Secretary of State for Scotland facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Secretary of State for Scotland
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government in Scotland
Incumbent Douglas Alexander since 5 September 2025
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
Style	Scottish Secretary (informal) The Right Honourable (within the UK and Commonwealth)
Member of	Cabinet Privy Council
Reports to	The Prime Minister
Seat	Westminster
Nominator	The Prime Minister
Appointer	The Monarch (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	1 May 1707 (as Secretary of State for Scotland) 17 August 1885 (as Secretary for Scotland) 26 July 1926 : (as Secretary of State for Scotland)
Deputy	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
Salary	£159,038 per annum (2022) (including £86,584 MP salary)
Website	Scotland Office

The Secretary of State for Scotland is an important government job in the United Kingdom. This person is also known as the Scottish Secretary. They are a special minister in the Government of the United Kingdom. Their main job is to lead the Scotland Office.

This Secretary of State is part of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The Cabinet is a group of senior ministers who make big decisions for the country. The Scottish Secretary helps make sure that Scotland's interests are heard in the UK Government. They also explain UK Government plans to people in Scotland.

A key part of their role is to protect the rules of Scottish devolution. Devolution means that Scotland has its own Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to make decisions on many local matters. This system was set up by the Scotland Act 1998. The Secretary also helps the UK Government and the Scottish Government work together. They also manage the relationship between the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament.

After 1999, many responsibilities of this role moved to the First Minister of Scotland. This happened when the new Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government were created.

The current Secretary of State for Scotland is Douglas Alexander. He was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September 2025. He works with other ministers in the Scotland Office. His main helper is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. There is also a Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland from the opposition party.

Understanding the Secretary of State for Scotland Role
- How the Job Started
  - The Acts of Union in 1707
  - Scotland Gets More Power in 1999
- What the Secretary Does Now
List of Scottish Secretaries
Timeline of Scottish Secretaries
See also

Understanding the Secretary of State for Scotland Role

How the Job Started

The Acts of Union in 1707

The job of Secretary of State for Scotland began a long time ago. It was created after the Acts of Union 1707. These Acts joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. Together, they formed the Kingdom of Great Britain.

This job was stopped in 1746 after a historical event called the Jacobite rising of 1745. For many years, Scottish matters were handled by the Lord Advocate. Later, in 1827, the Home Office took over these duties.

The job was brought back in 1885, but it was called the Secretary for Scotland. This person was usually part of the UK Cabinet. In 1926, the role became a full Secretary of State position again.

Scotland Gets More Power in 1999

In 1999, Scotland gained more power to make its own decisions. This was called Scottish devolution. Because of this, many of the old powers of the Scottish Office were moved. Most of these powers went to the new Scottish Government. Some also went to other UK government departments.

This meant the Scotland Office had a smaller role. For a few years, from 2003 to 2008, the Scottish Secretary also had another job in the Cabinet. Some people thought this made the Scottish Secretary's role seem less important.

What the Secretary Does Now

Fewer Responsibilities After Devolution

After Scotland got its own Parliament in 1999, the Secretary of State for Scotland's job changed. Many of the powers they used to have moved to the new Scottish Ministers. These new ministers work in the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government. The First Minister of Scotland now leads many of these areas. For example, Donald Dewar was the first First Minister of Scotland. He had been the Secretary of State for Scotland before that.

However, the Secretary of State still has important duties. They speak for Scotland in the UK Cabinet on matters that the Scottish Parliament does not control. They also hold 'Scotland Questions' once a month. During this time, any Member of Parliament can ask about Scottish issues. But they usually don't ask about things the Scottish Government handles.

The UK Government also has a rule. It will not make laws about things that are already decided by the Scottish Parliament. The Secretary of State is also the group leader of the Scottish Members of Parliament from the ruling party.

Working with the Scottish Government

Nicola Sturgeon, who was First Minister of Scotland, and Scottish Secretary David Mundell at a meeting in 2016.

The Secretary of State for Scotland acts as a link between the UK Government and the Scottish Government. They also connect the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament. Because the Secretary is a UK government minister, they must support the UK government's decisions. This means they often promote UK government policies in Scotland.

The role of the Scottish Secretary has become more important recently. This is partly because the Scottish National Party (SNP) has grown stronger. The SNP is interested in Scotland becoming an independent country. The Scotland Office has also seen its budget increase to help with its work.

Key Duties of the Secretary

The UK government website lists the main jobs of the Secretary of State for Scotland:

They are the UK Government minister who speaks for Scotland in the Cabinet.
They make sure the rules of Scottish devolution are followed.
They represent Scotland's interests within the UK Government.
They explain the UK Government's plans and policies in Scotland.
They encourage teamwork between the UK Government and the Scottish Government.
They also help with good relations between the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament.

Dover House in London is where the Scotland Office is located.

Some politicians have suggested that this job, and the Scotland Office, should be removed. They think the responsibilities are too few. Others have suggested combining the jobs for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales into one 'Secretary of State for the Union'.

In general, all UK government ministers who are Secretaries of State for a specific part of the UK are responsible for:

Making sure devolution works well. They are key to the relationship between the local government and the UK Government.
Dealing with laws that affect their area.
Speaking for their area's interests in Cabinet meetings.
Answering questions in Parliament about their area.
Sending money (called a block grant) to the local government.
Helping the UK Government and local government work together.
Promoting the interests of their area.

List of Scottish Secretaries

Past Secretaries of State for Scotland (1707–1746)

This section lists the people who held the job of Secretary of State for Scotland. This was after Scotland and England joined together in 1707. The job existed until 1746. After that, the Home Secretary and the Lord Advocate handled Scottish matters for a long time.

Note: John Erskine, Earl of Mar was already Secretary of State for Scotland before the Union in 1707. He continued in the role after the Union.*

	Term of office
John Erskine Earl of Mar	(since 1705) 1 May 1707	3 February 1709
James Douglas 2nd Duke of Queensberry	3 February 1709	6 July 1711
John Erskine Earl of Mar	9 September 1713	24 September 1714
James Graham 1st Duke of Montrose	24 September 1714	August 1715
John Ker 1st Duke of Roxburghe	13 December 1716	August 1725
John Hay 4th Marquess of Tweeddale	25 February 1742	3 January 1746

Office thereafter vacant.

Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926)

Secretary for Scotland Act 1885
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for appointing a Secretary for Scotland and Vice-President of the Scotch Education Department.
Citation	48 & 49 Vict. c. 61
Dates
Royal assent	14 August 1885
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Secretary for Scotland Act 1885 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

The Secretary for Scotland was the main minister for the Scottish Office. This office was created along with the Secretary for Scotland job in 1885. This happened because of the Secretary for Scotland Act 1885. From 1892, this Secretary was part of the UK Cabinet. In 1926, the job was made even more important. It became the full Secretary of State for Scotland.

From 1885 to 1999, these Secretaries also held another special role. They were the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. This is a very old and important symbol. Since 1999, the First Minister of Scotland has held this role.

	Term of office		Party
Charles Gordon-Lennox 6th Duke of Richmond	17 August 1885	28 January 1886	Conservative	Salisbury I
George Trevelyan MP for Hawick Burghs	8 February 1886	March 1886	Liberal	Gladstone III
John Ramsay 13th Earl of Dalhousie	5 April 1886	20 July 1886	Liberal	Gladstone III
Arthur Balfour MP for Manchester East	5 August 1886	11 March 1887	Conservative	Salisbury II
Schomberg Kerr 9th Marquess of Lothian	11 March 1887	11 August 1892	Conservative	Salisbury II
George Trevelyan MP for Glasgow Bridgeton	18 August 1892	21 June 1895	Liberal	Gladstone IV
George Trevelyan MP for Glasgow Bridgeton	18 August 1892	21 June 1895	Liberal	Rosebery
Alexander Bruce 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh	29 June 1895	9 October 1903	Conservative	Salisbury (III & IV) (Con.–Lib.U.)
Alexander Bruce 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh	29 June 1895	9 October 1903	Conservative	Balfour (Con.–Lib.U.)
Andrew Murray MP for Buteshire	9 October 1903	2 February 1905	Conservative
John Hope 1st Marquess of Linlithgow	2 February 1905	4 December 1905	Conservative
John Sinclair 1st Baron Pentland	10 December 1905	13 February 1912	Liberal	Campbell-Bannerman
John Sinclair 1st Baron Pentland	10 December 1905	13 February 1912	Liberal	Asquith (I–III)
Thomas McKinnon Wood MP for Glasgow St Rollox	13 February 1912	9 July 1916	Liberal	Asquith (I–III)
Thomas McKinnon Wood MP for Glasgow St Rollox	13 February 1912	9 July 1916	Liberal	Asquith Coalition (Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Harold Tennant MP for Berwickshire	9 July 1916	5 December 1916	Liberal	Asquith Coalition (Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Robert Munro MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk	10 December 1916	19 October 1922	Liberal	Lloyd George (I & II) (Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
Ronald Munro Ferguson 1st Viscount Novar	24 October 1922	22 January 1924	Independent	Law
Ronald Munro Ferguson 1st Viscount Novar	24 October 1922	22 January 1924	Independent	Baldwin I
William Adamson MP for West Fife	22 January 1924	3 November 1924	Labour	MacDonald I
John Gilmour MP for Glasgow Pollok	6 November 1924	26 July 1926	Unionist	Baldwin II

Modern Secretaries of State for Scotland (1926–Present)

This table lists the Secretaries of State for Scotland from 1926 until today. This is when the role was officially upgraded to a full Secretary of State position.

	Term of office		Party
John Gilmour MP for Glasgow Pollok	26 July 1926	4 June 1929	Unionist	Baldwin II
William Adamson MP for West Fife	7 June 1929	24 August 1931	Labour	MacDonald II
Archibald Sinclair MP for Caithness and Sutherland	25 August 1931	28 September 1932	Liberal	National I (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
Archibald Sinclair MP for Caithness and Sutherland	25 August 1931	28 September 1932	Liberal	National II (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
Godfrey Collins MP for Greenock	28 September 1932	29 October 1936	Liberal National	National II (N.Lab.–Con.–Lib.N.–Lib.)
Godfrey Collins MP for Greenock	28 September 1932	29 October 1936	Liberal National	National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
Walter Elliot MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove	29 October 1936	6 May 1938	Unionist	National III (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
Walter Elliot MP for Glasgow Kelvingrove	29 October 1936	6 May 1938	Unionist	National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
John Colville MP for Midlothian and Peebles Northern	6 May 1938	10 May 1940	Unionist	National IV (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
John Colville MP for Midlothian and Peebles Northern	6 May 1938	10 May 1940	Unionist	Chamberlain War (Con.–N.Lab.–Lib.N.)
Ernest Brown MP for Leith	14 May 1940	8 February 1941	Liberal National	Churchill War (All parties)
Thomas Johnston MP for West Stirlingshire	8 February 1941	23 May 1945	Labour	Churchill War (All parties)
Harry Primrose 6th Earl of Rosebery	25 May 1945	26 July 1945	Liberal National	Churchill Caretaker (Con.–N.Lib.)
Joseph Westwood MP for Stirling and Falkirk	3 August 1945	7 October 1947	Labour	Attlee (I & II)
Arthur Woodburn MP for Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire	7 October 1947	28 February 1950	Labour
Hector McNeil MP for Greenock	28 February 1950	26 October 1951	Labour
James Stuart MP for Moray and Nairn	30 October 1951	13 January 1957	Unionist	Churchill III
James Stuart MP for Moray and Nairn	30 October 1951	13 January 1957	Unionist	Eden
John Maclay MP for West Renfrewshire	13 January 1957	13 July 1962	Unionist	Macmillan (I & II)
Michael Noble MP for Argyllshire	13 July 1962	16 October 1964	Unionist	Macmillan (I & II)
Michael Noble MP for Argyllshire	13 July 1962	16 October 1964	Unionist	Douglas-Home
Willie Ross MP for Kilmarnock	18 October 1964	19 June 1970	Labour	Wilson (I & II)
Gordon Campbell MP for Moray and Nairn	20 June 1970	4 March 1974	Conservative	Heath
Willie Ross MP for Kilmarnock	5 March 1974	8 April 1976	Labour	Wilson (III & IV)
Bruce Millan MP for Glasgow Craigton	8 April 1976	4 May 1979	Labour	Callaghan
George Younger MP for Ayr	5 May 1979	11 January 1986	Conservative	Thatcher I
George Younger MP for Ayr	5 May 1979	11 January 1986	Conservative	Thatcher II
Malcolm Rifkind MP for Edinburgh Pentlands	11 January 1986	28 November 1990	Conservative	Thatcher II
Malcolm Rifkind MP for Edinburgh Pentlands	11 January 1986	28 November 1990	Conservative	Thatcher III
Ian Lang MP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale	28 November 1990	5 July 1995	Conservative	Major I
Ian Lang MP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale	28 November 1990	5 July 1995	Conservative	Major II
Michael Forsyth MP for Stirling	5 July 1995	2 May 1997	Conservative	Major II
Donald Dewar MP for Glasgow Anniesland	2 May 1997	17 May 1999	Labour	Blair I
John Reid MP for Hamilton North and Bellshill	17 May 1999	25 January 2001	Labour	Blair I
Helen Liddell MP for Airdrie and Shotts	25 January 2001	13 June 2003	Labour	Blair II
Alistair Darling MP for Edinburgh South West	13 June 2003	5 May 2006	Labour	Blair II
Alistair Darling MP for Edinburgh South West	13 June 2003	5 May 2006	Labour	Blair III
Douglas Alexander MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South	5 May 2006	28 June 2007	Labour	Blair III
Des Browne MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun	28 June 2007	3 October 2008	Labour	Brown
Jim Murphy MP for East Renfrewshire	3 October 2008	11 May 2010	Labour	Brown
Danny Alexander MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey	12 May 2010	29 May 2010	Liberal Democrat	Cameron–Clegg (Con.–L.D.)
Michael Moore MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk	29 May 2010	7 October 2013	Liberal Democrat
Alistair Carmichael MP for Orkney and Shetland	7 October 2013	8 May 2015	Liberal Democrat
David Mundell MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale	11 May 2015	24 July 2019	Conservative	Cameron II
				May I
				May II
Alister Jack MP for Dumfries and Galloway	24 July 2019	5 July 2024	Conservative	Johnson I
				Johnson II
				Truss
				Sunak
Ian Murray MP for Edinburgh South	5 July 2024	5 September 2025	Labour	Starmer
Douglas Alexander MP for Lothian East	5 September 2025	Incumbent	Labour	Starmer