowspan=2 , Alistair Darling{{Efn, name="auto", Concurrently served as Secretary of State for Transport
{{Small, MP for Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South West{{Efn, MP for Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh Central until 2005; MP for Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South West thereafter
{{Small, (born 1953)
, rowspan=2 , {{Small, 13 June
2003
, rowspan=2 , 2006 British cabinet reshuffle, {{Small, 5 May
2006
, rowspan=2 , Labour Party (UK), Labour
, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Third Blair ministry, Blair III

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Douglas Alexander{{Efn, name="auto"
{{Small, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (UK Parliament constituency), Paisley and Renfrewshire South
, 2006 British cabinet reshuffle, {{Small, 5 May
2006
, {{Small, 28 June
2007
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Des Browne{{Efn, Concurrently served as Secretary of State for Defence
{{Small, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (UK Parliament constituency), Kilmarnock and Loudoun
, {{Small, 28 June
2007
, {{Small, 3 October
2008
, Labour Party (UK), Labour
, rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=2 , Brown ministry, Brown

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Labour Party (UK)" ,
,
, Jim Murphy
{{Small, MP for East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency), East Renfrewshire
, {{Small, 3 October
2008
, {{Small, 11 May
2010
, Labour Party (UK), Labour

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" ,
,
, Danny Alexander
{{Small, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency), Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
, {{Small, 12 May
2010
, {{Small, 29 May
2010
, Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat
, rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" ,
, rowspan=3 , Cameron–Clegg coalition, Cameron–Clegg
{{Small, (''Conservative Party (UK), Con.–Liberal Democrats (UK), L.D.'')

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" ,
,
, Michael Moore (Scottish politician), Michael Moore
{{Small, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency), Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
, {{Small, 29 May
2010
, {{Small, 7 October
2013
, Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat

, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Liberal Democrats (UK)" ,
,
, Alistair Carmichael
{{Small, MP for Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency), Orkney and Shetland
, {{Small, 7 October
2013
, {{Small, 8 May
2015
, Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=3 ,
, rowspan=3 , David Mundell
{{Small, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency), Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
, rowspan=3 , {{Small, 11 May
2015
, rowspan=3 , {{Small, 24 July
2019
, rowspan=3 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Second Cameron ministry, Cameron II
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, First May ministry, May I
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Second May ministry, May II

, - style="height:1em"
, rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, rowspan=4 ,
, rowspan=4 , Alister Jack{{Cite web, url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-alister-jack/4619 , title=Mr Alistair Jack MP , publisher=UK Parliament , access-date=24 July 2019
{{Small, MP for Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency), Dumfries and Galloway
, rowspan=4 , {{Small, 24 July
2019
, rowspan=4 , {{Small, Incumbent
, rowspan=4 , Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, First Johnson ministry, Johnson I
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Second Johnson ministry, Johnson II
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Truss ministry, Truss
, - style="height:1em"
, style="background-color:{{Party color, Conservative Party (UK)" ,
, Sunak ministry, Sunak

;Notes:
{{Notelist

See also

* First Minister of Scotland
* Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland), Secretary of State, a senior post in the pre-Union government of the Kingdom of Scotland
* Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, junior minister supporting the Secretary of State for Scotland
* Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
* Secretary of State (Jacobite)
* Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
* Secretary of State for Wales

Notes

{{reflist, group=nb

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website of the Scotland Office

{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom
{{Scotland Office
{{Scotland topics

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For Scotland
Lists of government ministers of Scotland, Scotland
Political office-holders in Scotland
Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom
Secretaries for Scotland,
Government ministers of the United Kingdom
1705 establishments in the British Empire
Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom