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First minister
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A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister".
In the United Kingdom, the title of first minister is used to refer to the political leader of a devolved national government, such as the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or of a dependent territory.
In Australia and Canada, the term is used to refer collectively to the Prime Minister and the state or provincial premiers.
Australia
[edit]In Australia, a first minister is one of the heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premiers and chief ministers of the Australian states and territories.
Canada
[edit]In Canada, a first minister is any of the Canadian first ministers of the Crown, otherwise known as heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the provincial and territorial premiers. The title is used in such formulae as "first ministers' meetings".
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Inuit self-governing region of Nunatsiavut provides for a first minister responsible to the Nunatsiavut Assembly.
Norway
[edit]The head of government of Norway was called first minister (Norwegian: førstestatsråd) between 1814 and 1873, while it was in personal union with Sweden. In 1893, 12 years prior to the dissolution of the union, it was changed to prime minister (statsminister).
United Kingdom
[edit]In the United Kingdom, the term first minister was once used interchangeably with prime minister, such as when Winston Churchill stated: "I did not become His Majesty's First Minister so that I might oversee the liquidation of the British Empire!"
Nowadays, the term is used to describe the leaders of the devolved governments of Scotland,[1] Wales and Northern Ireland. See
Other
[edit]In Australia, the premiers and chief ministers are the first ministers of the states and territories respectively.
In Germany, the first minister in each federal state is known as the Minister President (Ministerpräsident). A similar term exists in countries with some historic German influence, e.g. Latvia, the Netherlands etc.
In Malaysia, the first minister for each state with a Malay ruler is known as the Menteri Besar. Meanwhile, the heads of government in the four states without a monarch are called chief ministers.
George Price held the office of First Minister of British Honduras from 1961 until 1964, when it became self-governing and the title was changed to Premier. He continued as Premier after the colony changed its names to Belize, and then as Prime Minister after Belize gained full independence in 1981.
References
[edit]- ^ "About: People: Who runs the Scottish Government". Scottish Government. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
First minister
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The First Minister denotes the head of government in the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, positions created to lead executive functions in these UK constituent nations amid the asymmetric devolution of powers from Westminster beginning in 1998.[1] These roles emerged from referendums approving legislative assemblies or parliaments—Scotland's on 11 September 1997 (74% in favor), Wales's on 18 September 1997 (50.3% in favor), and Northern Ireland's on 22 May 1998 (71.1% in favor)—culminating in the Scotland Act 1998, Government of Wales Act 1998, and Northern Ireland Act 1998, which transferred authority over devolved matters like health, education, and economic development while reserving defense, foreign policy, and macroeconomics to the UK Parliament.[1][1]
In Scotland and Wales, the First Minister is nominated by a majority in the Scottish Parliament or Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) and formally appointed by the monarch, then assembles a cabinet to enact policies within devolved competencies, with Scotland holding broader fiscal levers post-2016 including partial income tax variation.[2][1] Northern Ireland's arrangement differs fundamentally, featuring a First Minister and Deputy First Minister elected jointly on a cross-community basis to reflect the power-sharing consociational model of the Good Friday Agreement, where neither can exercise authority without the other's counterpart from the opposing unionist or nationalist bloc, ensuring veto rights on stability-threatening decisions.[3][3] This structure has suspended multiple times due to breakdowns in unionist-nationalist consensus, contrasting the unicameral executives in Scotland and Wales.[3]
First Ministers coordinate with the UK government through bodies like the Joint Ministerial Committee on devolved-reserved overlaps, but the offices have defined UK territorial governance by enabling region-specific policies amid ongoing tensions over fiscal autonomy, Brexit's repatriation of competencies, and sovereignty disputes, notably Scotland's independence referendum pursuits under successive SNP-led administrations.[4][1] England, lacking devolution, relies directly on the UK Prime Minister and Parliament, underscoring the UK's federal-like but uneven constitutional evolution without a codified supreme law.[4]
Labour held the position continuously from devolution until 2007, after which the Scottish National Party (SNP) secured minority and majority administrations in subsequent elections, maintaining control through 2021 despite the 2014 independence referendum yielding a 55.3% to 44.7% vote against separation. Transitions have often followed party leadership contests or parliamentary defeats, with Swinney's uncontested SNP leadership enabling swift appointment amid prior instability.[11][22]
Terminology and Role
Definition
The First Minister is the title held by the head of government in the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, where executive authority is exercised over matters devolved from the UK Parliament, such as health, education, and economic development. This role entails nominating cabinet ministers, directing policy implementation, and managing the budget for devolved functions, while remaining accountable to the respective devolved legislature. The position is typically filled by the leader of the political party or coalition commanding the confidence of the parliament or assembly, with appointment formalized by the monarch on the recommendation of the legislature.[5][6] In Scotland, the First Minister leads the Scottish Government and chairs its cabinet, overseeing the execution of laws passed by the Scottish Parliament since devolution in 1999.[6] For Wales, the First Minister heads the Welsh Government, directing ministers and representing Welsh interests in areas like housing and transport devolved under the Government of Wales Act 2006.[5] In Northern Ireland, the First Minister shares joint responsibility with the Deputy First Minister in leading the Executive, a power-sharing arrangement mandated by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 to ensure cross-community governance, with both positions nominated by the largest parties from unionist and nationalist designations respectively.[7][8] The term "First Minister" underscores the subordinate yet autonomous status of these executives relative to the UK central government, participating in forums like the Joint Ministerial Committee where devolved leaders engage with the Prime Minister on reserved and shared issues.[9] Unlike heads of independent states, First Ministers lack authority over foreign affairs, defense, or macroeconomic policy, which remain reserved to Westminster. This delineation reflects the asymmetrical federal-like structure of UK devolution, established progressively from 1998 onward.[10]Distinctions from Similar Titles
The title of First Minister, while functionally equivalent to other heads of subnational or devolved executives in parliamentary systems, is distinguished primarily by its use in the United Kingdom's devolved administrations, where it denotes the leader of a regional government operating under reserved powers held by the central UK Parliament. Unlike the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who heads the sovereign national executive accountable to the Parliament at Westminster and exercises authority over foreign affairs, defense, and macroeconomic policy, the First Minister—such as that of Scotland—is nominated by the devolved legislature (e.g., the Scottish Parliament) and appointed by the monarch, with executive powers confined to devolved areas like health, education, and justice as defined by acts such as the Scotland Act 1998.[11][12] In contrast to the title of Premier, commonly used for provincial or state leaders in federal systems like Canada and Australia, First Minister emphasizes the non-sovereign, devolved character of UK regional governance rather than implying parity with the national head. For instance, Canadian Premiers lead provincial executives with constitutionally entrenched powers under the Constitution Act 1867, participating as equals with the federal Prime Minister in "First Ministers' conferences" on shared matters like trade and health policy, whereas UK First Ministers engage in intergovernmental forums like the Joint Ministerial Committee with the UK Prime Minister but lack equivalent federal autonomy.[13][14] The First Minister also differs from Chief Minister, a title prevalent in territorial or state governments such as Australian territories or Indian states, where it often signifies a head under direct national oversight without the legislative primacy of a devolved parliament; UK First Ministers, by comparison, command confidence in their respective assemblies and form cabinets analogous to a prime ministerial system, though subordinate to Westminster's supremacy. Etymologically, "First Minister" aligns with the literal meaning of "Prime Minister" (from Latin primus, first among ministers), but its adoption in UK devolution avoids conflation with the national role, reflecting a deliberate terminological choice post-1998 devolution settlements.[6]Historical Origins
Early Usage in Canada
The term "first minister" emerged in Canadian political usage during the colonial era, prior to Confederation in 1867, to describe the chief executive officer of the provincial government in the Province of Canada. An early documented instance appears in 1847, referring to the potential role of Robert Baldwin as "First Minister of the Crown," emphasizing the position's responsibility as the primary advisor to the Crown and leader of the Executive Council.[13] This reflected the responsible government system established after the 1837-38 Rebellions, where the first minister headed the ministry accountable to the legislative assembly. In practice, the title denoted the leader of the dominant party or coalition in the assembly, distinct from the governor's ceremonial role. For example, John A. Macdonald assumed the responsibilities of first minister in December 1861, holding the position until May 1862 amid a period of governmental instability following the resignation of the previous ministry.[15] Such usage aligned with British parliamentary traditions but adapted to colonial contexts, where the first minister balanced local legislative support with imperial oversight, often navigating tensions over issues like land policy and infrastructure.[15] Following Confederation, the federal head of government adopted "prime minister" as the official title, with Sir John A. Macdonald serving as the first in that capacity from July 1, 1867. Provincial leaders initially retained "prime minister" in several jurisdictions—such as Ontario until 1867 and Quebec until the early 1960s—but transitioned to "premier" to avoid confusion with the federal role, while "first minister" persisted as a synonymous descriptor emphasizing primacy within their executive councils.[13] This early application laid the groundwork for later collective references, as evidenced by interprovincial and federal-provincial meetings from 1906 onward, where participants were increasingly identified as first ministers despite the term's formalization in conference nomenclature occurring decades later.[16]Development in Parliamentary Systems
In parliamentary systems derived from the Westminster model, the role of the first minister evolved as the chief executive responsible to the legislature, emerging from the 18th-century British practice where the monarch's leading advisor—typically the First Lord of the Treasury—coordinated cabinet deliberations and policy implementation while commanding parliamentary confidence. This position, informally termed the "first minister" in contemporary accounts, gained prominence under figures like Robert Walpole (1721–1742), who effectively led the government without a formalized title, relying on royal favor and Commons support to manage fiscal and foreign affairs.[17] By the early 19th century, the term was explicitly used; William Pitt the Younger, in 1803, described the office as "this person generally called the first minister," underscoring its centrality in binding the executive to legislative accountability.[18] The institutionalization of this role accelerated with the consolidation of cabinet government, where the first minister chaired meetings, allocated portfolios, and represented the administration in parliament, as seen in the restructuring of advisory structures during the Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815), which formalized support mechanisms like the Prime Minister's Office precursors.[17] In Commonwealth parliamentary systems, such as those in Canada and Australia, the term adapted to federal contexts; Canadian intergovernmental conferences from 1906 onward designated both the federal prime minister and provincial premiers as "first ministers" to denote their equivalent executive authority in confederal negotiations on trade, resources, and constitutional matters.[16] This evolution emphasized causal mechanisms of responsible government: the first minister's survival hinged on maintaining a legislative majority, fostering party discipline and collective cabinet responsibility, distinct from presidential systems where executives derive independent electoral mandates. By the late 20th century, the title "first minister" reemerged distinctly in subnational devolved parliaments, as in the UK's Scotland Act 1998, which established the position to lead the executive while subordinating it to Westminster sovereignty, avoiding overlap with the national "prime minister" designation. Similar adaptations occurred in Wales (Government of Wales Act 1998) and Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Act 1998), reflecting a deliberate nomenclature to signal devolved primacy among ministers without implying full sovereignty. These developments preserved the first minister's core functions—policy initiation, legislative liaison, and intergovernmental coordination—while adapting to multilevel governance demands.Usage in the United Kingdom
Scotland
The position of First Minister of Scotland serves as the head of the devolved Scottish Government, with responsibility for directing executive policy and administration in areas devolved from the UK Parliament, including health, education, justice, environment, and economic development. Established by the Scotland Act 1998, which received royal assent on 31 July 1998 and transferred legislative powers to the newly formed Scottish Parliament, the office embodies the executive arm accountable to the unicameral legislature elected every five years. The First Minister must be a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), typically the leader of the largest party or coalition, and exercises powers subject to parliamentary confidence, with resignation required upon losing a vote of no confidence under section 47 of the Act.[11] Appointment occurs after a parliamentary nomination, followed by formal investiture by the monarch via royal warrant, though the role operates independently of direct monarchical influence in practice. The First Minister nominates other ministers, law officers, and judicial appointments (subject to parliamentary approval), chairs the Cabinet, and manages a budget of approximately £50 billion annually as of 2024–25, funded primarily by UK block grant adjustments under the Barnett formula. In intergovernmental contexts, the First Minister engages with the UK Prime Minister on reserved matters like foreign affairs and defense, but devolved competence limits authority, as affirmed in UK Supreme Court rulings such as on the 2022 Gender Recognition Reform Bill. The official residence is Bute House on Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, serving ceremonial and operational functions since 1999.[5][11][19] The following individuals have held the office:| Name | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Dewar | Scottish Labour | 17 May 1999 – 11 October 2000 |
| Henry McLeish | Scottish Labour | 26 October 2000 – 8 November 2001 |
| Jack McConnell | Scottish Labour | 27 November 2001 – 15 May 2007 |
| Alex Salmond | Scottish National Party | 16 May 2007 – 18 November 2014 |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Scottish National Party | 19 November 2014 – 28 March 2023 |
| Humza Yousaf | Scottish National Party | 29 March 2023 – 7 May 2024 |
| John Swinney | Scottish National Party | 8 May 2024 – present |