The Scottish Government

'Labour's two most senior figures in Scotland have sought to play down derogatory comments about two UK ministerial colleagues. Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell and First Minister Henry McLeish were overheard making less than flattering assessments of the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, and the Foreign Office Minister, Brian Wilson, before a news conference on Friday. A journalist from radio station ScotFM recorded the remarks during an unguarded moment before the press conference. Mr McLeish can be heard describing Mr Wilson as 'a liability'. He is also heard describing Dr Reid, as 'a patronising bastard'. BBC Scotland News, 8 th June 2001.

The Government of Scotland

The Scottish Executive, 29 th October 2000 - 27 th November 2001

Team McLeish:
From left to right, Front row: Sarah Boyack, Jackie Bailie, Jack McConnell, Wendy Alexander, Jim Wallace, Henry McLeish, Susan Deacon, Ross Finnie, Angus MacKay, Sam Galbraith, Tom McCabe
Second row: Tavish Scott, Malcolm Chisholm, Margaret Curran, Neil Davidson, Colin Boyd, Peter Peacock, Rhona Brankin, Nicol Stephen

The First Minister
	First Minister & Custodian of the Great Seal of Scotland
	Rt Hon Henry Baird McLeish, MSP MP
	(resigned 8 th November 2001)
Ministers		Deputy Ministers
	Deputy First Minister, Minister for Justice		Deputy Minister for Minister for Justice
	Rt Hon James Wallace, QC MSP		Iain Gray, MSP
	Minister for Education, Europe & External Affairs		Deputy Minister for Education Europe & External Affairs
	Jack McConnell, MSP		Nicol Stephen, MSP
	Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning		Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Lifelong Learning & Gaelic
	Wendy Alexander, MSP		Alasdair Morrison, MSP
	Minister for the Environment, Sport & Culture		Deputy Minister for Sport & Culture
	Dr Sam Galbraith, MP, MSP		Allan Wilson, MSP
	(resigned March 2001 Environment brief merged with Rural Development from March 2001)		(Responsible directly to the First Minister from March 2001)
	Minister for Rural Development		Deputy Minister for Rural Development
	Ross Finnie, MSP		Rhona Brankin, MSP
	(Minister for the Environment & Rural Development from March 2001)
	Minister for Finance & Local Government		Deputy Minister for Finance & Local Government
	Angus MacKay, MSP		Peter Peacock, MSP
	Minister for Health & Community Care		Deputy Minister for Health & Community Care
	Susan Deacon, MSP		Malcolm Chisholm, MP, MSP
	Minister for Parliament, Business Manager & Chief Whip		Deputy Minister for Parliament
	Tom McCabe, MSP		Tavish Scott, MSP
			(resigned March 2001)
			Deputy Minister for Parliament
			Euan Robson, MSP
			(from March 2001)
	Minister for Social Justice		Deputy Minister for Social Justice
	Jackie Bailie, MSP		Margaret Curran, MSP
	Minister for Transport & Planning		Deputy Minister for Transport & Planning
	Sarah Boyack, MSP		Dr Lewis Macdonald, MSP
			(From March 2001)
	Lord Advocate		Solicitor General
	Colin Boyd QC		Neil Davidson QC (later Lord Davidson of Glen Clova)

Labour ministers are highlighted in red and Liberal Democrats in puce.