View source for Secretary of State for Scotland

{{short description|Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom}}
{{distinguish|Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Secretary of State for Scotland
| native_name = {{langx|gd|Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba}}<br>{{langx|sco|Secretar o State fir Scotland}}
| insignia = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Government in Scotland).svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]] in Scotland
| department = [[Scotland Office|Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland]]
| image = Official portrait of Douglas Alexander MP, 2024.jpg
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[Douglas Alexander]]
| incumbentsince = 5 September 2025
| style = {{ubl|'''Scottish Secretary''' (informal)|[[The Right Honourable]] (within the UK and Commonwealth)}}
| type = [[Minister of the Crown]]
| status = [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]]
| member_of = {{ubl|[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]|[[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]]}}
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|The Prime Minister]]
| seat = [[Westminster]]
| nominator = The Prime Minister
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = (on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation = {{ubl|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)}}
| salary = £159,038 per annum (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124173/2022-12-07-Ministerial-Salaries-22-23-table.pdf |date=15 December 2022}}</ref><br />(including £86,584 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] salary)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay and expenses for MPs |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>
| deputy = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland]]
| website = [https://gov.uk/scotland-office gov.uk/scotland-office]
}}
{{PoliticsScotland}}

The '''secretary of state for Scotland''' ({{langx|gd|Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba}}; {{langx|sco|Secretar o State fir Scotland}}), also referred to as the '''Scottish secretary''', is a [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|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>{{cite web |title=Secretary of State for Scotland - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-scotland |website=www.gov.uk |access-date=6 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Much of the secretary of state for Scotland's responsibility transferred to the office of the [[First Minister of Scotland|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>{{cite web |title=HC 842 The role and powers of the Prime Minister |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmpolcon/writev/842/m22.htm |website=Parliament.uk |publisher=UK Government |access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref>

The office holder works alongside the other [[Scotland Office#Ministers|Scotland Office ministers]]. The secretary of state for Scotland is supported by their deputy, the [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland|parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland]]. The incumbent is [[Douglas Alexander]], following his appointment by [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Keir Starmer]] in September 2025. The corresponding [[shadow minister]] is the [[Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland|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|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 of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]. In 1926 this post was upgraded to a full [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|secretary of state]] appointment.

====Devolution, 1999====

After the [[History of Scottish devolution|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|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>{{cite web |title=University of Glasgow - Explore - Our history - Men and women of fame - Donald Dewar |url=https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/history/fame/donalddewar/ |website=www.gla.ac.uk |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> having previously served as the secretary of state for Scotland between 1997–1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Donald Dewar |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/678/career |website=UK Parliament |access-date=6 July 2024}}</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>{{cite web |title=Devolution settlement: Scotland |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/devolution-settlement-scotland |website=GOV.UK |access-date=6 July 2024 |language=en |date=11 September 2019}}</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|thumb|right|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">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-scotland|title=Secretary of State for Scotland - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=2017-01-16}}</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">{{Cite web|url=https://stv.tv/news/politics/1376731-snp-questions-budget-of-zombie-department-scotland-office/|title=SNP questions budget of 'zombie department' Scotland Office|website=STV News|access-date=2017-01-16}}</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>{{cite web |title=Secretary of State for Scotland - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-scotland |website=www.gov.uk |access-date=6 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Dover House, Whitehall (geograph 5347439).jpg|thumb|right|[[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>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7111200.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} UK {{!}} Scotland {{!}} Scrap Scotland Office, SNP urging|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=25 November 2007 |access-date=2017-01-16}}</ref><ref name=":1"/> Robert Hazell has suggested merging the offices of [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland|secretary of state for Northern Ireland]], Scotland and [[Secretary of State for Wales|Wales]] into one secretary of state for the Union,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Times letters: Mark Sedwill's call for a cull of the cabinet|newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/times-letters-mark-sedwills-call-for-a-cull-of-the-cabinet-6x2kgqdhc|access-date=2020-11-30|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> in a department into which [[Rodney Brazier]] has suggested adding a minister of state for England with responsibility for [[Local government in England|English local government]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-07|title=Rodney Brazier: Why is Her Majesty's Government so big?|url=https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2020/09/07/rodney-brazier-why-is-her-majestys-government-so-big/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=UK Constitutional Law Association}}</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>{{cite web |title=Devolution of powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/devolution-of-powers-to-scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland |website=GOV.UK |access-date=6 July 2024 |language=en |date=8 May 2019}}</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 (1675–1732)|John Erskine, Earl of Mar]] had served as [[Secretary of State (Kingdom of Scotland)|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 [[Acts of Union 1707|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|home secretary]], usually exercised by the [[Lord Advocate|lord advocate]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=2 | Secretary of State
! colspan=2 | Term of office

|-
| [[File:John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)|John Erskine<br/>'''Earl of Mar''']]
| {{Small|(since 1705)}}<br/>{{Small|1 May}}<br/>1707
| {{Small|3 February}}<br/>1709

|-
| [[File:James 2nd dukeofqueensberry.jpg|75px]]
| [[James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry|James Douglas<br/>2nd ''' Duke of Queensberry''']]
| {{Small|3 February}}<br/>1709
| {{Small|6 July}}<br/>1711

|-
| [[File:John Erskine - Earl of Mar - Project Gutenberg etext 20946.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)|John Erskine<br/>'''Earl of Mar''']]
| {{Small|9 September}}<br/>1713
| {{Small|24 September}}<br/>1714

|-
| [[File:James Graham 1682-1742.jpg|75px]]
| [[James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose|James Graham<br/>1st '''Duke of Montrose''']]
| {{Small|24 September}}<br/>1714
| {{Small|August}}<br/>1715

|-
| [[File:John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe|John Ker<br/>1st '''Duke of Roxburghe''']]
| {{Small|13 December}}<br/>1716
| {{Small|August}}<br/>1725

|-
<!-- |colspan=4|Office thereafter vacant.<br/>{{Small|One reference book{{Which|date=December 2014}} claims that [[Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl of Selkirk]]<br/>held this office from 1731, but there is no other authority for this claim.-->

|-
| [[File:John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale|John Hay<br/>4th '''Marquess of Tweeddale''']]
| {{Small|25 February}}<br/>1742
| {{Small|3 January}}<br/>1746

|}
Office thereafter vacant.

=== Secretaries for Scotland (1885–1926) ===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Secretary for Scotland Act 1885
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act for appointing a Secretary for Scotland and Vice-President of the Scotch Education Department.
| year = 1885
| citation = [[48 & 49 Vict.]] c. 61
| introduced_commons = 
| introduced_lords = 
| territorial_extent = 
| royal_assent = 14 August 1885
| commencement = 
| expiry_date = 
| repeal_date = 
| amends = 
| replaces = 
| amendments = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation = 
| status = amended
| legislation_history = 
| theyworkforyou = 
| millbankhansard = 
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/48-49/61/contents/enacted
| revised_text = 
| use_new_UK-LEG = 
| UK-LEG_title = Secretary for Scotland Act 1885
| collapsed = yes
}}
The '''secretary for Scotland''' was chief [[Political minister|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 '''{{visible anchor|Secretary for Scotland Act 1885}}'''.<ref>Secretary for Scotland Act 1885, section 2.</ref> From 1892 the secretary for Scotland sat in [[Cabinet (government)|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|first minister of Scotland]].<ref>Scotland Act 1998, section 45(7)</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Secretary of State
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! colspan=2 | Ministry

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon.jpg|75px]]
| [[Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond|'''Charles Gordon-Lennox'''<br/>{{Small|6th Duke of Richmond}}]]<br/><ref group=nb>[[Duke of Lennox]] in the peerage of Scotland</ref>
| {{Small|17 August}}<br/>1885
| {{Small|28 January}}<br/>1886
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First Salisbury ministry|Salisbury I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Sir G O Trevelyan, 2nd Bt NPG.jpg|75px]]
| [[Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet|'''George Trevelyan''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hawick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Hawick Burghs]]}}
| {{Small|8 February}}<br/>1886
| {{Small|March}}<br/>1886
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Third Gladstone ministry|Gladstone III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie.jpeg|75px]]
| [[John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie|'''John Ramsay'''<br/>{{Small|13th Earl of Dalhousie}}]]
| {{Small|5 April}}<br/>1886
| {{Small|20 July}}<br/>1886
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Arthur-James-Balfour-1st-Earl-of-Balfour.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Arthur Balfour]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Manchester East (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester East]]}}
| {{Small|5 August}}<br/>1886
| {{Small|11 March}}<br/>1887
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Second Salisbury ministry|Salisbury II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Lotian.jpg|75px]]
| [[Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian|'''Schomberg Kerr'''<br/>{{Small|9th Marquess of Lothian}}]]
| {{Small|11 March}}<br/>1887
| {{Small|11 August}}<br/>1892
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Sir G O Trevelyan, 2nd Bt NPG.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet|'''George Trevelyan''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Bridgeton (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Bridgeton]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|18 August}}<br/>1892
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|21 June}}<br/>1895
| rowspan=2  | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Gladstone IV]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1892–1895|Rosebery]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Lord Balfour .jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh|'''Alexander Bruce'''<br/>{{Small|6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh}}]]
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|29 June}}<br/>1895
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|9 October}}<br/>1903<br/>
| rowspan=2  | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:#ddd" |
| [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Salisbury<br/>{{Small|(III & IV)}}]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Unionist Party|Lib.U.]]'')}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=3 | [[Unionist government, 1895–1905|Balfour]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Unionist Party|Lib.U.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Dunedin.jpg|75px]]
| [[Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin|'''Andrew Murray''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Buteshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Buteshire]]}}
| {{Small|9 October}}<br/>1903
| {{Small|2 February}}<br/>1905
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Hopetoun.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow|'''John Hope'''<br/>{{Small|1st Marquess of Linlithgow}}]]
| {{Small|2 February}}<br/>1905
| {{Small|4 December}}<br/>1905
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:C1900 John Sinclair.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland|'''John Sinclair'''<br/>{{Small|1st Baron Pentland}}]]<ref group=nb>MP for [[Forfar (UK Parliament constituency)|Forfar]]
 until 1909; created [[Baron Pentland]] 1909</ref>
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|10 December}}<br/>1905
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|13 February}}<br/>1912
| rowspan=2  | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Campbell-Bannerman]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Liberal (UK)}} | [[Liberal government, 1905–1915|Asquith<br/>{{Small|(I&ndash;III)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Thomas Mackinnon Wood.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Thomas McKinnon Wood]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow St Rollox (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow St Rollox]]}}
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|13 February}}<br/>1912
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|9 July}}<br/>1916
| rowspan=2  | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2  style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=2  | [[Asquith coalition ministry|Asquith Coalition]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Labour Party (UK)|Lab.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Harold J. Tennant o.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Harold Tennant]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Berwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwickshire]]}}
| {{Small|9 July}}<br/>1916
| {{Small|5 December}}<br/>1916
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:1922 Robert Munro.jpg|75px]]
| [[Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness|'''Robert Munro''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Roxburgh and Selkirk]]}} <ref group=nb>MP for [[Wick Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Wick Burghs]] until 1918; MP for [[Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Roxburgh and Selkirk]] thereafter</ref>
| {{Small|10 December}}<br/>1916
| {{Small|19 October}}<br/>1922
| [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| style="background-color:#ddd" |
| [[Lloyd George ministry|Lloyd George<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]<br/>(''[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Labour Party (UK)|Lab.]]'')

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Ronald Munro Ferguson (Barnett-02).jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|'''Ronald Munro Ferguson'''<br/>{{Small|1st Viscount Novar}}]]
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|24 October}}<br/>1922
| rowspan=2 | {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| rowspan=2  | [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Law]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative government, 1922–1924|Baldwin I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Cropped photograph of William Adamson.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Adamson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]}}
| {{Small|22 January}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|3 November}}<br/>1924
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First MacDonald ministry|MacDonald I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| [[File:Sir John Gilmour.jpg|75px]]
| [[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|'''John Gilmour''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Pollok]]}}
| {{Small|6 November}}<br/>1924
| {{Small|26 July}}<br/>1926{{Inconsistent|date=6 September 2020|reason=Table below states he was Secretary of State for Scotland from 15 July.}}
| [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second Baldwin ministry|Baldwin II]]

|}

===Secretaries of state for Scotland (1926–)===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Secretary of State
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! colspan=2 | Ministry

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| [[File:Sir John Gilmour.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|John Gilmour]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-john-gilmour/index.html |title=Mr John Gilmour |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Pollok (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Pollok]]}}
| 26 July<br/>1926<br/>{{Inconsistent|date=6 September 2020|reason=Table above states he was Secretary for Scotland until 26 July.}}
| 4 June<br/>1929
| [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second Baldwin ministry|Baldwin II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Cropped photograph of William Adamson.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[William Adamson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|West Fife]]}}
| 7 June<br/>1929
| 24 August<br/>1931
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second MacDonald ministry|MacDonald II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:The Air Ministry, 1939-1945. CH10270 – Edit 1.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso|Archibald Sinclair]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-archibald-sinclair/index.html |title=Sir Archibald Sinclair |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Caithness and Sutherland (UK Parliament constituency)|Caithness and Sutherland]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 25 August<br/>1931
| rowspan=2 | 28 September<br/>1932
| rowspan=2 | [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| style="background-color:#ddd" |
| [[National Government (1931)|National I]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]–[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]'')}}
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=2 | [[National Government (1931–1935)|National II]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]–[[Liberal Party (UK)|Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Godfrey Collins.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Godfrey Collins]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-godfrey-collins/index.html |title=Mr Godfrey Collins |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Greenock (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenock]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 28 September<br/>1932
| rowspan=2 | 29 October<br/>1936
| rowspan=2 | [[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Liberal National]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=2 | [[National Government (1935–1937)|National III]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Walter Elliott MP.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Walter Elliot (Scottish politician)|Walter Elliot]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-walter-elliot/index.html |title=Mr Walter Elliot |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Kelvingrove (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Kelvingrove]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 29 October<br/>1936
| rowspan=2 | 6 May<br/>1938
| rowspan=2 | [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=2 | [[National Government (1937–1939)|National IV]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:David John Colville (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir|John Colville]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-john-colville-1/index.html |title=Mr John Colville |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Midlothian and Peebles Northern (UK Parliament constituency)|Midlothian and Peebles Northern]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 6 May<br/>1938
| rowspan=2 | 10 May<br/>1940
| rowspan=2 | [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:#ddd" |
| [[Chamberlain war ministry|Chamberlain War]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Labour Organisation|N.Lab.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Lib.N.]]''}})

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}" |
| [[File:BrownErnest.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Ernest Brown (British politician)|Ernest Brown]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-ernest-brown/index.html |title=Mr Ernest Brown |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Leith]]}}
| 14 May<br/>1940
| 8 February<br/>1941
| [[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Liberal National]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Churchill war ministry|Churchill War]]<br/>{{Small|(''All parties'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Thomas Johnston.png|75px]]
| '''[[Tom Johnston (Scottish politician)|Thomas Johnston]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-thomas-johnston/index.html |title=Mr Thomas Johnston |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Stirlingshire]]}}
| 8 February<br/>1941
| 23 May<br/>1945
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Dalmeny.jpg|75px]]
| [[Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery|'''Harry Primrose'''<br/>6th Earl of Rosebery]]
| 25 May<br/>1945
| 26 July<br/>1945
| [[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|Liberal National]]
| style="background-color:#ddd" |
| [[Churchill caretaker ministry|Churchill Caretaker]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)|N.Lib.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| '''[[Joseph Westwood]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-joseph-westwood/index.html |title=Mr Joseph Westwood |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stirling and Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Stirling and Falkirk]]}}
| 3 August<br/>1945
| 7 October<br/>1947
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[Attlee ministry|Attlee<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:No image.svg|75px]]
| '''[[Arthur Woodburn]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-arthur-woodburn/index.html |title=Mr Arthur Woodburn |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire]]}}
| 7 October<br/>1947
| 28 February<br/>1950
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| '''[[Hector McNeil]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-hector-mcneill/index.html |title=Mr Hector McNeill |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Greenock (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenock]]}}
| 28 February<br/>1950
| 26 October<br/>1951
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| rowspan=2 |<!-- Deleted image removed:  [[File:James Stuart 1943.jpg|75px]] -->
| rowspan=2 | [[James Stuart, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn|'''James Stuart''']]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray and Nairn]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 30 October<br/>1951
| rowspan=2 | 13 January<br/>1957
| rowspan=2 | [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Eden ministry|Eden]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| '''[[John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel|John Maclay]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/hon-john-maclay/index.html |title=Hon. John Maclay |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Renfrewshire]]}}
| 13 January<br/>1957
| [[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July<br/>1962]]
| [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Unionist Party (Scotland)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Michael Noble, Baron Glenkinglas|Michael Noble]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-michael-noble-1/index.html |title=Mr Michael Noble |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Argyllshire]]}}
| rowspan=2 | [[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July<br/>1962]]
| rowspan=2 | 16 October<br/>1964
| rowspan=2 | [[Unionist Party (Scotland)|Unionist]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Douglas-Home]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| '''[[Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock|Willie Ross]]'''<ref name=Ross>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-william-ross/index.html |title=Mr William Ross |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency)|Kilmarnock]]}}
| 18 October<br/>1964
| 19 June<br/>1970
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Labour government, 1964–1970|Wilson<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| '''[[Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy|Gordon Campbell]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency)|Moray and Nairn]]}}
| 20 June<br/>1970
| 4 March<br/>1974
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Heath ministry|Heath]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| '''[[Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock|Willie Ross]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kilmarnock (UK Parliament constituency)|Kilmarnock]]}}
| 5 March<br/>1974
| 8 April<br/>1976
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Labour government, 1974–1979|Wilson<br/>{{Small|(III & IV)}}]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Bruce Millan.tif|75px]]
| '''[[Bruce Millan]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/704 |title=Rt Hon Bruce Millan |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Craigton (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Craigton]]}}
| 8 April<br/>1976
| 4 May<br/>1979
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Labour government, 1974–1979|Callaghan]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:George Younger.JPEG|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie|George Younger]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/969 |title=Rt Hon Sir George Younger |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ayr (UK Parliament constituency)|Ayr]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 5 May<br/>1979
| rowspan=2 | 11 January<br/>1986
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First Thatcher ministry|Thatcher I]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[Second Thatcher ministry|Thatcher II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Malcolm Rifkind.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Malcolm Rifkind]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/1191 |title=Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 11 January<br/>1986
| rowspan=2 | 28 November<br/>1990
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Third Thatcher ministry|Thatcher III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Lord Lang of Monkton 2020 crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Ian Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton|Ian Lang]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-lang-of-monkton/896 |title=Lord Lang of Monkton |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Galloway and Upper Nithsdale]]}}
| rowspan=2 | 28 November<br/>1990
| rowspan=2 | 5 July<br/>1995
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First Major ministry|Major I]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Michael Forsyth.jpg|89x89px]]
| '''[[Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean|Michael Forsyth]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-forsyth-of-drumlean/1141 |title=Lord Forsyth of Drumlean |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stirling (UK Parliament constituency)|Stirling]]}}
| 5 July<br/>1995
| 2 May<br/>1997
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Donald Dewar First Minister.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Donald Dewar]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/678 |title=Rt Hon Donald Dewar |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Glasgow Anniesland (UK Parliament constituency)|Glasgow Anniesland]]}}
| 2 May<br/>1997
| [[Dewar government|17 May<br/>1999]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[First Blair ministry|Blair I]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:ReidTaormina crop.jpg|101x101px]]
| '''[[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-reid-of-cardowan/617 |title=Lord Reid of Cardowan |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hamilton North and Bellshill (UK Parliament constituency)|Hamilton North and Bellshill]]}}
| [[Dewar government|17 May<br/>1999]]
| 25 January<br/>2001
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:official portrait of Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Helen Liddell]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/baroness-liddell-of-coatdyke/573 |title=Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]]}}
| 25 January<br/>2001
| 13 June<br/>2003
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2  | [[Second Blair ministry|Blair II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:AlistairDarlingABr cropped.jpg|75px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Alistair Darling]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-darling-of-roulanish/596 |title=Lord Darling of Roulanish |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>{{Efn|name="auto"|Concurrently served as [[Secretary of State for Transport]]}}<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]]}}{{Efn|MP for [[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] until 2005; MP for [[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]] thereafter}}<br/>
| rowspan=2 | 13 June<br/>2003
| rowspan=2 | [[2006 British cabinet reshuffle|5 May<br/>2006]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Third Blair ministry|Blair III]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Douglas Alexander at the India Economic Summit 2008.jpg|100x100px]]
| '''[[Douglas Alexander]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-douglas-alexander/632 |title=Rt Hon Douglas Alexander |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>{{Efn|name="auto"}}<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Paisley and Renfrewshire South (UK Parliament constituency)|Paisley and Renfrewshire South]]}}
| [[2006 British cabinet reshuffle|5 May<br/>2006]]
| 28 June<br/>2007
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Browne of Ladyton crop 2, 2019.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Des Browne]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-browne-of-ladyton/620 |title=Lord Browne of Ladyton |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>{{Efn|Concurrently served as [[Secretary of State for Defence]]}}<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kilmarnock and Loudoun (UK Parliament constituency)|Kilmarnock and Loudoun]]}}
| 28 June<br/>2007
| 3 October<br/>2008
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Brown ministry|Brown]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Jim Murphy, April 2009 cropped.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Jim Murphy]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-jim-murphy/595 |title=Rt Hon Jim Murphy |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Renfrewshire]]}}
| 3 October<br/>2008
| 11 May<br/>2010
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Danny alexander hi.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Danny Alexander]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/1535 |title=Rt Hon Danny Alexander |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency)|Inverness, Nairn, <br/>Badenoch and Strathspey]]}}
| 12 May<br/>2010
| 29 May<br/>2010
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:#ddd" |
| rowspan=3 | [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Cameron–Clegg]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|L.D.]]'')}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Michael Moore, Secretary of State for Scotland.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Michael Moore (Scottish politician)|Michael Moore]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/michael-moore/638 |title=Rt Hon Michael Moore |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk]]}}
| 29 May<br/>2010
| 7 October<br/>2013
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Alistair Carmichael at Glasgow 2014 (cropped).jpg|100x100px]]
| '''[[Alistair Carmichael]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/Alistair-Carmichael/1442 |title=Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]]}}
| 7 October<br/>2013
| 8 May<br/>2015
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[File:Official portrait of David Mundell crop 2.jpg|100x100px]]
| rowspan=3 | '''[[David Mundell]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/david-mundell/1512 |title=Rt Hon David Mundell MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire, <br/>Clydesdale and Tweeddale]]}}
| rowspan=3 | 11 May<br/>2015
| rowspan=3 | 24 July<br/>2019
| rowspan=3 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second Cameron ministry|Cameron II]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First May ministry|May I]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second May ministry|May II]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | [[File:Alister Jack Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg|99x99px]]
| rowspan=4 | '''[[Alister Jack]]'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-alister-jack/4619 |title=Mr Alistair Jack MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref><br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfries and Galloway]]}}
| rowspan=4 | 24 July <br/>2019
| rowspan=4 | 5 July <br/>2024
| rowspan=4 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[First Johnson ministry|Johnson I]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Second Johnson ministry|Johnson II]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Truss ministry|Truss]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Sunak ministry|Sunak]]
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Ian Murray Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Ian Murray (Scottish politician)|Ian Murray]]''' <br/>{{Small|MP for [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]]}}
| 5 July<br/>2024
| 5 September<br/>2025
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2| [[Starmer ministry|Starmer]]

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Douglas Alexander MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|75px]]
| '''[[Douglas Alexander]]''' <br/>{{Small|MP for [[Lothian East]]}}
| 5 September<br/>2025
| Incumbent
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|}

== Timeline ==
{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
AlignBars  = late
PlotArea   = width:88% left:10 top:10 bottom:80
Legend     = columns:1 left:120 top:50 columnwidth:175

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1885 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1 year}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal

Colors     =
  id:conservative value:rgb(0,0.53,0.86)      legend: Conservative_and_Unionist_Party
  id:liberal      value:rgb(1,0.84,0)         legend: Liberal_Party
  id:labour       value:rgb(0.86,0.08,0.18)   legend: Labour_Party
  id:unionist     value:rgb(0.333,0.333,1)    legend: Unionist_Party
  id:natliberal   value:rgb(0,0.83,0.90)      legend: National_Liberal_Party
  id:libdem       value:rgb(0.98,0.651,0.102) legend: Liberal_Democrats
  id:independent  value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)      legend: Independent_or_no_party
  id:liteline     value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)
  id:line         value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line     unit:year increment:10 start:1890
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:5  start:1885

TextData =
  pos:(20,55) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData = 
 bar:Gordon-Lennox
 bar:Trevelyan
 bar:Ramsay 
 bar:Balfour
 bar:Kerr
 bar:Bruce
 bar:Murray 
 bar:Hope 
 bar:JSinclair
 bar:McKinnon_Wood
 bar:Tennant
 bar:Munro 
 bar:Munro_Ferguson
 bar:Adamson 
 bar:Gilmour 
 bar:ASinclair
 bar:Collins
 bar:Elliot
 bar:Colville
 bar:Brown
 bar:Johnston 
 bar:Primrose
 bar:Westwood
 bar:Woodburn
 bar:McNeil 
 bar:Stuart
 bar:Maclay 
 bar:Noble
 bar:Ross
 bar:Campbell
 bar:Millan 
 bar:Younger
 bar:Rifkind
 bar:Lang
 bar:Forsyth
 bar:Dewar
 bar:Reid
 bar:Liddell 
 bar:Darling
 bar:Alexander
 bar:Browne
 bar:Murphy
 bar:DAlexander
 bar:Moore
 bar:Carmichael 
 bar:Mundell
 bar:Jack
 bar:Murray1

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
 
 bar:Gordon-Lennox
  from: 17/08/1885 till: 28/01/1886 color:Conservative text:"[[Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond|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:"[[Sir George Trevelyan, 2nd Baronet|George Trevelyan]]"
 bar:Ramsay 
  from: 05/04/1886 till: 20/07/1886 color:Liberal      text:"[[John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie|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, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh|Alexander Bruce]]"
 bar:Murray 
  from: 09/10/1903 till: 02/02/1905 color:Conservative text:"[[Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin|Andrew Murray]]"
 bar:Hope 
  from: 02/02/1905 till: 04/12/1905 color:Conservative text:"[[John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun|John Hope]]"
 bar:JSinclair
  from: 10/12/1905 till: 13/02/1912 color:Liberal      text:"[[John Sinclair, 1st Baron Pentland|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, 1st Baron Alness|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:"[[Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet|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 (Scottish politician)|Walter Elliot]]"
 bar:Colville
  from: 06/05/1938 till: 10/05/1940 color:Unionist     text:"[[John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir|John Colville]]"
 bar:Brown
  from: 14/05/1940 till: 08/02/1941 color:NatLiberal   text:"[[Ernest Brown (British politician)|Ernest Brown]]"
 bar:Johnston 
  from: 08/02/1941 till: 23/05/1945 color:Labour       text:"[[Tom Johnston (British politician)|Thomas Johnston]]"
 bar:Primrose
  from: 25/05/1945 till: 26/07/1945 color:NatLiberal   text:"[[Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery|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, 1st Viscount Stuart of Findhorn|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, Baron Glenkinglas|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, Baron Ross of Marnock|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, Baron Reid of Cardowan|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 (Scottish politician)|Ian Murray]]"
}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==See also==
* [[First Minister of Scotland]]
* [[Secretary of State (Kingdom 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]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk Official website of the Scotland Office]

{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}
{{Scotland Office}}
{{Scotland topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For Scotland}}
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of Scotland|Scotland]]
[[Category:Political office-holders in Scotland]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Secretaries for Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Government ministers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1705 establishments in the British Empire]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom]]