Leader of the Opposition (Scotland)

In the Scottish Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition (more formally, the Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament) is an unofficial title often used to describe the leader of the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament that is not in government. This leader has also been referred to as the Shadow First Minister.^[1]

Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament

Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)

While leader of the largest political party in the Scottish Parliament that is not in government

Alex Salmond

May 1999

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Unlike in the Parliament at Westminster where there is an Official Opposition to the government of the day, all parties in the Scottish Parliament that are not in government are all legally on the same footing as 'opposition parties'.

Since May 2021, this has been Douglas Ross of the Scottish Conservatives, who succeeded Ruth Davidson.^[2]^[3]

To date there have been 13 individuals who have led the largest opposition party, three from the Scottish National Party, seven from the Scottish Labour Party and three from the Scottish Conservative Party.

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First Minister of Scotland

Deputy First Minister of Scotland

Opposition Parties of the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament

Scottish Government

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