McLeish government
2nd government of Scotland
2000–2001
Date formed	26 October 2000
Date dissolved	8 November 2001
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
First Minister	Henry McLeish
First Minister's history	2000–2001
Deputy First Minister	Jim Wallace
Member parties	Labour Party   Liberal Democrats
Status in legislature	Majority (coalition) 70 / 129 (54%)
Opposition party	Scottish National Party
Opposition leader	John Swinney
History
Legislature term(s)	1st Scottish Parliament
Predecessor	Dewar government
Successor	First McConnell government

Henry McLeish formed the McLeish government on 26 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.

This article is part of a series about Henry McLeish
Scottish Labour Party Scottish devolution British House of Commons MP for Central Fife Minister of State for Scotland 1997 Scottish devolution referendum Scotland Act 1998 Scottish Parliament MSP for Central Fife Dewar government Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning First Minister of Scotland Premiership Tenure 2000 leadership bid McCrone Agreement Resignation Officegate
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Cabinet

October 2000 to November 2001

Cabinet of Henry McLeish

Portfolio	Portrait	Minister	Term	Party
Cabinet ministers
First Minister		The Rt Hon Henry McLeish MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Deputy First Minister		Jim Wallace QC MSP	1999–2005		Lib Dem
Minister for Justice			1999–2003
Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs		Jack McConnell MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning		Wendy Alexander MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture		Sam Galbraith MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Minister for Finance and Local Government		Angus Mackay MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Minister for Health and Community Care		Susan Deacon MSP	1999–2001		Labour
Minister for Rural Development		Ross Finnie MSP	1999–2000		Lib Dem
Minister for Social Justice		Jackie Baillie MSP	2000–2001		Labour
Minister for Transport		Sarah Boyack MSP	1999–2001		Labour
Also attending cabinet meetings
Permanent Secretary		Muir Russell	1999–2003		Independent
Minister for Parliament		Tom McCabe MSP	1999–2001		Labour
Lord Advocate		The Rt Hon Colin Boyd QC	2000–2006		Labour

Changes

• Sam Galbraith resigned from his post of Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture on 20 March 2001.^[1] Following his resignation, the environment portfolio was combined with that of rural development, planning was added to the transport portfolio, and the sport and culture portfolio was given Deputy Minister Allan Wilson without a promotion to minister. In addition, a new post of Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning in line with the expanded transport portfolio. This post was filled by Lewis Macdonald.^[2][3]

List of ministers

October 2000 to November 2001

Changes

Tavish Scott resigned from his post of Deputy Minister for Parliament on 9 March 2001.^[5][6] He was replaced by Euan Robson.^[7]