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Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)

In the Scottish Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition (more formally, the Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament) is an unofficial title often used to describe the leader of the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament that is not in government. This leader has also been referred to as the Shadow First Minister.[1]

Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Gaelic: Ceannard an Luchd-dùbhlain ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent
Russell Findlay MSP
since 27 September 2024
Scottish Parliament
Opposition Shadow Cabinet
StyleMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
Term lengthWhile leader of the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament that is not in government
Inaugural holderAlex Salmond
FormationMay 1999

Unlike in the Parliament at Westminster where there is an Official Opposition to the government of the day, all parties in the Scottish Parliament that are not in government are all legally on the same footing as 'opposition parties'.

On 27 September 2024, following a leadership election within the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party,[2] Russell Findlay succeeded Douglas Ross, who had served in this role from 2021 to 2024, as Leader of the Opposition in Holyrood.

To date there have been 14 individuals who have led the largest opposition party, three from the Scottish National Party, seven from the Scottish Labour Party and four from the Scottish Conservative Party.

List of leaders of the opposition in the Scottish Parliament

edit
Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Constituency/title 		Term of office Political party First Minister
  Alex Salmond
(1954–2024)
MSP for Banff and Buchan 		12 May
1999[3] 		26 September
2000 		Scottish National Party Donald Dewar
(1999–2000)
  John Swinney
(born 1964)
MSP for North Tayside 		26 September
2000[4] 		3 September
2004 		Scottish National Party
Henry McLeish
(2000–2001)
Jack McConnell
(2001–2007)
  Nicola Sturgeon
(born 1970)
MSP for Glasgow 		3 September
2004[5] 		17 May
2007 		Scottish National Party
  Jack McConnell
(born 1960)
MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw 		17 May
2007[6] 		15 August
2007[7][8] 		Scottish Labour Party Alex Salmond
(2007–2014)
  Cathy Jamieson
(born 1956)
MSP for Carrick,
Cumnock and Doon Valley 		15 August
2007[8] 		14 September
2007 		Scottish Labour Party
  Wendy Alexander
(born 1963)
MSP for Paisley North 		14 September
2007[9][10] 		28 June
2008[11] 		Scottish Labour Party
  Cathy Jamieson
(born 1956)
MSP for Carrick,
Cumnock and Doon Valley 		28 June
2008 		13 September
2008 		Scottish Labour Party
  Iain Gray
(born 1957)
MSP for East Lothian 		13 September
2008[12][13] 		17 December
2011 		Scottish Labour Party
  Johann Lamont
(born 1957)
MSP for Glasgow Pollok 		17 December
2011[14][15] 		24 October
2014[16] 		Scottish Labour Party
  Jackie Baillie
(born 1964)
MSP for Dumbarton 		24 October
2014 		13 December
2014 		Scottish Labour
Nicola Sturgeon
(2014–2023)
  Kezia Dugdale
(born 1981)
MSP for Lothian 		13 December
2014[17] 		13 June
2015[18] 		Scottish Labour
  Iain Gray
(born 1957)
MSP for East Lothian 		13 June
2015[19] 		15 August
2015 		Scottish Labour
  Kezia Dugdale
(born 1981)
MSP for Lothian 		15 August
2015[20][21] 		6 May
2016[22] 		Scottish Labour
  Ruth Davidson
(born 1978)
MSP for Edinburgh Central 		6 May
2016[23] 		15 September
2018 		Scottish Conservatives
  Jackson Carlaw
(born 1959)
MSP for Eastwood 		15 September
2018 		3 May
2019 		Scottish Conservatives
  Ruth Davidson
(born 1978)
MSP for Edinburgh Central 		3 May
2019 		29 August
2019 		Scottish Conservatives
  Jackson Carlaw
(born 1959)
MSP for Eastwood 		29 August
2019[24] 		30 July
2020[25][26] 		Scottish Conservatives
  Ruth Davidson
(born 1978)
MSP for Edinburgh Central 		11 August
2020[27] 		5 May
2021 		Scottish Conservatives
  Douglas Ross
(born 1983)
MP for Moray
MSP for Highlands and Islands 		6 May
2021 		27 September
2024 		Scottish Conservatives
Humza Yousaf
(2023–2024)
John Swinney
(since 2024)
  Russell Findlay
(born 1972/1973)
MSP for West Scotland 		27 September
2024 		Incumbent Scottish Conservatives

Timeline

edit
Douglas Ross (Scottish politician)Jackson CarlawRuth DavidsonKezia DugdaleJohann LamontIain GrayWendy AlexanderCathy JamiesonJack McConnellNicola SturgeonJohn SwinneyAlex Salmond

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Scottish Parliament: Mr John Swinney MSP". 2 November 2002. Archived from the original on 2 November 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  2. ^ Craig Williams (29 September 2024). "New Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay promises to 'change' party". BBC Scotland News. Edinburgh. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Alex Salmond". politics.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  4. ^ StreetBlairgowrie, 17-19 Leslie; Ph10 6ah (5 September 2018). "John Swinney". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 6 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Salmond to lead SNP again". the Guardian. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Former minister returns to join Scottish shadow cabinet". the Guardian. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  7. ^ "McConnell quits as Scottish Labour leader". the Guardian. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b "McConnell quits Labour leadership". 15 August 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Alexander leads Scottish Labour". 14 September 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  10. ^ "'Jobs for the girls' on Wendy's front bench". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Wendy Alexander: Labour's short-lived Scottish leader". the Guardian. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Iain Gray is voted in as leader of the Scottish Labour party". the Guardian. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Scottish Labour leader struggles to be recognised as poll puts SNP ahead". the Guardian. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  14. ^ https://www. theguardian.com/uk/2011/dec/17/johann-lamont-scottish-labour-leader
  15. ^ Aitken, Mark (16 December 2012). "Johann Lamont says her first year in charge of opposition has been fun". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Johann Lamont resigns as leader of Scottish Labour party". the Guardian. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. ^ "MP Jim Murphy named Scottish Labour leader". BBC News. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Scottish Labour agree to swathe of party reforms – and new leader will be announced on August 15th". LabourList. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Scottish Labour agrees reform plan". BBC News. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Kezia Dugdale elected Scottish Labour leader". 15 August 2015 – via www.theguardian.com.
  21. ^ "Kezia Dugdale – Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction – Daily Record". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale 'heartbroken' by result". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon promises to work with opposition parties after SNP loses majority". The Independent. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Jackson Carlaw MSP Appointed Interim Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party". Highland. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Scottish Tory leader resigns after just five months". The Independent. 30 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Jackson Carlaw resigns as Scottish Conservative leader". STV News. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Scottish Conservatives appoint Ruth Davidson as Holyrood leader". the Guardian. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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