Scottish Secretary
Changed from running the Scottish Office to representing Scotland in the UK government when the Scottish Parliament opened in 1999.
The nations
Now: Douglas Alexander, since Sep 2025
17
people have held it since 1979: 1 woman, and 1 had a second spell
2.7 years
average finished spell. Longer than 22 of the 24 other jobs
6.7 yrs
longest: George Younger, 1979–1986
17 days
shortest: Danny Alexander, 2010
1 of 17
finished spells lasted less than a year
Who held it, and when
Under each prime minister
Everyone who held the job at any point in the term. A dashed outline is someone already in post when the prime minister took over.
AB
Andy Burnham
1 holder in 85 days
KS
Keir Starmer
2 holders in 2 yrs
RS
Rishi Sunak
1 holder in 1.7 yrs
LT
Liz Truss
1 holder in 49 days
BJ
Boris Johnson
1 holder in 3.1 yrs
TM
Theresa May
1 holder in 3 yrs
DC
David Cameron
4 holders in 6.2 yrs
GB
Gordon Brown
3 holders in 2.9 yrs
TB
Tony Blair
5 holders in 10.2 yrs
JM
John Major
2 holders in 6.4 yrs
MT
Margaret Thatcher
2 holders in 11.6 yrs
Everyone who has held it
-
DA
Douglas AlexanderSecond spellSep 2025 – nowappointed under Keir Starmer1.1 yrs -
IM
Jul 2024 – Sep 2025appointed under Keir Starmer1.2 yrs -
AJ
Jul 2019 – Jul 2024appointed under Boris Johnson5 yrs -
May 2015 – Jul 2019appointed under David Cameron4.2 yrs
-
Oct 2013 – May 2015appointed under David Cameron1.6 yrs
-
May 2010 – Oct 2013appointed under David Cameron3.4 yrs
-
May 2010 – May 2010appointed under David Cameron17 days
-
JM
Oct 2008 – May 2010appointed under Gordon Brown1.6 yrs -
Jun 2007 – Oct 2008appointed under Gordon Brown1.3 yrs
-
May 2006 – Jun 2007appointed under Tony Blair1.1 yrs
-
Jun 2003 – May 2006appointed under Tony Blair2.9 yrs
-
Jan 2001 – Jun 2003appointed under Tony Blair2.4 yrs
-
May 1999 – Jan 2001appointed under Tony Blair1.7 yrs
-
DD
May 1997 – May 1999appointed under Tony Blair2 yrs -
Jul 1995 – May 1997appointed under John Major1.8 yrs
-
Nov 1990 – Jul 1995appointed under John Major4.6 yrs
-
Jan 1986 – Nov 1990appointed under Margaret Thatcher4.9 yrs
-
May 1979 – Jan 1986appointed under Margaret Thatcher6.7 yrs
DM
AC
MM
DA
BL
DR
LC
RC
FD
LM
MR
GYHow we count: a spell is one unbroken run in the job by one person. A rename, or a move between two names of the same post, carries the spell on. The current holder's spell runs to today and is left out of every average. Where two people overlap, the source records both (cover during leave, for instance).