The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (), was a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. In May 2021 the role also gained responsibility for culture, becoming the new position of Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.
The Cabinet Secretary was supported by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.
History The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum took place on 23 June 2016. This position was established (initially as "Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe") so that the Scottish government would be involved in the development of the UK government's position before the Prime Minister triggered Article 50.
During a Scottish Government reshuffle in June 2018, the post was promoted to the Cabinet and renamed Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations. It was further renamed to Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs in February 2020.
Overview
Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs included:
independence cross-government co-ordination of European and external relations policy in relation to UK's exit from the EU post-Brexit relations migration Scottish diaspora Global Affairs Network Scottish Cities of Refuge New Scot strategy Registers of Scotland British Irish Council Royal and ceremonial
List of office holders Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe NamePortraitEntered officeLeft officePartyFirst Minister Mike Russell 26 August 201626 June 2018Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations Mike Russell 26 June 201817 February 2020Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Mike Russell 17 February 202020 May 2021Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
See also Scottish Parliament Scottish Government Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
References
External links Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe on Scottish Government website The Scottish Cabinet on Scottish Government website