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First Minister of Scotland Contents | ||
Henry McLeish, who served as the second first minister of Scotland from 27 October 2000 until his resignation on 8 November 2001 travelled internationally to attend meetings with international leaders, promote business and to lead trade negations.
| # | Country | Areas visited | Dates | Details [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Italy | Rome | December 5, 2000 | McLeish travelled to Italy to attend the celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the Scots College in Rome. Additionally, during his Italian visit, McLeish held an audience with Pope John Paul II. [2] |
| 2 |  Belgium | Brussels | December 6, 2000 | During a visit to Belgium, McLeish met with Vice-President of the European Commission, Neil Kinnock to discuss various issues and Scottish and European Union relations. Additionally, McLeish met with Scottish Members of the European Parliament, Judge Edward who is a Scottish judge sitting within the European Court of Justice and Secretary General of NATO, George Robertson. [3] |
| # | Country | Areas visited | Dates | Details [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  USA | Washington D.C. New York City | April 1, 2001 – April 6 | McLeish travelled to the United States to promote Scotland, tourism and business during Tartan Week events held in both New York City and Washington D.C.. Whilst McLeish was in Washington D.C., he met with President of the United States, George W. Bush, at the White House. [4] |
| 4 | Belgium | May 28, 2001 | McLeish signed the Flanders Co-ordination Initiative which formally allowed Scotland to have decision making powers and policy influence over the future of the European Union as well as Scottish participation in the Intergovernmental Conference which would be held in 2004. [5] | |
| 5 |  Finland | September 25, 2001 – September 27 | McLeish visited Finland for a series of visits and meetings regarding digital inclusion, broadband and electronics. | |
| 6 | Belgium | October 8, 2001 – October 9 | McLeish travelled to Belgium to engage in various Scotland Week events and formally opened the Scotland Week engagements. | |
| 6 |  Taiwan  Japan | October 15, 2001 – October 19 | During a joint visit to Taiwan and Japan, McLeish engaged in a series of meetings and visits on trade and inward investment. |
Donald Campbell Dewar was a Scottish statesman and politician who served as the inaugural first minister of Scotland and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000. He was widely regarded as the "Father of the Nation" during his tenure as first minister, and the "Architect of Devolution" whilst serving as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997 to 1999. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Anniesland from 1978 to 2000. Dewar was also Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the equivalent seat from 1999 to 2000.
The politics of Scotland operate within the constitution of the United Kingdom, of which Scotland is a country. Scotland is a democracy, being represented in both the Scottish Parliament and the Parliament of the United Kingdom since the Scotland Act 1998. Most executive power is exercised by the Scottish Government, led by the first minister of Scotland, the head of government in a multi-party system. The judiciary of Scotland, dealing with Scots law, is independent of the legislature and the Scottish Government, and is headed by the Lord Advocate who is the principal legal adviser to the Scottish Government. Scots law is primarily determined by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government shares limited executive powers, notably over reserved matters, with the Scotland Office, a British government department led by the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution. Its areas for responsibility of decision making and domestic policy in the country include the economy, education, healthcare, justice and the legal system, rural affairs, housing, the crown estate, the environment, the fire service, equal opportunities, the transportation network, and tax, amongst others.
The first minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: prìomh mhinistear na h-Alba,, formally known as the First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal, is the head of government of Scotland and the leader of the Scottish Government, the executive branch of the devolved government of Scotland. The first minister also serves as the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland whilst in office.
Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale, is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 2001 to 2007. McConnell served as the Minister for Finance from 1999 to 2000 and Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs from 2000 to 2001. He has been a Labour life peer in the House of Lords since 2010 and previously served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Motherwell and Wishaw from 1999 to 2011. McConnell held the Presidency of the Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power (REGLEG) during November 2003 to November 2004.
Henry Baird McLeish is a Scottish politician, author, academic and former professional footballer who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2000 to 2001. With a term of 1 year, 12 days, he is the shortest serving holder of that office. He served as the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 2000 to 2001.
Alexander McLeish is a Scottish professional football manager and former player. He played as a defender for Aberdeen during their 1980s glory years, making nearly 500 League appearances for the club, and won 77 caps for Scotland.
Officegate was a political scandal in Scotland surrounding the unregistered expenses of the then-First Minister of Scotland, Henry McLeish, in 2001. It was the first major scandal the Scottish Parliament had faced since its reincarnation two years prior in 1999. The scandal dominated McLeish's final months in office and resulted in his resignation.
Scottish Labour, is the part of the UK Labour Party active in Scotland. Ideologically social democratic and unionist, it holds 22 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 37 of 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons. It is represented by 262 of the 1,227 local councillors across Scotland. The Scottish Labour party has no separate Chief Whip at Westminster.
Angus MacKay is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Finance and Local Government from 2000 to 2001. A member of the Scottish Labour Party, he was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh South constituency from 1999 to 2003.
Henry McLeish formed the McLeish government on 27 October 2000 following his appointment as the First Minister of Scotland. It followed the death of Donald Dewar on 11 October 2000 during the 1st Scottish Parliament. It was a continuation of the Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition that had been formed following the first election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
The first McConnell government was formed by Jack McConnell on 27 November 2001 during the 1st Scottish Parliament, following Henry McLeish's resignation as First Minister of Scotland as a consequence of the Officegate scandal. The first McConnell government was a continuation of the Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition that had existed under the previous McLeish and Dewar governments. It ended on 20 May 2003 following the 2003 election to the 2nd Scottish parliament, which saw McConnell returning to office as first minister to form a second government.
Events from the year 2001 in Scotland.
Events from the year 2000 in Scotland.
Henry McLeish's term as first minister of Scotland began on 26 October 2000 when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session. It followed the death of Donald Dewar. McLeish served as the second First Minister, and his premiership is the shortest of any officeholder. His term was dominated by his financial scandal, known as Officegate. The scandal resulted in McLeish's resignation on 8 November 2001.
Jack McConnell's term as First Minister of Scotland began on 22 November 2001 when he was formally sworn into office at the Court of Session. It followed the resignation of Henry McLeish over the Officegate scandal. His term ended on 16 May 2007, following the defeat of the Scottish Labour Party in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, where the Scottish National Party formed a minority government.
The International relations of Scotland conducted by the Scottish Government seek to promote Scotland and Scottish interests overseas by promoting its culture, education and research, economy and promote Scotland as a place for trade and business. As of 2023, Scotland has a total of nine Scottish Government offices in Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Ottawa, Paris and Washington D.C.. The Scottish Government plan on opening a further office in Warsaw by the end of the current parliamentary term.
