Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

Scottish cabinet position

  • Scottish Parliament
  • Scottish Cabinet
Reports toScottish ParliamentSeatEdinburghAppointerFirst Minister of ScotlandInaugural holderMichael Russell
Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in EuropeFormationAugust 2016DeputyMinister for Culture, Europe and International DevelopmentSalary£118,511 per annum (2023)[1]
(including £67,662 MSP salary)Websitewww.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Bhun-reachd), is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary is supported by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.

The current Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is Angus Robertson, who assumed office in May 2021.

History

The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum took place on 23 June 2016. This position was established (initially as "Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe") so that the Scottish government would be involved in the development of the UK government's position before the Prime Minister triggered Article 50.[2]

During a Scottish Government reshuffle in June 2018, the post was promoted to the Cabinet and renamed Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations.[3] It was further renamed to Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs in February 2020.[4]

Overview

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture include:[5]

  • independence
  • cross-government co-ordination of European and external relations
  • policy in relation to UK's exit from the EU
  • post-Brexit relations
  • migration
  • Scottish diaspora
  • Global Affairs Network
  • Scottish Cities of Refuge
  • New Scot strategy
  • culture policy
  • broadcasting and screen
  • National Records of Scotland
  • Registers of Scotland
  • British Irish Council
  • royal and ceremonial

Public bodies

The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture :

List of office holders

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe

Name Portrait Entered office Left office Party First Minister
Mike Russell 26 August 2016 26 June 2018 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations

Mike Russell 26 June 2018 17 February 2020 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

Mike Russell 17 February 2020 20 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

Angus Robertson 20 May 2021 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Humza Yousaf

See also

References

  1. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 5 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Michael Russell appointed Scottish Brexit minister". BBC News. 25 August 2016.
  3. ^ Freeman, Tom (25 August 2016). "Mike Russell named new Scottish Government Brexit minister". Holyrood. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Cabinet Appointments". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 8 June 2021.

External links

  • Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe on Scottish Government website
  • The Scottish Cabinet on Scottish Government website


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