Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development

The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development was a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister did not attend the Scottish Cabinet.[1] The minister supported the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, a full member of the cabinet.[2] The final Minister was Kaukab Stewart from February-May 2024.

The post was created in September 2012. The role was modified in February 2020 with migration moving to another post, before finally being abolished in May 2024 by John Swinney.

Overview

The specific responsibilities of the minister were:[2]

• International development
• Post-Brexit Relations
• Cross government co-ordination on the European Union
• Fair trade
• Scottish diaspora

History

In September 2012 the position of Minister for External Affairs and International Development was created; the name of the role changed a November 2014 reshuffle when Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister. It was changed again in May 2016, after the 2016 election, and again in June 2018. In May 2024, First Minister John Swinney abolished the role following the formation of his first government.

List of office holders

The most recent Minister was Kaukab Stewart, who held the role from February to May 2024.[2]

Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport
Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister
	Rhona Brankin		19 May 1999	1 November 2000	Scottish Labour Party	Donald Dewar
Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture							Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs
Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister	Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister
	Allan Wilson		1 November 2000	8 March 2001	Scottish Labour Party	Henry McLeish		Nicol Stephen		1 November 2000	28 November 2001	Scottish Liberal Democrats	Henry McLeish
Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture
	Allan Wilson		8 March 2001	28 November 2001	Scottish Labour Party	Henry McLeish
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
	Elaine Murray		28 November 2001	28 November 2002	Labour Party	Jack McConnell
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
	Linda Fabiani		17 May 2007	10 February 2009	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution
	Michael Russell		10 February 2009	1 December 2009	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
Minister for Culture and External Affairs
	Fiona Hyslop		1 December 2009	19 May 2011	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
Minister for External Affairs and International Development
	Humza Yousaf		6 September 2012	21 November 2014	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
Minister for Europe and International Development
	Humza Yousaf		21 November 2014	18 May 2016	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for International Development and Europe
	Alasdair Allan		18 May 2016	27 June 2018	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development
	Ben Macpherson		27 June 2018[3]	17 February 2020	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Europe and International Development
	Jenny Gilruth		17 February 2020	24 January 2022	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
	Neil Gray		24 January 2022	29 March 2023	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
	Christina McKelvie		29 March 2023	8 February 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
	Kaukab Stewart		12 February 2024	8 May 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf

References

1. Scotland Act (1998), Only those appointed under Section 47 of the Scotland Act "attend" Cabinet. Junior ministers are appointed under Section 49 and may be "present".
2. "Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
3. "Who's who in Nicola Sturgeon's reshuffled government". BBC News. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2020.

External links

• Cabinet and Ministers on Scottish Government website
• Minister for Europe and International Development on Scottish Government website