SNP Cabinet Ministers List:First Minister John Swinney has officially unveiled his new Scottish National Party (SNP) Cabinet. The refresh follows the election of a pro-independence majority to Holyrood, which led to significant shifts in leadership portfolios.
Here is the full list of SNP Cabinet Ministers and their roles announced by John Swinney.
SNP Cabinet Ministers Full List: First Minister
John Swinney is the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP). He was officially re-appointed and sworn into office at the Court of Session following the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
John Swinney has been a central figure in Scottish politics for decades and is Scotland’s longest-serving elected parliamentarian.
Scottish National Party Cabinet Ministers Full List
Angela Constance – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
Angela Constance no longer serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. Following First Minister John Swinney’s post-election cabinet reshuffle on May 20, 2026, Angela Constance was moved out of the justice portfolio in a direct job-swap with a cabinet colleague. She remains a prominent member of the government with a major new focus.
Neil Gray – Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Neil Gray is the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government. He was appointed to the role by First Minister John Swinney following a post-election cabinet reshuffle. In a direct job swap, Gray transitioned out of his previous role as Health Secretary, trading portfolios with Angela Constance.
Jenny Gilruth – Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Jenny Gilruth is the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance in the Scottish Government. She was elevated to the second-highest political office in Scotland by First Minister John Swinney, filling the high-profile roles left vacant by the departures of Kate Forbes and Shona Robison. Her appointment makes her one of the most powerful figures in the newly restructured, leaner Scottish National Party (SNP) cabinet.
Ivan McKee, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform
Ivan McKee is the first-ever Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform in the Scottish Government. He was promoted to the cabinet by First Minister John Swinney during the post-election reshuffle. His newly created role is widely seen as a defining priority for the administration as it tries to bridge a massive multi-billion-pound financial deficit.
Gillian Martin – Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Gillian Martin is the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs in the Scottish Government. She was reappointed to the cabinet by First Minister John Swinney following his post-election reshuffle, with her environmental responsibilities significantly expanded to absorb the rural affairs brief. This merger followed the political retirement of the previous Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon.
Màiri McAllan – Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic
Màiri McAllan is the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic. She was appointed to the position by First Minister John Swinney following a major post-election cabinet refresh. Widely considered one of the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) fastest-rising stars, she took over the expanded education and culture portfolio, replacing Jenny Gilruth (who was promoted to Deputy First Minister) and Angus Robertson (who lost his seat in the election).
Shirley-Anne Somerville – Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
Shirley-Anne Somerville is the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing in the Scottish Government. She was reappointed to the cabinet by First Minister John Swinney following the post-election reshuffle, with her previous portfolio expanded to absorb housing responsibilities. The strategic merger of these briefs has been welcomed by sectors like Crisis Scotland to take a more integrated approach toward tackling poverty and homelessness.
SNP Cabinet Ministers: Notable Changes
Some of the notable changes that were made are:
Departed Leaders: Former Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and former Finance Secretary Shona Robison both stepped back from the front line.
Seat Losses: Former Culture Secretary Angus Robertson lost his Edinburgh seat to the Scottish Greens and did not return to the Scottish Parliament.
Fresh Talent: High-profile former Westminster MPs, including Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, and Alison Thewliss, transitioned to Holyrood to reinforce the SNP ranks.
First Minister John Swinney's post-election cabinet overhaul marks a strategic shift toward a streamlined, nine-strong ministerial team. By consolidating ministries and promoting key allies, the administration is designed to navigate tight fiscal constraints, public sector reforms, and public spending pressures.