Secretary of State for Scotland

The secretary of state for Scotland (Template:Langx; Template:Langx), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State for Scotland serves as the custodian of the Scottish devolution settlement as outlined in the Scotland Act 1998, and represent Scottish interests within the UK Government as well as advocate for UK Government policies in Scotland. The secretary of state for Scotland is additionally responsible for partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as relations between the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Much of the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibility transferred to the office of the first minister of Scotland upon the establishment of a new Scottish Executive, since renamed the Scottish Government, and a new devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999 following the Scotland Act 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The office holder works alongside the other Scotland Office ministers. The secretary of state for Scotland is supported by their deputy, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland. The incumbent is Douglas Alexander, following his appointment by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September 2025. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for Scotland.

Overview

History of office

Acts of Union, 1707

The post was first created after the Acts of Union 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain from the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. It was abolished in 1746, following the Jacobite rising of 1745. Scottish affairs thereafter were managed by the lord advocate until 1827, when responsibility passed to the Home Office. In 1885 the post of secretary for Scotland was re-created, with the incumbent usually a member of the Cabinet. In 1926 this post was upgraded to a full secretary of state appointment.

Devolution, 1999

After the 1999 Scottish devolution, the powers of the Scottish Office were divided, with most transferred to the Scottish Government or to other British government departments, leaving only a limited role for the Scotland Office. From June 2003 to October 2008, the holder of the office of secretary of state for Scotland also held another Cabinet post concurrently, leading to claims that the Scottish role was seen as a part-time ministry.

Functions

Reduced responsibility

With the advent of legislative devolution for Scotland in 1999, the role of secretary of state for Scotland was diminished. Most of the functions vested in the office since administrative devolution in the 19th century were transferred to the newly established Scottish Ministers upon the opening of the Scottish Parliament, or to other UK government ministers. Most of the functions and powers of the secretary of state for Scotland transferred to the first minister of Scotland as the head of the Scottish Government. Donald Dewar served as the first first minister of Scotland between 1999–2000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> having previously served as the secretary of state for Scotland between 1997–1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

However, the secretary of state does represent Scotland in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom on matters that are not devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and also holds Scotland Questions on the first Wednesday of every month between 11:30 am and 12 noon, when any member of Parliament can ask a question on any matter relating to Scotland. However, devolved issues are not usually raised by MPs, as these are decided solely by Scottish Government policy, and influenced, discussed and voted on by members of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Moreover, the secretary of state for Scotland cannot introduce any bill or legislation in the UK Parliament relating to a devolved matter under the convention that the UK Government will not introduce legislation on devolved areas without the agreement of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The secretary of state is also the group leader of the Scottish MPs from the government party.

Scottish Government collaboration

File:British Irish Council meeting in Glasgow (cropped).jpg

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary David Mundell at the 2016 British–Irish Council summit in Glasgow (Scotland)

The office mainly acts as a go-between for the UK and Scottish Governments and Parliaments.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> However, due to the secretary's position as a minister in the British government, the convention of Cabinet collective responsibility applies, and as such the post is usually viewed as being a partisan one to promote the UK government's decision-making in Scotland, as adherence to the convention precludes doing anything else.

With the rise of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in both the Scottish Parliament and the British Parliament and the resultant interest in Scottish Independence, the secretary of state's role has also subsequently increased in prominence. The Scotland Office itself has received a cumulative increase in budget of 20% from 2013 to 2017, with a 14.4% increase in 2015/16 alone.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Responsibilities

The UK government's website lists the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibilities as being:

• The secretary of state for Scotland is the UK Government Cabinet Minister representing Scotland.
• They act as the custodian of the Scottish devolution settlement.
• They represent Scottish interests within the UK Government
• They advocate for the UK Government’s policies in Scotland.
• They also promote partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as relations between the UK and Scottish Parliaments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Dover House, Whitehall (geograph 5347439).jpg

Dover House, the London headquarters of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland

This seeming lack of responsibility has in recent years seen calls from opposition MPs for the scrapping of the role and the Scotland Office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1"/> Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales into one secretary of state for the Union,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> in a department into which Rodney Brazier has suggested adding a minister of state for England with responsibility for English local government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

More broadly, the UK Government advocates that all UK Government cabinet ministers with responsibility for a territorial secretary of state position are responsible for:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• the smooth running of the devolution settlements and act as the lynchpin of the relationship between the devolved government and HM Government
• handling legislation as it affects the territory
• representing the territory’s interests in cabinet and cabinet committees
• responding to parliamentary interests in territorial affairs
• transmitting the block grant to the devolved administration
• supporting collaboration between HM Government and the devolved administration
• promoting the interests of the territory

List of Scottish secretaries

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1707–1746)

John Erskine, Earl of Mar had served as Secretary of State of the independent Scotland from 1705. Following the Acts of Union 1707, he remained in office.

The post of secretary of state for Scotland existed after the Union of the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England in 1707 till the Jacobite rising of 1745. After the rising, responsibility for Scotland lay primarily with the office of the home secretary, usually exercised by the lord advocate.

Secretary of State		Term of office
File:John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946.jpg	John Erskine Earl of Mar	Template:Small Template:Small 1707	Template:Small 1709
File:James 2nd dukeofqueensberry.jpg	James Douglas 2nd Duke of Queensberry	Template:Small 1709	Template:Small 1711
File:John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946.jpg	John Erskine Earl of Mar	Template:Small 1713	Template:Small 1714
File:James Graham 1682-1742.jpg	James Graham 1st Duke of Montrose	Template:Small 1714	Template:Small 1715
File:John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe.jpg	John Ker 1st Duke of Roxburghe	Template:Small 1716	Template:Small 1725
File:John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale.jpg	John Hay 4th Marquess of Tweeddale	Template:Small 1742	Template:Small 1746

Office thereafter vacant.

Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926)

Template:Infobox UK legislation The secretary for Scotland was chief minister in charge of the Scottish Office in the United Kingdom government. The Scottish Office was created with the post of secretary for Scotland by the Template:Visible anchor.<ref>Secretary for Scotland Act 1885, section 2.</ref> From 1892 the secretary for Scotland sat in cabinet. The post was upgraded to full secretary of state rank as the secretary of state for Scotland in 1926.<ref>Secretaries of State Act 1926</ref>

From 1885 to 1999, secretaries for Scotland and secretaries of state for Scotland also ex officio held the post of Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.<ref>Secretary for Scotland Act 1885, section 2; Secretaries of State Act 1926, section 1</ref> From 1999, the position of keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland has been held by the first minister of Scotland.<ref>Scotland Act 1998, section 45(7)</ref>

Secretary of State			Term of office		Party	Ministry
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon.jpg	[[Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond|Charles Gordon-Lennox Template:Small]] <ref group=nb>Duke of Lennox in the peerage of Scotland</ref>	Template:Small 1885	Template:Small 1886	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Salisbury I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Sir G O Trevelyan, 2nd Bt NPG.jpg	George Trevelyan Template:Small	Template:Small 1886	Template:Small 1886	Liberal	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Gladstone III
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie.jpeg	[[John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie|John Ramsay Template:Small]]	Template:Small 1886	Template:Small 1886	Liberal
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Arthur-James-Balfour-1st-Earl-of-Balfour.jpg	Arthur Balfour Template:Small	Template:Small 1886	Template:Small 1887	Conservative	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Salisbury II
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Lord Lotian.jpg	[[Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian|Schomberg Kerr Template:Small]]	Template:Small 1887	Template:Small 1892	Conservative
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Sir G O Trevelyan, 2nd Bt NPG.jpg	George Trevelyan Template:Small	Template:Small 1892	Template:Small 1895	Liberal	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Template:Party shading/Liberal (UK) | Gladstone IV
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Template:Party shading/Liberal (UK) | Rosebery
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Lord Balfour .jpg	[[Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh|Alexander Bruce Template:Small]]	Template:Small 1895	Template:Small 1903	Conservative		[[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Salisbury Template:Small]] Template:Small
						Balfour Template:Small
	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Lord Dunedin.jpg	Andrew Murray Template:Small	Template:Small 1903	Template:Small 1905		Conservative
	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Hopetoun.jpg	[[John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow|John Hope Template:Small]]	Template:Small 1905	Template:Small 1905		Conservative
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:C1900 John Sinclair.jpg	[[John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland|John Sinclair Template:Small]]<ref group=nb>MP for Forfar until 1909; created Baron Pentland 1909</ref>	Template:Small 1905	Template:Small 1912	Liberal	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Template:Party shading/Liberal (UK) | Campbell-Bannerman
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Liberal (UK) | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Asquith Template:Small]]
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Thomas Mackinnon Wood.jpg	Thomas McKinnon Wood Template:Small	Template:Small 1912	Template:Small 1916	Liberal
						Asquith Coalition Template:Small
	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Harold J. Tennant o.jpg	Harold Tennant Template:Small	Template:Small 1916	Template:Small 1916		Liberal
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:1922 Robert Munro.jpg	Robert Munro Template:Small <ref group=nb>MP for Wick Burghs until 1918; MP for Roxburgh and Selkirk thereafter</ref>	Template:Small 1916	Template:Small 1922	Liberal		[[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George Template:Small]] (Lib.–Con.–Lab.)
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Ronald Munro Ferguson (Barnett-02).jpg	[[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|Ronald Munro Ferguson Template:Small]]	Template:Small 1922	Template:Small 1924	Independent	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Law
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Baldwin I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Cropped photograph of William Adamson.jpg	William Adamson Template:Small	Template:Small 1924	Template:Small 1924	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	MacDonald I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Sir John Gilmour.jpg	John Gilmour Template:Small	Template:Small 1924	Template:Small 1926Template:Inconsistent	Unionist	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Baldwin II

Secretaries of state for Scotland (1926–)

Secretary of State			Term of office		Party	Ministry
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Sir John Gilmour.jpg	John Gilmour<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	26 July 1926 Template:Inconsistent	4 June 1929	Unionist	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Baldwin II
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Cropped photograph of William Adamson.jpg	William Adamson Template:Small	7 June 1929	24 August 1931	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	MacDonald II
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:The Air Ministry, 1939-1945. CH10270 – Edit 1.jpg	Archibald Sinclair<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	25 August 1931	28 September 1932	Liberal		National I Template:Small
						National II Template:Small
	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Godfrey Collins.jpg	Godfrey Collins<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	28 September 1932	29 October 1936		Liberal National
	National III Template:Small)
		rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Walter Elliott MP.jpg	Walter Elliot<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	29 October 1936	6 May 1938	Unionist
	National IV Template:Small)
		rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:David John Colville (cropped).jpg	John Colville<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	6 May 1938	10 May 1940	Unionist
	Chamberlain War Template:Small)
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:BrownErnest.jpg	Ernest Brown<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	14 May 1940	8 February 1941	Liberal National		Churchill War Template:Small
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Thomas Johnston.png	Thomas Johnston<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	8 February 1941	23 May 1945	Labour
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Lord Dalmeny.jpg	Harry Primrose 6th Earl of Rosebery	25 May 1945	26 July 1945	Liberal National		Churchill Caretaker Template:Small
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:No image.svg	Joseph Westwood<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	3 August 1945	7 October 1947	Labour	rowspan=3 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	[[Attlee ministry|Attlee Template:Small]]
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:No image.svg	Arthur Woodburn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	7 October 1947	28 February 1950	Labour
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	Hector McNeil<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	28 February 1950	26 October 1951	Labour
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |		James Stuart Template:Small	30 October 1951	13 January 1957	Unionist	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Churchill III
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Eden
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	John Maclay<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	13 January 1957	13 July 1962	Unionist	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	[[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan Template:Small]]
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	Michael Noble<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	13 July 1962	16 October 1964	Unionist
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Douglas-Home
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	Willie Ross<ref name=Ross>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	18 October 1964	19 June 1970	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	[[Labour government, 1964–1970|Wilson Template:Small]]
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	Gordon Campbell Template:Small	20 June 1970	4 March 1974	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Heath
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Blank.png	Willie Ross Template:Small	5 March 1974	8 April 1976	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	[[Labour government, 1974–1979|Wilson Template:Small]]
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Bruce Millan.tif	Bruce Millan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	8 April 1976	4 May 1979	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Callaghan
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:George Younger.JPEG	George Younger<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	5 May 1979	11 January 1986	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Thatcher I
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Thatcher II
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Malcolm Rifkind.jpg	Malcolm Rifkind<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	11 January 1986	28 November 1990	Conservative
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Thatcher III
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Official portrait of Lord Lang of Monkton 2020 crop 2.jpg	Ian Lang<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	28 November 1990	5 July 1995	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Major I
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Major II
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Lord Michael Forsyth.jpg	Michael Forsyth<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	5 July 1995	2 May 1997	Conservative
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Donald Dewar First Minister.jpg	Donald Dewar<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	2 May 1997	17 May 1999	Labour	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Blair I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:ReidTaormina crop.jpg	John Reid<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	17 May 1999	25 January 2001	Labour
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Official portrait of Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke crop 2.jpg	Helen Liddell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	25 January 2001	13 June 2003	Labour	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Blair II
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:AlistairDarlingABr cropped.jpg	Alistair Darling<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	13 June 2003	5 May 2006	Labour
rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Blair III
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Douglas Alexander at the India Economic Summit 2008.jpg	Douglas Alexander<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Template:Small	5 May 2006	28 June 2007	Labour
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Official portrait of Lord Browne of Ladyton crop 2, 2019.jpg	Des Browne<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Template:Small	28 June 2007	3 October 2008	Labour	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Brown
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Jim Murphy, April 2009 cropped.jpg	Jim Murphy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	3 October 2008	11 May 2010	Labour
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Danny alexander hi.jpg	Danny Alexander<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	12 May 2010	29 May 2010	Liberal Democrat		Cameron–Clegg Template:Small
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Michael Moore, Secretary of State for Scotland.jpg	Michael Moore<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	29 May 2010	7 October 2013	Liberal Democrat
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Alistair Carmichael at Glasgow 2014 (cropped).jpg	Alistair Carmichael<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	7 October 2013	8 May 2015	Liberal Democrat
rowspan=3 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Official portrait of David Mundell crop 2.jpg	David Mundell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	11 May 2015	24 July 2019	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Cameron II
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						May I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						May II
rowspan=4 style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Alister Jack Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg	Alister Jack<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Small	24 July 2019	5 July 2024	Conservative	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Johnson I
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Johnson II
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Truss
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |						Sunak
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Ian Murray Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg	Ian Murray Template:Small	5 July 2024	5 September 2025	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Starmer
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	File:Official portrait of Douglas Alexander MP crop 2, 2024.jpg	Douglas Alexander Template:Small	5 September 2025	Incumbent	Labour	style="background-color:Template:Party color" |

Timeline

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 from: 17/08/1885 till: 28/01/1886 color:Conservative text:"Charles Gordon-Lennox"
bar:Trevelyan
 from: 08/02/1886 till: 01/03/1886 color:Liberal
 from: 18/08/1892 till: 21/06/1895 color:Liberal      text:"George Trevelyan"
bar:Ramsay 
 from: 05/04/1886 till: 20/07/1886 color:Liberal      text:"John Ramsay"
bar:Balfour
 from: 05/08/1886 till: 11/03/1887 color:Conservative text:"Arthur Balfour"
bar:Kerr
 from: 11/03/1887 till: 11/08/1892 color:Conservative text:"Schomberg Kerr"
bar:Bruce
 from: 29/06/1895 till: 09/10/1903 color:Conservative text:"Alexander Bruce"
bar:Murray 
 from: 09/10/1903 till: 02/02/1905 color:Conservative text:"Andrew Murray"
bar:Hope 
 from: 02/02/1905 till: 04/12/1905 color:Conservative text:"John Hope"
bar:JSinclair
 from: 10/12/1905 till: 13/02/1912 color:Liberal      text:"John Sinclair"
bar:McKinnon_Wood
 from: 13/02/1912 till: 09/07/1916 color:Liberal      text:"Thomas McKinnon Wood"
bar:Tennant
 from: 09/07/1916 till: 05/12/1916 color:Liberal      text:"Harold Tennant"
bar:Munro 
 from: 10/12/1916 till: 19/10/1922 color:Liberal      text:"Robert Munro"
bar:Munro_Ferguson
 from: 24/10/1922 till: 22/01/1924 color:Independent  text:"Ronald Munro Ferguson
bar:Adamson 
 from: 22/01/1924 till: 03/11/1924 color:Labour
 from: 07/06/1929 till: 24/08/1931 color:Labour       text:"William Adamson"
bar:Gilmour 
 from: 06/11/1924 till: 04/06/1929 color:Unionist     text:"John Gilmour"
bar:ASinclair
 from: 25/08/1931 till: 28/09/1932 color:Liberal      text:"Archibald Sinclair"
bar:Collins
 from: 28/09/1932 till: 29/10/1936 color:NatLiberal   text:"Godfrey Collins"
bar:Elliot
 from: 29/10/1936 till: 06/05/1938 color:Unionist     text:"Walter Elliot"
bar:Colville
 from: 06/05/1938 till: 10/05/1940 color:Unionist     text:"John Colville"
bar:Brown
 from: 14/05/1940 till: 08/02/1941 color:NatLiberal   text:"Ernest Brown"
bar:Johnston 
 from: 08/02/1941 till: 23/05/1945 color:Labour       text:"Thomas Johnston"
bar:Primrose
 from: 25/05/1945 till: 26/07/1945 color:NatLiberal   text:"Harry Primrose"
bar:Westwood
 from: 03/08/1945 till: 07/10/1947 color:Labour       text:"Joseph Westwood"
bar:Woodburn
 from: 07/10/1947 till: 28/02/1950 color:Labour       text:"Arthur Woodburn"
bar:McNeil 
 from: 28/02/1950 till: 26/10/1951 color:Labour       text:"Hector McNeil"
bar:Stuart
 from: 30/10/1951 till: 13/01/1957 color:Unionist     text:"James Stuart"
bar:Maclay 
 from: 13/01/1957 till: 13/07/1962 color:Unionist     text:"John Maclay"
bar:Noble
 from: 13/07/1962 till: 16/10/1964 color:Unionist     text:"Michael Noble"
bar:Ross
 from: 18/10/1964 till: 19/06/1970 color:Labour
 from: 05/03/1974 till: 08/04/1976 color:Labour       text:"Willie Ross"
bar:Campbell
 from: 19/06/1970 till: 04/03/1974 color:Conservative text:"Gordon Campbell"
bar:Millan
 from: 08/04/1976 till: 04/05/1979 color:Labour       text:"Bruce Millan"
bar:Younger
 from: 05/05/1979 till: 11/01/1986 color:Conservative text:"George Younger"
bar:Rifkind
 from: 11/01/1986 till: 28/11/1990 color:Conservative text:"Malcom Rifkind"
bar:Lang
 from: 28/11/1990 till: 05/07/1995 color:Conservative text:"Ian Lang"
bar:Forsyth
 from: 05/07/1995 till: 02/05/1997 color:Conservative text:"Michael Forsyth"
bar:Dewar
 from: 02/05/1997 till: 17/05/1999 color:Labour       text:"Donald Dewar"
bar:Reid
 from: 17/05/1999 till: 25/01/2001 color:Labour       text:"John Reid"
bar:Liddell  
 from: 25/01/2001 till: 13/06/2003 color:Labour       text:"Helen Liddell"
bar:Darling
 from: 13/06/2003 till: 05/05/2006 color:Labour       text:"Alistair Darling"
bar:Alexander
 from: 05/05/2006 till: 28/06/2007 color:Labour
 from: 05/09/2025 till: $today     color:Labour       text:"Douglas Alexander"
bar:Browne
 from: 28/06/2007 till: 03/10/2008 color:Labour       text:"Des Browne"
bar:Murphy
 from: 03/10/2008 till: 11/05/2010 color:Labour       text:"Jim Murphy"
bar:DAlexander
 from: 12/05/2010 till: 29/05/2010 color:LibDem       text:"Danny Alexander"
bar:Moore
 from: 29/05/2010 till: 07/10/2013 color:LibDem       text:"Michael Moore"
bar:Carmichael 
 from: 07/10/2013 till: 08/05/2015 color:LibDem       text:"Alistair Carmichael"
bar:Mundell
 from: 08/05/2015 till: 24/07/2019 color:Conservative text:"David Mundell"
bar:Jack
 from: 24/07/2019 till: 04/07/2024    color:Conservative text:"Alister Jack"
bar:Murray1
 from: 05/07/2024 till: 05/09/2025     color:Labour text:"Ian Murray"

</timeline>

See also

• First Minister of Scotland
• Secretary of State, a senior post in the pre-Union government of the Kingdom of Scotland
• Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, junior minister supporting the Secretary of State for Scotland
• Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
• Secretary of State (Jacobite)
• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• Secretary of State for Wales

External links

• Official website of the Scotland Office