Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)

Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Gaelic: Ceannard an Luchd-dùbhlain ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
Incumbent Russell Findlay MSP since 27 September 2024
Scottish Parliament Opposition Shadow Cabinet
Style	Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
Term length	While leader of the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament that is not in government
Inaugural holder	Alex Salmond
Formation	May 1999

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]

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

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

See also

• First Minister of Scotland
• Deputy First Minister of Scotland
• Opposition Parties of the Scottish Parliament
• Scottish Parliament
• Scottish Government

References

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.
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. "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.