Second Sturgeon government

Second Sturgeon government
8th government of Scotland
2016–2021
First Minister Sturgeon's original cabinet at Bute House, 2016
Date formed	18 May 2016
Date dissolved	19 May 2021
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
First Minister	Nicola Sturgeon
First Minister's history	2014–2023
Deputy First Minister	John Swinney
Total no. of members	26 (including First Minister)
Member party	Scottish National Party
Status in legislature	Minority 63 / 129 (49%)
Opposition party	Scottish Conservative
Opposition leader	Ruth Davidson (2016-18) Jackson Carlaw (2018-19) Ruth Davidson (2019) Jackson Carlaw (2019-20) Ruth Davidson (2020–21)
History
Election	2016 general election
Outgoing election	2021 general election
Legislature term	5th Scottish Parliament
Predecessor	First Sturgeon government
Successor	Third Sturgeon government

Nicola Sturgeon formed the second Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 5th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of first minister on 17 May 2016.^[1] She was subsequently appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 May, and announced formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government.^[2]

The second Sturgeon government was an SNP minority government and despite the whipping and resignation of some MSPs, this was also returned by Labour and Conservative opposition MSPs. Like the previous, it consisted of 50/50 gender balance cabinet; 5 men and 5 women. As part of wide criticism of policies, the resignation of many members and in response to the Brexit negotiations, Sturgeon conducted a major cabinet reshuffle in 2018. Following the resignation of Derek Mackay as Finance Secretary in 2020, Sturgeon performed a minor reshuffle of her cabinet.

The government dissolved on 19 May 2021, following the 2021 election to the 6th Scottish Parliament, which returned the SNP on seat short of a majority and Sturgeon later forming a third government with a deal with the Scottish Greens, creating a pro-independence majority.